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Peer-to-Peer Road Safety By Amy Watkins, MPH: By: Amy Watkins, MPH Watch for Me CT, a partnership between the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office and Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center, is wrapping up an exciting youth-led bicycle and pedestrian safety program, held over the summer

Fitness Challenges to Keep Kids, Teens and Athletes Active By Allison E. Crepeau, MD: This article was last revised in April 2025 to reflect current times. It’s important for all kids to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day for their heart health – and it’s important for athletes to stay active in order to prevent injury . So how about a fitness

Why Your Child Needs Their Flu Shot ASAP (and Maybe a Second Shot, Too): A Note From Our Physician-in-Chief By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: This is a hectic back-to-school season for many families – but don’t be tempted to put off your child’s flu shot. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it’s important to get kids vaccinated for the flu as soon as possible. Physician-in-Chief Juan Salazar, MD, MPH shares why you

Nico’s Brain Cancer Fight: A Journey of Strength, Love, and Survival By Jonathan Martin, MD: “Grade IV aggressive tumor,” are four words no parent ever expects to hear. For Michelle, this is a reality for her 5-year-old son, Nico. In her own words, she courageously shares the family’s past and current experience, documented as of June 2, 2025. Her message to parents

Giving a Teen the Freedom to Laugh: Our Life-Changing Partnership with Kids In Crisis By James Healy, MD, MHS, Pediatric Surgeon: We’d like to thank our valued partners at Kids in Crisis for this story. Published with permission. For most teenagers, laughter is spontaneous and free. But for one 17-year-old who came to Connecticut Children’s, every laugh meant choosing between joy and pain – until we

Driving Change Through Golf in Hartford's Youth Community The Golf, Not Drugs initiative was developed in the summer of 2024 with the goal of engaging Hartford youth in positive, healthy activities. Offering free golf lessons at Keney Park Golf Course, the program aimed not only to teach the fundamentals of golf but also to provide

Pathways to Action: Activities Subcommittee Spotlight By Lauren Dominique: In this second installment of the Pathways to Action Subcommittee Spotlight Series, team members of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health reflect on a visit to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, organized by the Pathways to Action Activities Subcommittee. The

10 Ways to Keep Kids Safe From Playscape Injuries By Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FACS, FAAOS: Want to make sure your child’s time on the playground is as safe as it is fun? Follow these safety tips from orthopedic surgeon Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FAAOS and the Injury Prevention Center’s Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA. Playground injuries are common, but preventable. Each year

Make Every Bite Count! By Nancy Trout, MD: By: Nancy Trout, MD, MPH Most Americans do not follow a healthy dietary pattern. This is the conclusion of the recently released 2020-2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The theme of this edition is “make every bite count.” This edition

3 Ways Connecticut Children’s Supports LGBTQIA Patients and Families Connecticut Children’s is committed to making our patient care environment as welcoming and inclusive as possible for our patients and their families. As part of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey, our organization celebrates the steps we are taking to ensure our

Help Me Grow: A Trusted Resource in a Time of Need From the outset, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented challenges and hardships for families across the country. In short, it proved to be a time of need for so many. Under the guidance of the Help Me Grow National Center, Help Me Grow systems nationwide rallied to

Keeping Young Drivers Safe: The Fight Against Distracted Driving By Anna Stern, MPH: April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, making it an ideal time to reflect on how we can all make safer choices behind the wheel. The Injury Prevention Center (IPC), a program of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health , is committed to promoting road

Start Strong This School Year with Food That Fuels By Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP: About the SCOR Program The Start Childhood Off Right (SCOR) program of Connecticut Children's Office for Community Child Health focuses on identifying and addressing food insecurity in the families we serve, while also promoting healthy eating and informed food choices. Here’s

How to Support a Child's Media Diet By Annika Anderson, MPH: By: Annika Anderson, MPH In a world that is more digitally active than ever before, childcare professionals, physicians and caregivers are toggling widespread beliefs about children’s media use and whether it hinders or promotes development. Adults who facilitate children’s media

We Fulfill our Commitment to Equity by Beginning the Crucial Conversation By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD It is time for communities across the country to begin the crucial conversation – a dialogue about what it truly will take to bring about equity for all populations in health care and in society as a whole. We must eliminate racial disparities that date back