Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

I had a friend growing up who experienced family violence within her home. As a young child, it was hard to help a friend who was in horrible place in her life and being so young, I did not know how to help. Since I have a close relationship with my parents, I was able to turn to my parents for help. Thankfully, our school was aware already because my friend had spoken with the school counselor. Eventually, my friend’s father “went away” for some time and everything at her home became a much healthier environment for her. Throughout life, the effect of the family violence has affected my friend tremendously. To this day, she continues to see a therapist for her personal problems.

I found a resource online, which supports individuals/families that have experienced family violence. “The Alabama Coalition against Domestic Violence is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working toward a peaceful society where domestic violence no longer exists.” This is a fantastic resource for people to turn to if they are in need of help for how to overcome domestic violence.

http://www.acadv.org/

As I was thinking of a specific part of the country where I have a special affinity, I did not go far from home – Philadelphia. There are children in Philadelphia that go to bed every night hungry. I realize that there are many families on food stamps, receiving free meals at school, etc. The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger is an organization which supports feeding the children in our area. Philabundance is the region's largest hunger-relief agency, which supports the families in Philadelphia. These are oppurtunies for familes to make sure their children receieve food, but at times it seems as if parents are giving up the meals they have so that their children do not starve. But how long will they last?

http://www.philabundance.org/

http://www.hungercoalition.org/news

http://www.hungercoalition.org/news/phillycom-how-hunger-affects-children-philadelphia-area

Why to appreciate the small things in life...

The topic that I chose to focus on is access to healthy water. This topic is important to me because I feel as if I take the healthy water that I have to drink for granted. I should be more appreciative for the water that I have to bath, drink, cook, swim, etc. Many parts of the world do not have access to healthy water as we do in the United States.  For example, Uganda is an area in our world where there are major health issues. In the small villages, many people, including children, are at risk each day with the areas of water that are close by which contain bilharzia, which is a parasite that can cause life-threatening illnesses. (UNIVEF, 2012)  Nearly 9 million children died before their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes. (UNIVEF, 2012)  An estimated 4,000 children die every day from diarrhea caused by poor sanitation and dirty water. (UNIVEF, 2012) To think that 4,000 children die from poor sanitation and dirty water is heart-breaking to me. This helps me learn to appreciate my upbringing and access to clean, healthy water tremendously.

http://www.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/Our-mission/Childrens-rights/Health/

EDUC - 6160 ~ Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

I have never had a child or took part in any birth of a child. Many times my parents have discussed with me the story of my birth. Discussing the moment my mother’s water broke, to the moment I was born. I know that from the moment I was born, I had the support team of my parents, sister, and grandparents. As I grew older, my support team was the same but grew bigger as an additional sibling was born. I believe that the birth of a human impacts a child’s development. If something were to harm me at my birth, it could have impacted what type of physical, cognitive, or emotional person I am today.

As I did some research on child birth, I was amazed to know how dangerous having a child in Africa is. 1 in 16 women die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth in Africa compared to 1 in 4,000 in industrialized countries. (AMREF, 2012) The reasons that maternal death is so high in Africa is because of the lack of skilled midwives, obstructed labor, unsafe abortions, anemia, and malaria. (AMREF, 2012) In Africa up to %40 of girls give birth before they are 14. (AMREF, 2012) There is not enough trained staff available to the amount of pregnant women in Africa. It is hard for me to fathom what it must be like to be pregnant and having to travel miles by foot or bike to find a midwife who could help you deliver your baby.  Many women die or lose their baby along the way. In America, many families are eager to have their child and go on regular check-ups a car ride away. In Africa, being pregnant is almost a burden but something that has to be done. This shows how a child born into a family who’s SES (location, economic status, etc) is extremely higher than an individual who is born into a family of a low SES can affect it’s development. There may be no support team, no clothes, no food, no shelter – compared to a child who has all of this and more. The children are going to grow up, each beginning their individual adventure of development at birth.

http://www.amrefusa.org/what-we-do/create-healthy-communities-/women-/