A Big Final Thank You!

How quickly 2013 is moving!  Spring is upon us. This is sadly the final post from the Greater Chicago Study Center (GCSC). We would first like to say a final thank you to all of our participants, community members and partners, stakeholders, and hospitals contacts. As we had said in previous communications, the National Children’s Study is transitioning Study management to Regional Operations Centers (ROCs), and this transition happened here in Cook County in March 2013. The National Children’s Study (NCS) is the largest, long term study of children’s health ever conducted in the United States, and these changes are intended to use Study resources responsibly so that it can continue over the next 21 years. As the NCS embarks on this next phase, we would like to once again commend all those that have contributed to the success of the NCS here in Cook County. 

The Greater Chicago Study Center is finalizing work with the National Institutes of Health, other NCS institutions in the Central Region, and NORC at the University of Chicago to make sure transitions in 2013 are seamless for our participants and all of our community, and hospital contacts.

The GCSC has been managing the Study in Cook County since 2007.  Thanks to all of the support the GCSC received throughout the years, we ended a successful recruitment period for the Vanguard (pilot) phase. Since the end of recruitment in 2010, the Greater Chicago Study Center has been busy keeping in touch with current participants, communities, and hospitals.

As these changes occur the GCSC would like to say a special thank you to our families for staying the course and for your renewed commitment to this very important research effort. The contribution of Cook County families is recognized nationally and the National Children's Study will continue its stewardship by working with you and your family over the upcoming years.

If you have any questions about this transition or any other part of the National Children’s Study, please feel free to call 1-877-865-2619.

Heather Morrison at the Central ROC will be the primary contact for communities.  She can be reached at heather.morrison@norc.org.

Children Food Allergies and Holiday Treats in School

Holiday dishes and treats often contain nuts, milk and eggs — three of the top food allergy offenders — which can pose a threat to millions of children with food allergies. According to Dr. Ruchi Gupta, co-investigator of the Greater Chicago Study Center, there are almost two allergic children in every classroom in the United States. Therefore, it is important for schools and parents to be aware of food allergies this time of year, when many children exchange holiday treats  or participate in celebrations in school.

November 12-18, 2012 is CDC's Get Smart About Antibiotics Week!

Fall Craft Activity

We recently sent our Study participants in Cook County a list of fun fall craft activities for kids. Then, we thought, why don't we try to make one ourselves? In this video, our happy volunteers, Peter, Alice and Kristi, show us how to make a scarecrow:





These easy to follow instructions are courtesy of dltk-kids.com:

Materials:

•     toilet paper roll
•     printer,
•     something to color with,
•     scissors,
•     glue, and
•     paper

    

Instructions:

    Print out the template of choice: Color or Black & White

    Color pieces, as necessary.
    
    Cut out the pieces.  This step may require adult assistance.
    
    Glue the large rectangle onto the toilet paper roll.
    
    Glue on the head, arms, legs and body patch.
   
If you want to get a bit more creative, you can glue on some tufts of raffia or dried grass as straw. Or as Peter and Alice did, a string of yarn as a belt.

I hope you enjoy making this scarecrow with your kids! Visit our Facebook page for more pictures or post your own!