Classes on preventative care for children to begin in February

Classes on treating basic childhood ailments will be offered for a limited time across Whitman County through February.

A child-care center based in Pullman was chosen for a grant targeted toward lessening trips to the ER for children.

Community Child Care Center, which has offices in both Colfax and Pullman, is receiving the I Can Help My Child Stay Healthy grant from the Central Missouri Community Action in partnership with UCLA/Johnson and Johnson Health Care Institute.

The money will be used to give classes on child preventitive health care to parents across Whitman County, Jan. 18 through Feb. 17.

The aim of the classes is to teach parents knowledge of child health issues through a comprehensive training program. Parents learn how to treat common childhood illnesses at home, saving trips to the ER.

Research has shown that most families do not have a medical reference book to use when their children get sick and often rely on the ER or doctors for care. As part of the training, parents will be given a 180-page book called What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick, which covers more than 50 common childhood ailments.

Community Child Care Center is an accredited child care center in the Pullman, Colfax area and has been serving families in child care for more than 40 years.

The center offers three programs, Head Start, ECEAP and child care. For more information on the Community Child Care Center and the health care lessons this month and next call the center.