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FAMILY NEWS NEWS, VOICES, TRENDS MAY 2007 FAST FACT The largest age group in Riverside County is comprised of 5-14-year-olds (311,000), as well as San Bernardino County (339,500), according to the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Each county has slightly more than 1.9 million residents. ETHICAL LENDING 5 tips to help do it right with a home loan As summer approaches, many families make a home change. Here are five tips to examine when the home mortgage questions arrive: [1] Ask for referrals. Referrals from friends, family and colleagues are one of most effective ways to locate an ethical lender. [2] Shop around. Call each referred lender to compare loan terms. Keep in mind that anything out of the ordinary, like an interest rate dramatically below what others are quoting, is a red flag. Check your lender’s credibility with your local Better Business Bureau or the Upfront Mortgage Brokers Association, upfrontmortgagebrokers.org. [3] Check with the government. Draw on these government agencies that have jurisdiction over lenders to help narrow your search: • The Federal Reserve Board of Governors (federalreserve.gov) oversees state-chartered banks, trust companies belonging to the Federal Reserve • The FDIC (fdic.org) supervises state-chartered banks not belonging to the Federal Reserve • The Office of the Controller of the Currency (occ.treas.gov) has jurisdiction over banks with “National” or “N.A.” in their names • The National Credit Union Administration (ncua.gov) oversees federally-charted credit unions • The Office of Thrift Supervision (ots.treas.gov) watches over federal savings and loans, and federal savings banks • The Bureau of Consumer Protection (ftc.gov) covers other miscellaneous members [4] Leverage the Web. Websites provide consumers with easy access to loan information and rates. [5] Test your lenders before signing on the dotted line. Get a good-faith estimate from multiple lenders, which lists the fees and costs you will have to pay when you close your loan. Some of these fees are set and will not fluctuate, but things like points and origination fees can change – sometimes daily. Information provided by Loan.com MONTESSORI AND FIRST 5 Inland Empire schools continue excellence Montessori in Redlands has partnered with First 5 San Bernardino to launch a new special needs program called First Contact for children through age 5. The goal of First Contact is to provide more services to students with special needs, more special needs training for teachers, and more education about developmental delays for parents. “We are very excited to be able to expand our early intervention services to this very important part of our community,” says Maura Joyce, head of school at Montessori in Redlands. “We are grateful to First 5 San Bernardino for the funding and are looking forward to being a part of their network.” First Contact will enable Montessori in Redlands to document the development of children enrolled in the school’s Toddler and Primary programs and track their progress in meeting physical and cognitive milestones. “This year we will focus on training teachers to screen, on screening part of our population, and on documenting parent resources in addition to providing direct services to students who need them,” says Joyce. Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years, and what parents and caregivers do during those years to support their child’s growth will have a meaningful impact throughout life. –Michael J. Medley ASTHMA Bad air, hard breathing, steps to take The recent early spring fires that blanketed the Inland Empire with smoke, and other fires expected during a particularly dry spring and summer throughout the area and Orange County, could fuel a struggling child’s breath. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, some 750,000 children are taken into an emergency department each year because of asthma. The organization suggests that a management plan be in place to deal with any issues. “Spring is an ideal time to put together an asthma management plan, before the real trouble starts with the fall allergy and winter flu seasons,” says Dr. Rita Cydulka of MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. If you are not sure whether your child has asthma, but he or she has the symptoms of asthma (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath), talk to your doctor. How and when medications are used may vary from season to season, dependant on an individual child’s triggers. These include: • Exercise • Colds and flu • Laughing or crying hard • Allergens from plants, animals, house dust, cockroach droppings or mold • Irritants such as smoke from fires, cold air, chemicals Be sure to get your child a flu shot as soon as they are available in the fall. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that only 30% of children with asthma get the flu shot, even though flu can be fatal for people with asthma. Older children (ages 11-17) have the lowest rate of emergency department visits, but the highest rate of death from asthma. It suggests that although they are more independent than younger children in many areas, they still need close monitoring by their parents for signs that their asthma symptoms are worsening and in need of medical attention. |
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