Here Comes the Man in Red!

Here comes the man in red!... and no, I don't mean Herbie Husker, the University of Nebraska mascot!

Yes, boys and girls of all ages can once again track the journey of Santa as he traverses the world dropping off gifts and buffing Rudolph's red nose on Christmas Eve. Below are a few links to "dot gov" sites providing information on Old Saint Nick for your entertainment.

Track Santa's journey around the world
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/
(North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD)

Do a search in google for letters to Santa (include the quotes in your search):
"letters to santa" site:gov
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22letters+to+santa%22+site%3Agov&aq=f&oq=

This from the Library of Congress:
http://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/dec08/santa.html

and this from NASA:
http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery-detail.asp?name=SantaClaus

In Search of Santa (Smithsonian Institute)
http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?show=131259

Warmest wishes to you all during these holiday seasons and our best to you into the new year!

The Staff of the State Library of Kansas

It takes a village... to ensure child safety

Parenting styles vary greatly, but it can be agreed that ensuring a child's life is free from intentional or preventable harm is every citizen's responsibility. The government uses statistics and reports to create safety programming and allocate funds to agencies that serve families and children. These programs and gencies help parents ensure the safety of their children. Learn what the state and federal governments are doing to ensure the safety of all children in Kansas.

IF YOU SUSPECT ANY CHILD IS BEING HARMED or NEGLECTED,
contact the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330

Government Studies and Statistics:

Annual report of the Child Death Review Board, a division of the Attorney General's Office:
http://www.ksag.org/files/2011_SCDRB_Annual_Report.pdf

Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) Reports and Publications:
http://www.srs.ks.gov/agency/cfs/Pages/CFSOutcomesandReports.aspx

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Reports and Statistics:
http://www.kdheks.gov/phi/khsr.html

Center for Disease Control (CDC) Child Health Statistics:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/children.htm

KidsCount data center:
http://www.aecf.org/MajorInitiatives/KIDSCOUNT.aspx

Missing or exploited children:

AMBER Alert program in Kansas:
http://www.ksamber.org/ksamber/index.do

National Center for Missing or Exploited Children:
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US

Federal Office to Monitor Trafficking of Persons:
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/

FBI Office of Human Trafficking:
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/civilrights/human_trafficking

How to get assistance for children you suspect are involved in human trafficking:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/policy/sl10-05.htm

Child Abuse or Neglect:

Kansas Child Protective Services:
http://www.srs.ks.gov/agency/cfs/Pages/ChildProtectiveServices.aspx

Kansas SRS Child Abuse & Neglect Registry:
http://www.srs.ks.gov/agency/cfs/Pages/AbuseNeglectRegistry.aspx

Kansas Save Haven Law. ***If you have an infant up to 45 days old, which you are unable to care for financially, physically, emotionally or otherwise you may give your child over to a medical facility, fire station or health department. Choose this option over harming your child:
http://www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org/states/kansas/
http://www.ksrevisor.org/2010/C38/38-2282.pdf

Sexual Violence:

KDHE Sexual Violence and Education division:
http://www.kdheks.gov/rpe/index.html

Kansas Bureau of Investigation offender registry list:
http://www.accesskansas.org/kbi/ro.shtml

Rape statistics:
http://www.kdheks.gov/rpe/download/rape_indicators.pdf

Healthcare and Nutrition:

KDHE Bureau of Family Health:
http://www.kdheks.gov/bfh/index.html

Kansas WIC program:
http://www.kdheks.gov/nws-wic/index.html

CDC Nutrition information:
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/professionals/data/index.html

National Institute of Health information:
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Diet_and_Nutrition.cfm

School and Childcare Safety:

Kansas Department of Education:
http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3905

Kansas Coordinated School Health Program:
http://www.kshealthykids.org/KCSH_Menus/KCSH_Home.htm

Kansas Attorney General:
http://www.ksag.org/page/kansas-state-child-death-review-board-encourages-safety-for-school-children

KDHE Childcare Licensing:
http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/index.html

Safekids Kansas:
http://www.safekidskansas.org/child_care.htm


SIDS and Safe sleeping:

Kansas Attorney General:
http://www.ksag.org/page/kansas-state-child-death-review-board-promotes-sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids-awareness

CDC SIDS information:
http://www.cdc.gov/SIDS/index.htm

Back to Sleep campaign from the National Institute on Health:
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/

Safe Transportation:

KDHE information on child safety seats:
http://www.kdheks.gov/kansasbooster/

Safekids Kansas information:
http://www.safekidskansas.org/child_passenger.html
and
http://www.safekidskansas.org/pedestrian.html

Kansas Department of Transportation:
http://www.ksdot.org/burTrafficSaf/brochures/pdf/itsthelawprimarymay2010.pdf

December Holidays

December signals the beginning of many different celebrations, holidays and observances in the United States and around the world. Starting with World AIDS Day on December 1st and culminating with New Years Eve the month offers a diverse journey through awareness, cultures, belief systems, history and many opportunities to give of oneself to others.Below are some links to resources and information on some December events with an emphasis on Kansas:

The Winter Holidays

http://www.kslib.info/ref/misc/web/winterholidays.html
(Information on December holidays and events provided by the State Library of Kansas)

Diversity Calendar
http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/
(The University of Kansas Medical Center offers up a calendar with information on special days around the world)"

World AIDS Day is December 1st
The Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment urges people at risk to be tested
http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archives/2011/11292011.htm

Kansas Travel & Tourism
http://www.travelks.com/
(For Kansas events around the state click on EVENTS and put in a search term: winter, Christmas, snow, etc. Site is part of the Kansas Department of Commerce. They also provide a short list of Featured Events.)

Candlelight Tour at Fort Scott, Kansas
http://www.nps.gov/fosc/planyourvisit/clt.htm
(U.S. National Park Service)

December books for children provided by the Kansas City Kansas Public Library
---Christmas Books
http://library.booksite.com/5366/nl/?list=CNL3
---Hanukkah and Kwanzaa
http://library.booksite.com/5366/nl/?list=CNL7

Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa Books and Videos for Children
http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/resources/children/reading_lists/christmas_kwa.asp
(Provided by C ombined Arms Research Library, Fort Leavenworth)

Christmas Cookie Recipes
http://www.girard248.org/holidays/christmas/cookies.html
(Brought to you by the Girard Public Schools)

Decorate with care!
http://www.kspace.org/bitstream/1984/4560/1/11-20-03Kansas+Department+of+Health+and+Environment+-+News+Release.pdf
(Advice on the use of candles, lights, trees, food, decorations from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment)

Inspect Christmas Trees Often
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/sty/2005/Christmas_trees120905.htm
(Kansas State University Research and Extension)

Food Safety Tips for a Safe Holiday
http://www.kspace.org/bitstream/1984/7207/1/12-18-08Kansas+Department+of+Agriculture+__+News.pdf
(Kansas Department of Agriculture)

Article contact: Bill Sowers
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