The Community Opening Celebration will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, from noon to 6 pm.

For more information, including videos detailing the new facility and services and a schedule of events for the grand opening, visit legacyhealth.org/kidsonly.

In this month’s online article, Oregon Partnership’s director of parenting programs, Emily Moser, explores these topics and offers simple tips for parents to keep children safe and encourage healthy habits for life.

And while we’re on the subject of smoking, let’s talk about another important topic for parents: keeping our kids away from tobacco. We all want to do it, but many of us aren’t quite sure how -– or when –- to approach the issue with our kids. We found a few websites that can help:

The Mayo Clinic’s 10 Ways to Help Teens Stay Smoke-free

The US Dept of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health’s Resources for Parents

Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids’ How Parents Can Protect Their Kids

Foundation for a Smoke-free America’s Youth Site

Have you broached the subject of smoking with your kids?

What do you think is a good age to begin the conversation?

What tips can you offer other parents to get their kids talking about – and thinking about – the harmful effects of smoking before they’re tempted to give it a try?

Your free exam will include:
* Basic preventive care history and health screening including breast and pelvic exam, pap smear, abdominal, heart and lung exams performed by a licensed naturopathic doctor.
* Reflex HPV test will be completed if indicated by irregular PAP results in any age woman.
* Discussion of dietary and hormonal health.

Sprig Health is opening doors and giving people access to the same doctor that their neighbor sees, without the need for an insurance card. They’ve rallied progressive doctors who want to cultivate a healthy community and they’re connecting them to proactive patients -– like you -– who are smart with their care decisions, ultimately building a more sustainable health care system.

Enter by Sept. 22 to win!

In the meantime, become a part of the Sprig Health community. It’s absolutely free to join!

Kaiser perinatologist Suzanne Lubarsky, MD, is the keynote speaker, and lactation specialists and dietitians will be on hand to answer your questions. There also will be information available about online programs, classes, and hospital tours (some programs available to Kaiser Permanente members only).

Plus, you’ll get a free breakfast!

The symposium is free and open to the public. To register, visit KPHealthSymposium.org. (Registration is encouraged but is not necessary to attend.)

From playing baseball, basketball and Microsoft Kinect to break dancing and hula hooping to frolicking in the park, making a smiley salad and more, local families shared some of the diverse ways they keep their kids active, happy and healthy. And with only about a dozen families participating, not only are the odds of winning pretty good, but it’s easy to watch them all and vote for your favorite!

You can vote for three each day from now until June 14th. Winners will be announced June 20. (NOTE: You’ll need to be logged into Facebook to see the page and to vote.)

We’d like to wish all the healthy and creative families who participated the best of luck!

In this month’s online article — “Group Prenatal Care Focuses on Success in Labor, Delivery and Motherhood” — nurse midwife Ellen Tilden, R.N., C.N.M., M.S., describes an innovative model of prenatal care practiced by nurse midwives at Oregon Health & Science University: Group Prenatal Care. Read why some practitioners believe the format is better than traditional prenatal care, and how mothers who participated in the program felt about their experiences.

Led by PSU faculty member Roslyn Farrington, who’s taught the course “Women, Love and Self Care” to PSU students for the last five years, the workshop is intended to promote women’s psychological, spiritual and physical wellbeing.

“This workshop is where women in the community will be able to explore practices that can support their conscious efforts toward being self-loving and affirming on a daily basis,” Farrington says. “We will make connections between care of our minds, bodies and spirits and better health overall.”

Not only is the workshop a perfect way to celebrate National Women’s Health Week, we think it’s a perfect companion to our May article “Living Your Best Life,” which details several simple lifestyle changes busy moms can make to improve their lives physically, emotionally and socially. Read the article in our May issue beginning on page 12.

To register for the PSU workshop, visit pdx.edu/ws, call 503-725-9624, or email itsyourtime@pdx.edu.

Women, Love and Self Care … It’s Your Time!
Saturday, May 14, 9 am to 4 pm
Free; preregistration required
Portland State University, 1825 Southwest Broadway
Room 212 Shattuck Hall

For more information about National Women’s Health Week, visit womenshealth.gov/whw.

Show the world what your family does to encourage good health, and you could win some great prizes!

During May, The Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel is hosting a “Healthy Kids Are Happy Kids” video contest. All you have to do is make a short video (60 seconds or less) showing what your family does to stay active, eat well or play safely and you could win a family trip to the Oregon Coast, a private kid’s cooking class or a fun-filled bowling party.

The contest is open to residents of the United States who are 18 years or older. Videos can feature family members of any age. Entries are due by May 31, 2011. Public voting will take place on Facebook from June 1-14, 2011, and winners will be announced the week of June 20, 2011. Find details and entry information at facebook.com/legacychildrens.

In this month’s online article, Dr. Kelly Leaf of Doctors Express of Lake Oswego, a new walk-in urgent care center, offers tips to help you make an informed decision about your child’s care. If you’re still not sure what to do for your child, check out OHSU’s new MD4Kids app – available for iPhone and online – which walks you through the decision making process based on answers you provide about your child’s condition.