Get in the Holiday Spirit…Safely

The season brings with it dangers for our kids

By Erin Albertini, MD/MPH Candidate With Julie Belkowitz, MD, MPH, Lyse Deus, and Oneith Cadiz, MD, Courtesy of InjuryFreeMiami.org

While the holidays are undeniably joyful, decorations and gifts can potentially cause injuries to children if they are not checked for safety and set up correctly. As you are decking the halls, wrapping gifts, and preparing for this holiday season, here are some tips for keeping your family safe.

Is Adoption Right for You?

November is National Adoption Month and Miami-Dade County needs forever families

As we celebrate National Adoption Month in November, it is a perfect time for adults and families to ask themselves whether adoption is right for them. It’s a big decision, maybe the biggest you will make in a lifetime. But it will change people’s lives forever, both for a child or youth that is adopted and those who adopt them. For many individuals and families out there, adoption carries with it many uncertainties, starting with whether it is right for them. Here then is a quick primer on common questions associated with adoption:

When is a Cold More Than Just a Cold?

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causing havoc this fall

From the Advocacy Network on Disabilities



Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the many viruses that cause respiratory illnesses of the nose, throat, and lungs. This virus is most common in the late fall through early spring months, but can vary in different parts of the country. 

Almost all children get RSV at least once before they are 2 years old. For most healthy children, RSV is like a cold. But, some children get very sick with RSV.

20 Years of Nurturing Greatness: Finding Yourself When You Find Your Forever Family

Yasmin Snyder's journey to find a forever family featured in The Trust's 20th Anniversary campaign

Yasmin Snyder entered the foster care system at the tender age of 5 when she was removed from her home as a result of physical abuse. Although she would be reunited with her birth mother briefly, she was again put in foster care for a second time soon after. And that was only the start.

Yasmin was in line to be adopted three times. For a young child, the cycle of hope and despair she endured each time a potential adoption came up was a cruel reminder of the limitations of the system. 

The Children’s Trust Book Club offers age-appropriate free, monthly books by mail for children from 0-5 living in Miami-Dade.