You can help: What to do if you suspect a child is being mistreated or abused

It's a too-common scenario: you see a parent with a toddler at the store. The toddler misbehaves and, suddenly, the parent flies into a rage and screams at the child. The reaction only causes the child to cry louder, which leads to even more yelling by the parent. What can you do? Without knowing any of the family's history or its struggles, is it OK to step in at all? Read More

Five things you should know about hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a silent epidemic in America. Millions of Americans have chronic hepatitis C, which is caused through infection with the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer. As many as 75 percent of people who are living with hepatitis C don't know they are infected. Many myths prevail about this often-hidden disease. Here are the five things you need to know about hepatitis C. Read More

Up in smoke: Don't let a grilling mishap ruin your cookout

Grilling is an American tradition and summertime staple. Most of the time, grilling cookouts go off without a hitch but accidents can and do happen. Each year, grilling related accidents send an estimated 20,000 people to the emergency room and cause a reported $75 million in property damage. It's smart to know these basic tips for safe grilling. Read More

Help for teaching kids money management skills

Even though financial education courses for children are proven to contribute to improved savings rates and other financial measures, only 12 states require a personal finance course for high school graduation, according to the Council for Economic Education's 2011 Survey of the States. Read More

Sites working to inspire real life change

Whether your goal is personal or a desire to change something in society, you have to begin somewhere - otherwise you may never begin at all. It can feel daunting, even paralyzing, to tackle a major project. But the best place to start is at the beginning, and often that means making small changes. Read More

Put kids' dental health on the fast track

When you're a NASCAR driver like Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, nothing makes you smile like a trip to victory lane. Biffle is helping deliver the message to children about healthy habits like brushing, flossing, visiting the dentist and making smart food choices. Read More

You can help provide comfort to hospitalized children and families

Each year in the United States, millions of American children are hospitalized and must face the challenges of overcoming illness while staying in unfamiliar hospital environments. The physical and emotional toll can be extensive for children whose illnesses require a long hospitalization, as well as for their families whose only wish is for their child to be healthy. You can bring comfort to these families during difficult times. Here are some ideas for how you can make a difference. Read More

Baby boomers - More active than ever with no plans of slowing down

Baby boomers are reshaping everyone's view of aging because they are living healthier, more active lifestyles and have no intention of slowing down. Despite their active lifestyles, many baby boomers and non-boomers alike live with bladder control issues - also known as incontinence. Read More

Girlfriends banding together to conquer a common health issue

Nearly everything we'll ever need to know about being a girl, we'll learn from other girlfriends who've "been there, done that" before us. Even when things are medical, even when we love our OBGYNs, sometimes we're embarrassed or don't want to waste their time with things not involving making babies. That may explain why more than 7 million women suffer from heavy cycles, but go years without getting the help they need. Read More

More than just a trophy: This car race helps children

While Hollywood's love affair with auto racing may be making headlines in April around the time of the Toyota Grand Prix Pro/Celebrity Race, the romance with this particular contest certainly isn't new. Read More

New program helps returning military members bridge the gap between battlefield and backyard

After 10 years of serving around the world in armed conflicts, members of the armed forces are returning home to families, civilian jobs and a life very different from the constant state of readiness they experienced overseas. While most military members and their families will transition easily, others may need some assistance. A new program has been developed to foster positive reconnections between family members and help service members reintegrate into civilian life. Read More

U.S. foster care population continues to decline

There are more than 400,000 children in foster care across the United States, according to the most recent report released by AFCARS (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System). This is a sobering number. The encouraging news is that this number continues to decline - down more than 8 percent from 2008, and nearly 30 percent from 1999, when there were nearly 570,000 foster children. One primary reason for that decrease is the implementation of proactive social service programs. Read More

Nationwide diabetes education events create awareness, promote healthy living

Whether you are at risk for, have been recently diagnosed or are living with diabetes, it is essential to make sure you have the information necessary to manage your disease. It can also be overwhelming caring for someone with diabetes. Read More

Raising awareness about accessible transportation

Know kids who give back to the community? How to recognize their contribution

Did you ever read "Horton Hears a Who" or "The Giving Tree" to your children and wonder if they really absorbed the messages of activism, selflessness and giving those beloved children's favorites preach so gently and creatively? The success of "Kids Who Give," an on-going contest that recognizes volunteerism by children 7 to 17 would seem to indicate kids are getting the message - and acting on it. Read More

A colonoscopy can be a lifesaver: simple tips to lower your risk of colon cancer

Every year, colon cancer takes the lives of tens of thousands of mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and friends, despite the fact that with an early screening, these deaths are highly preventable. Read More

From political schemer to prison reformer: The life of Chuck Colson remembered

In 1974 the Watergate scandal sent Chuck Colson, White House special counsel and self-described "hatchet man," to federal prison. What had started as a career full of political scheming and scandal took a surprising turn during the seven months he spent behind bars. As Colson witnessed the corrosive influence prison had on his fellow inmates, he began to believe that locking more people up would never cure society's ills. For the rest of his life, he made it his mission to aid prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. Read More