UNMC and American Red Cross Train Nations First Diabetes-Educated
Babysitters
Contacting family members or neighborhood youth to watch your kids is
still a typical way most American parents get a night out unless their
children have diabetes. Then, more often than not, theres no night out
at all. Parents might be placing their children at risk if the babysitter
doesnt understand the medical issues involved with diabetes.
The University of Nebraska Medical Centers Munroe-Meyer Institute and
the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross have joined forces
to establish a unique program to train diabetic adolescents and young adults
in how to care for children with diabetes. In September, the nations
first three certified diabetes-educated babysitters graduated from the
program. They are Jennifer McGill, 17, Westside High School, Sheryl Lundstrom,
16, Marian High School, and Aaron Billings, 19, University of Nebraska-Omaha.
The number of children diagnosed with diabetes is on the increase,
said Judy Mathews, Ph.D., a child psychologist at MMI and assistant professor
in the UNMC department of pediatrics. These children have parents absolutely
in need of more respite resources.
Parents with younger children with Type I, or insulin dependent, diabetes
are reluctant to leave their children because some of the issues arising
in their absence could turn into life-threatening emergencies. The lack
of respite care can add to family stress and reduce the quality of life,
Dr. Mathews said, particularly for parents of children under age 11, the
target group for the new babysitting program. A MMI and Red Cross
study determined that parents of diabetic children would be more receptive
to babysitters who have diabetes themselves and have been trained in how
to monitor and handle smaller children with the disease.
For the first year of the program, all the candidates for the babysitting
program must be adolescents or young adults who are in control of their
own diabetes care, Dr. Mathews said. Not only are they the best
and most understanding care providers, but they also serve as role models
for younger children with Type I diabetes. If the charter group is
successful, then we will expand the program in the future to include non-diabetic
respite providers, such as siblings.
Dr. Mathews said there is an extensive screening process for respite
provider candidates. Recruiting was assisted by the Nebraska chapter of
the America Diabetes Association, the Nebraska chapter of the Juvenile
Diabetes Foundation, the Omaha Support Group for Parents of Children with
Diabetes and the Omaha chapter of Young Adults for Diabetes Awareness.
Candidates must take an extensive eight-hour babysitting course taught
by certified Red Cross instructors. The courses covers an introduction
to babysitting, safety, basic care, first aid and infant/child CPR. Trainees
are taught a problem-solving model for emergency situations based on the
American Red Cross approach adapted for children with diabetes.
Our mission is to train people to take care of others, said Sam Tidwell,
executive director of the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The coordination and help we received from Munroe-Meyer specialists allows
us to expand our babysitting program into homes with chronically ill children.
Now, we have the potential to help many parents who previously couldnt
use our regular certified babysitters without fearing for the safety of
their child.
The four-hour diabetes education component is taught by Alice Jardee,
MMI diabetes nurse educator. She provides an overview of diabetes
and diabetic schedule training, and teaches about blood testing, insulin,
hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, ketones, nutrition, exercise and various illness
attendant to diabetes. Although all the student babysitters have diabetes,
they received basic information on diabetes care for others as well as
contact forms with instructions from parents in case of emergency.
There is also a two-hour behavioral component taught by Dr. Mathews.
The students learn about child development, basic positive behavior management
skills, and diabetes-specific behavior such as hypoglycemia-related temper
tantrums, blood testing and meals. All families selected for the babysitters
are screened to ensure the child is compliant enough to allow the babysitter
to effectively manage the childs diabetes regimen.
Respite providers must pass written and demonstrative tests on all the
various diabetes-related skills they may need with the children.
Each graduate receives a briefcase that includes the American Red Cross
babysitting handbook, emergency instructions, first aid supplies, and a
notebook with diabetes-specific instructions. They must keep a detailed
log of all their sitting experiences, and understand when to contact the
parents or when to call 911. Because the babysitters are not trained to
give insulin injections, parents are encouraged to schedule respite between
injection times. All compensation for the sitters will be a private agreement
between the sitter and the diabetic childs family.
“We have three trained, fully capable young women ready to start providing
respite care right now, Dr. Mathews said.
A special get acquainted day will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, at
9 a.m. in Room 3016 at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, 44th and Dewey Streets.
Parents can meet the providers and take home their individual resumes.
There will also a screening packet on hand for parents to participate in
the program, Dr. Mathews said.
Interested parents are encouraged to attend the informational meeting.
There will be snacks and juice available.
If anyone cannot attend or desires more information, contact Dr. Mathews
or Angie Williams at 559-6408.
The Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) provides a unique range of interdisciplinary
family-centered health care services for individuals, with disabilities
or special health care needs, and their families. These services
are provided in a variety of settings including schools, homes, hospitals
and clinics throughout the Omaha area and the state of Nebraska.
MMIs main focus areas are clinical services, interdisciplinary education
and research.