Parents: Use this guide to find pediatricians, healthy meals and more for your kids

WDSU News is committed to helping make a difference in our communities, especially when it comes to the health and wellbeing of our children. Below is a resource guide that parents can use all year long to help them make the best decisions for their families. Did we miss something? Email web@wdsu.com to provide your suggestion.Medical resources: It is important for your family to find a primary care physician or pediatrician that you trust for regular physical and wellness visits. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, children should have regular scheduled well-child visits from birth until they are 21 years old. These visits help with growth, development and prevention of serious illnesses. To find a pediatrician in Louisiana, you can search by your zip code here. For more information on immunizations for children in Louisiana, click here. For information on regular dental cleanings, click here. Mental Health: According to the Centers for Disease Control, poor mental health is a growing problem for children and adolescents. The CDC said more than 1 in 3 high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009.In 2019, the CDC said approximately 1 in 6 youth reported making a suicide plan in the past year, a 44% increase since 2009.It is important for parents to recognize the signs of mental health problems in their children, and provide resources available to them to address their concerns. To learn more about different mental health disorders and how to spot symptoms, click here. For information on mental health treatment centers available in Louisiana, click here. Those in the New Orleans Metro Area can also utilize services through NAMI Louisiana, a nonprofit that provides mental health resources in Southeast Louisiana. Parents should be in communication with their children's primary care physician or pediatrician about any medication prescribed for behavioral or mental health diagnoses. Nutrition: A healthy diet is crucial to the development and growth of your child. The American Association of Pediatrics provides recommendations for nutrition needs based on your child's age. For nutritional needs for babies, click here.For nutritional needs for toddlers, click here. For nutritional needs for preschool children, click here. For nutritional needs for grade school children, click here. For nutritional needs for teenagers, click here. For nutritional needs for young adults, click here. The United States Department of Agriculture provides several resources to families in need of low-cost or free meals for their children. To learn more about these child nutrition programs, click here. For resources from the Department of Children and Family Services, click here. For more information on WIC services in Louisiana, click here. WDSU also regularly partners with Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans to help provide meals to people in the New Orleans Metro Area. For more information on food drives and food banks through Second Harvest, click here. Day care resources: Parents are often challenged with finding adequate and affordable child care for their children. The Louisiana Department of Health has strict guidelines in place for child care facilities in the state. For those guidelines, click here. To find a childcare center near you, click here. For information on childcare assistance in Louisiana, click here. For information on home-based child care centers, click here. Technology safety: Children are adapting and using new technologies in school and at home. It is important to establish safe and effective habits surrounding the Internet. The Department of Justice urges parents to be involved in their children's digital world. The DOJ asks parents to have an internet safety plan and regularly supervise and review their children's devices. For information on how to set up an Internet safety plan for your children, click here. Louisiana is also working to bridge the digital divide and provide affordable access to the internet statewide. For information on affordable internet access, click here. For more information on internet resources available in Louisiana, click here. Families are also urged to use their local libraries for internet access and other digital resources. To find a public library near you, click here.

NEW ORLEANS —

WDSU News is committed to helping make a difference in our communities, especially when it comes to the health and wellbeing of our children.

Below is a resource guide that parents can use all year long to help them make the best decisions for their families.

Did we miss something? Email web@wdsu.com to provide your suggestion.

Medical resources:

It is important for your family to find a primary care physician or pediatrician that you trust for regular physical and wellness visits.

According to the American Association of Pediatrics, children should have regular scheduled well-child visits from birth until they are 21 years old.

These visits help with growth, development and prevention of serious illnesses.

To find a pediatrician in Louisiana, you can search by your zip code here.

For more information on immunizations for children in Louisiana, click here.

For information on regular dental cleanings, click here.

Mental Health:

According to the Centers for Disease Control, poor mental health is a growing problem for children and adolescents.

The CDC said more than 1 in 3 high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009.

In 2019, the CDC said approximately 1 in 6 youth reported making a suicide plan in the past year, a 44% increase since 2009.

It is important for parents to recognize the signs of mental health problems in their children, and provide resources available to them to address their concerns.

To learn more about different mental health disorders and how to spot symptoms, click here.

For information on mental health treatment centers available in Louisiana, click here.

Those in the New Orleans Metro Area can also utilize services through NAMI Louisiana, a nonprofit that provides mental health resources in Southeast Louisiana.

Parents should be in communication with their children's primary care physician or pediatrician about any medication prescribed for behavioral or mental health diagnoses.

Nutrition:

A healthy diet is crucial to the development and growth of your child.

The American Association of Pediatrics provides recommendations for nutrition needs based on your child's age.

For nutritional needs for babies, click here.

For nutritional needs for toddlers, click here.

For nutritional needs for preschool children, click here.

For nutritional needs for grade school children, click here.

For nutritional needs for teenagers, click here.

For nutritional needs for young adults, click here.

The United States Department of Agriculture provides several resources to families in need of low-cost or free meals for their children.

To learn more about these child nutrition programs, click here.

For resources from the Department of Children and Family Services, click here.

For more information on WIC services in Louisiana, click here.

WDSU also regularly partners with Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans to help provide meals to people in the New Orleans Metro Area.

For more information on food drives and food banks through Second Harvest, click here.

Day care resources:

Parents are often challenged with finding adequate and affordable child care for their children.

The Louisiana Department of Health has strict guidelines in place for child care facilities in the state.

For those guidelines, click here.

To find a childcare center near you, click here.

For information on childcare assistance in Louisiana, click here.

For information on home-based child care centers, click here.

Technology safety:

Children are adapting and using new technologies in school and at home.

It is important to establish safe and effective habits surrounding the Internet.

The Department of Justice urges parents to be involved in their children's digital world.

The DOJ asks parents to have an internet safety plan and regularly supervise and review their children's devices.

For information on how to set up an Internet safety plan for your children, click here.

Louisiana is also working to bridge the digital divide and provide affordable access to the internet statewide.

For information on affordable internet access, click here.

For more information on internet resources available in Louisiana, click here.

Families are also urged to use their local libraries for internet access and other digital resources.

To find a public library near you, click here.