News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Bill Encourages School Boards to Add Infant Care to Health Curriculum

For Immediate Release: March 2, 1998 Contact: Laura Hosey, Assistant to Senator Dave Donley, at (907) 465-3892.

Juneau – The House Monday passed legislation adding infant care instruction to the list of subjects allowed in state law for each school district to include in its health education curriculum. Senate Bill 117, sponsored by Senator Dave Donley (R-Anchorage) passed by a vote of 28 to 6.

Donley said that compared to other states, Alaska has one of the highest infant mortality rates. "We need to try and reverse this course," Donley said. "By giving young Alaskans basic infant care skills, my hope is they are better prepared to become parents later in life. Making this small change in state law will be worthwhile if the life of even one child is saved."

SB 117 does not mandate schools to include infant care instruction in health curriculums. The decision to include the topic is left up to individual school boards. The bill simply adds "infant care" instruction to the list of health related subjects schools board members can choose from to include in health education courses.

Infant care instruction would join the following other topics encouraged in public school health care curriculums: Physical health and personal safety including alcohol and drug abuse education, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early cancer prevention and detection, dental health, family health including infant care, environmental health, the identification and prevention of child abuse, child abduction, neglect, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, and appropriate use of health services.

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