Resources for September Observances

Various organizations, states, and nations recognize several observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them.

Here is a list of resources for August observances:

Month-Long Observances

ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH

• Attendance Awareness Campaign 2024, Attendance Works
• Key Research: Why Attendance Matters for Achievement and How Interventions Can Help, Attendance Works

BABY SAFETY MONTH

• Organizations Publish New Child Safety and Development Resources for Families and Educators, Trying Together
• Safety and Emergencies: Family Resources, Trying Together
• Directory for Emergency and Safety Services, Trying Together
• Baby Safety Month Safety Tips, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA)?
• 5 Tips for New Parents During Baby Safety Month, SafeKids.org

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

• What is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Free Resources from the American Childhood Cancer Organization, American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO)
• Are There Disparities in Childhood Cancer?, New York State Department of Health
• Childhood Cancers, NIH National Cancer Institute
• Participate in a September Childhood Cancer Awareness Event, Children’s Cancer Cause

NATIONAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH

• Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families: The Importance of Exercise, Trying Together
• Preventing Childhood Obesity: 6 Things Families Can Do, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month: September 2024, National Today
• Parents and Caregivers Can Help Prevent Obesity and Support Healthy Growth, U.S. Department of Agriculture

NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH

• National Recovery Month 2024, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Recovery Month, Community Care Behavioral Health
• National Recovery Month, Allegheny County Department of Human Services
• Celebrating Roads to Recovery, Pittsburgh Recovery Walk

NEWBORN SCREENING AWARENESS MONTH

• Newborn Screening, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• What is Newborn Screening?, Baby’s First Test
• Newborn Screening Tests for Your Baby, March of Dimes About Newborn Screening, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH (September 15 - October 15)

• Family Guide to Discussing Race and Equity with Young Children, Trying Together
• More Than 6 in 10 Hispanic Children’s Households Experienced Material Hardship in 2020, National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families
• Key Facts About Young Latinos, One of the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Populations, Pew Research Center
• Characteristics of the Early Childhood Workforce Serving Latino Children, National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families
• Celebrate Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month With These Tasty Recipes!, PBS Kids for Parents
• Top Resources for National Hispanic Heritage Month, EBSCO Post

Weeks of Recognition

SEPTEMBER 17 – 23 IS CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK

• Car Seat Safety for Children, Trying Together
• Car Seats and Booster Seats Overview, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Safe Kids Worldwide Car Seat Guide Videos, Safe Kids Worldwide
• Boost Your Child Passenger Safety Knowledge and Skills Trainings, National Child Passenger Safety Board
• All Children are Pedestrians! Prevention Tips and Recent Statistics, Children’s Safety Network at Education Development Center

Days of Recognition

SEPTEMBER 6 IS NATIONAL READ A BOOK DAY

• Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Releases 2024 Best Books for Babies List, Trying Together
• Toolkit: Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literary Success, Trying Together
• Children’s Books on Race and Equity, Trying Together
• Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together
• Children’s Books About Transitions, Trying Together
• Children’s Books About Mental Health, Trying Together

SEPTEMBER 26 IS NATIONAL FAMILY DAY

• Family Engagement Toolkit, Trying Together
• Family Guide: Family Dynamics, Trying Together
• Strategies to Support Social-Emotional Development: A Guide for Families, Trying Together
• Family Transitions and Routines: Resources, Trying Together
• Trying Together Releases Family Resources in Spanish, Trying Together
• Grandfamily Tip Sheets Provide Information on Self-Care and Youth Mental Health, Trying Together
• Navigating Sibling Relationships, Psychology Today
• Foster and Adoptive Families: Supportive Strategies, PennState Better Kid Care
• Blended Family and Self-Parenting Tips, HelpGuide.org?
• Keeping in Touch with Family Can Keep You Healthy, WebMD.com
• Healthy Communication in Stepfamilies, National Stepfamily Resource Center (NRSC)
• Get to Know Your Stepkids, National Stepfamily Resource Center (NRSC)