Thanksgiving Parade to Feature National Children’s Study Float and Donation

The National Children’s Study (NCS), the largest and most detailed study on children’s health and development in the U.S., is helping local families ring in the holiday season with a charitable donation. Two “pack and plays” will be given to A Wider Circle, a local charity that furnishes the homes of individuals and families transitioning from homeless shelters. The balloon-filled “pack and plays” will be featured on the NCS float in the annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade on Saturday, November 19, at 10 a.m. in Silver Spring, Md. In addition to the donation, the NCS float will feature valuable information about the study and children’s health. 

NCS is currently accepting interested pregnant women that live in Montgomery County to be part of the study, which examines the effects of the environment and genetics on the growth, development and health of children across the U.S. The study, led by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, follows participants from gestation until 21 years to improve the health and well-being of children and to better understand the role that various factors have on health and disease. Data from the study will contribute to the research of conditions such as pre-term birth, chronic health problems such as asthma, obesity and diabetes, as well as other health and behavior outcomes. Montgomery County is one of 105 counties across the country that have been selected to participate in this groundbreaking study which researchers believe will help provide critical information to assist in the development of prevention strategies, health and safety guidelines and future research.

For more information about the National Children’s Study or how to enroll, please visit: maryland.nationalchildrensstudy.gov or https://www.facebook.com/MarylandNCS.