Originally posted by the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice Consumer Alert

Also available in Spanish at:  https://consumidor.ftc.gov/alertas-para-consumidores/2022/05/cuando-hay-escasez-de-leche-de-formula-para-bebes-hay-abundancia-de-estafadores

Scammers exploiting the high demand for baby formula have sunk to new lows. They’re popping up online and tricking desperate parents and caregivers into paying steep prices for formula that never arrives.

Scammers may set up fake websites or profiles on social media platforms with product images and logos of well-known formula brands — all to make you think you’re buying products from the companies’ official websites.

Before you order from an unfamiliar online store, follow this advice from the Federal Trade Commission to help avoid a scam and find help:

• Check out the company or product by typing its name in a search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” See what other people say about it.
• Consider how you pay. Credit cards often give you the strongest protections, so you can sometimes get your money back if you ordered something but didn’t get it. But anyone who demands payment by gift card, money transfer, or cryptocurrency is a scammer.
• Know your rights. When you shop online, sellers are supposed to ship your order within the time stated in their ads, or within 30 days if the ads don’t give a time. If a seller can’t ship within the promised time, it has to give you a revised shipping date, with the chance to either cancel your order for a full refund or accept the new shipping date.
• Search for local resources. Call your pediatrician to see if they have formula in stock. Pediatricians often get samples of different formulas and may be able to help. If you are a participant in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition assistance program, contact your local office to find formula.

If you suspect a scam, you may report it here: ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your reports help the FTC and our law enforcement partners stop scammers.

This free program helps educate fathers about child development and provides strategies for improved communication and developmentally appropriate interactions with child.

Please register for your FREE activity kit by contacting OSU Extension Educator Heather Reister at reister.6@osu.edu

The kits are available during  the annual Pathway to Hope Fatherhood picnic on Sunday, June 12 from 2 – 4 p.m. Participants will receive information on how to best use the activity kit during a Zoom meeting held on Monday, June 21 at 5:00 p

DEA National Rx Takeback

National Drug Take Back Day provides a safe and convenient way to dispose of prescription & over the counter drugs.

National Drug Take Back Day is this month — Saturday, April 30, 2022 – 10:00 AM till 2: 00 PM
Visit www.dea.gov to search for a location near you or call 1-800-882-0539 for a collection site near you.

Information about home disposal of over-the-counter and safe disposal of e-cigarette and vaping devices is here:  https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

Specific information below is for  Butler County for disposal of prescription drugs any time of the year.  

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION
24-hour drug drop boxes are available seven days a week in the lobby of these police departments, except for Miami University.  NO syringes, lancets, liquids or inhalants.

City of Fairfield – 5230 Pleasant Avenue – 513-829-8201
Monroe – 601 S. Main Street – 513-539-9234
City of Oxford Police – 101 E. High Street – 513-524-5240
Miami University – 4945 Oxford Trenton Road, (M-F, 9 – 4:30) 513-529-2222

Walgreens 24 Hour Pharmacies
Middletown – 700 S. Breiel Blvd.  Phone 513-425-8702
Tri-County – 385 Northland Blvd. Phone 513-825-6446

CVS 24 Hour Pharmacies
28 N. Brookwood Avenue, Hamilton – 513-863-8906
7217 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd., West Chester – 513-759-3301
820 Breiel Blvd., Middletown – 513-424-4911

Meijer Stores now have in-store kiosks that are available during pharmacy hours to drop off your unused/expired prescription or over the counter medications.

Follow these FDA guidelines when disposing of unused medications
https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm

Visit www.rxdrugdropbox.org for a full list of pharmaceutical collection points.

Butler County Parent Connection

You can help stop the cycle

The best way to stop the cycle of child abuse and neglect is through investing in strong communities, healthy families and safe children. Ohio’s Children’s Trust Fund does just that. In fact, their mission is dedicating public funding for child abuse and neglect prevention.  You can learn more about Parent Resources on the OCTF website.

According to the Mayo Clinic, these factors may increases a person’s risk for abusing a child.

• A history of being abused or neglected as a child
• Physical or mental illness, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Family crisis or stress, including domestic violence and other marital conflicts, or single parenting
• A child in the family who is developmentally or physically disabled
• Financial stress, unemployment or poverty
• Social or extended family isolation
• Poor understanding of child development and parenting skills
• Alcohol, drugs or other substance abuse

If you are afraid you may hurt a child, there is help.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, make sure your child is safe and walk away.

Recognizing your feelings is the first step to prevent them harm.

These resources are available to help you.  You are not alone.

• Call your doctor or therapist.  These healthcare providers can help you find immediate help.  They call also refer you to resources that might be useful, such as parent education classes, counseling, or support groups.
• Call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline.  This 24/7 hotline can be reached at 800-4-A-CHILD by phone or text.  They can talk to you in the moment and direct you to free resources in your area. https://www.childhelp.org/
• Visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway.  This organization provides families and individuals with links to family support services.  https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/supporting/support-services/

Challenge Dates: April 4 – May 15, 2022

Register before March 28, 2022

Topics Covered:

• Financial Wellness
• Social Wellness
• Intellectual Wellness
• Creative Wellness
• Environmental Wellness
• Emotional Wellness
• Physical Wellness
• Occupational Wellness
• Spiritual Wellness
• Balance

What is the cost? It’s FREE!!

Who can participate? Any adult with an email account.

For Butler County residents go to this link & register before March 28, 2022:

If you wish to register for a different county, the counties are listed here: https://livehealthyosu.com/

Sponsored by Ohio State University Extension

While pancakes have probably been a part of your mornings for as long as you can remember, these tasty mouthfuls of goodness have quite a history of their own.  Did you know that pancakes may have been around since the stone age?  In ancient Greece and Rome, they kept it simple with ingredients including flour, olive oil and milk but chefs today are shaking up their pancake recipes to include fruit, vegetables spices, candy and many other unusual ingredients that make them delicious and fun!

Continue reading →