Kids & Politics: Minding the Budget

From Connect for Kids Weekly Email:

Kids & Politics: Minding the Budget

Save the Date: Children's Budget Summit (July 20)Federal domestic spending on children has declined by 23 percent since 1960, according to the Urban Institute. To reverse this trend, Urban and the bipartisan advocacy organization First Focus are hosting this event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It will include policy and communications experts and state groups that have successfully advocated for additional funding. RSVP to Emily Mah at Emily@firstfocus.net by July 9. For more on the federal budget and kids, check out:

KIDS' SHARE 2007: How Children Fare in the Federal Budget (Urban Institute)
Policy Agenda/Resources (First Focus)
How the Budget Affects You (Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities)
Budget Topic Page (Coalition on Human Needs)
Federal Budget Research (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

Connect for kids: http://www.connectforkids.org/

Early Childhood News and Tools - From Connect for Kids Weekly

Early Childhood News and Tools
Head Start Passes in Senate, Moves to Conference with House
On June 19th, the U.S. Senate passed its Head Start for School Readiness Act (S. 556). The House version of the bill, H.R. 1429, was passed on May 2nd. The differences in the two bills will be worked out in conference. The Child Welfare League of America says the bill, among other things:
Ends controversial standardized testing of 4-year-olds;
Increases the set-aside for Early Head Start;
Sets a "goal" that by September 2013, 50 percent of all center-based Head Start teachers in each state attain a Bachelor's degree.For more on the program, visit the official Head Start website.

How to Plan a Site Visit: Inviting Policymakers to See Your Work with Infants, Toddlers & Their Families
If a picture is worth a thousand words, showing someone your work firsthand can be worth even more. This advocacy tool from ZERO TO THREE helps early childhood workers learn about how site visits can connect policymakers' decisions to the faces of infants, toddlers, and families in the community.
Questions? Contact Debbie Rappaport at drappaport@zerotothree.org.For more information, join the ZERO TO THREE Policy Network (it's free). And visit the site to try out the interactive "baby brain map" and new School Readiness Interactive tools.

Supporting the Growth and Development of Babies in Child Care: What Does the Research Say?
Most infants and toddlers will spend some time in non-parental care during their early years, and research shows that secure relationships with parents and caregivers are of primary importance for cognitive, social, and emotional development. This Center for Law and Social Policy/ZERO TO THREE brief reviews existing research to make the case that state policies can promote quality early childhood experiences and promote healthy growth and development for kids in child care.

Connect for Kids: http://www.connectforkids.org/

MMWR - Exposire to Secondhand Smoke Among Students Aged 13-15 years

From Medscape.com:

(You'll need to register with Medscape to view the full article)

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Among Students Aged 13--15 Years --- Worldwide, 2000--2007 Secondhand smoke causes heart disease and lung cancer in adults and increases risk of SIDS, ARIs, middle-ear disease, worsened asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth in children.
MMWR 56(20) 2007

Here is a link to the MMWR article:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5620a2.htm

Many Americans Lack Knowledge to Make Weight-Loss Efforts Successful

From Channing Bete e-Newletter:

Nutrition and Fitness
Many Americans Lack Knowledge to Make Weight-Loss Efforts Successful

When it comes to losing weight, what people don't know can hurt them -- and their weight-loss efforts. The second annual Food & Health Survey, given to 1,000 American adults and conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, has found six major "diet disconnects" among consumers. For example, while 56 percent of Americans are trying to lose weight, 9 out of 10 don't know how many calories they should be taking in each day. "This survey is an important snapshot highlighting the gap between Americans' desire to have a more healthful diet and the reality of converting this desire into day-to-day behavior," said Susan Borra, registered dietitian and IFIC Foundation president.

Read the full article at: http://ific.org/newsroom/releases/2007foodandhealthsurvey.cfm

More Adult Smoking May Be Contributing to Rise in Childhood Asthma

From Channing Bete Healthy Communities e-Newsletter

Childhood Asthma and Smoking
More Adult Smoking May Be Contributing to Rise in Childhood Asthma

Childhood asthma has been on the rise in the past century, and researchers have discovered a potential contributing cause. "We have identified parallel increases in childhood asthma and cigarette use among adults during the past century in the United States," said study author Renee D. Goodwin, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health. "These parallel trends suggest that the increase in cigarette use may be a contributing factor to the rise in asthma among children during the same period through increased exposure to environmental tobacco smoke." Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is higher in some toxins than smoke inhaled directly from cigarettes by smokers, and because children breathe more air than adults and have narrower airways, they are more vulnerable than adults to ETS -- a risk factor for developing asthma and a trigger for worsening symptoms.

Read the full article at:http://www.mailmanschool.org/news/display.asp?id=546

Help smokers kick the habit with the resources at:http://channing-bete.com/public-health/smoking-cessation.html?src=em

KIDS COUNT Infant Mortality Data Brief

KIDS COUNT Infant Mortality Data Brief

We are delighted to release a new data brief entitled Infant Mortality – Understanding the complexities of death among Virginia’s youngest citizens.

Although Virginia ranks well among the states on most indicators of child well-being, Virginia ranks 31st on infant mortality (KIDS COUNT online data, 2004). We hope this brief will help advocates, policymakers, and the media understand more about the causes and complexities of infant mortality. As we point out in the brief, rates vary by locality and by race. The infant mortality rate for African Americans was 14.4 deaths per 1,000 births in 2005 compared to 5.9 for Whites.

Public Comment to Include Graduation Rates as a Requirement for Standards of Accreditation

Please submit public comment to the Board of Education in support of including graduation rates as a requirement for schools to meet their Standards of Accreditation. Comments are due July 13, 2007. For a copy of our public comment letter and talking points, courtesy of JustChildren, please contact voices@vakids.org

Send your letter to:

Mrs. Anne D. Wescott
Assistant Superintendent for Policy and Communications
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
Policy@doe.virginia.gov
Fax: 804.786.5389

Changes in Kellogg Company Marketing Practices

Please go to http://www.kelloggcompany.com/ and scroll down to latest news to see the press release about the changes in their marketing practices.

SCHIP - Need help with Advocacy!!

This message from our Friends at the Virginia Poverty Law Center.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY!!! OUR CHILDREN NEED YOUR HELP!!

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to report SCHIP legislation before the July 4th recess. And things are getting dicey.

You may have read that HHS released a report stating there are millions fewer uninsured children than previously believed. The response to this report has been angry and swift.

This should get your blood boiling and motivate you to write a letter to the editor and call our Senators again to support:

1. $50 billion in new funding for SCHIP (and Medicaid) over the next 5 years. Funding should come from an increase in federal tobacco taxes and the elimination of overpayments to Medicare Advantage Plans (which cost at least 12% more per patient than traditional Medicare)
2. Restore flexibility to states to determine how they want to verify citizenship and identity of Medicaid applicants. Virginia’s net enrollment of Medicaid children is still 10,000 lower than a year ago, as a result of the unduly restrictive federal documentation requirements.
3. Restore flexibility to states to cover more legal immigrant children and legal immigrant pregnant women.

Please take action TODAY!

Senator John Warner (R) 202-224-2023 202-224-6295 http://www.warner.senate.gov/

Senator Jim Webb (D) 202-224-4024 202-228-6363 http://www.webb.senate.gov/

Thanks!

Jill

Implementing the New Childhood Obesity Recommendations

Greetings!
NICHQ’s Childhood Obesity Action Network is pleased to bring you exciting news in the field of childhood obesity. On Friday, June 8th, the recommendations on the Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity were released. These recommendations were made by the Expert Committee, convened by the AMA, CDC, and HRSA.
At a very exciting time in pediatric health care, the Childhood Obesity Action Network has launched an implementation strategy to help clinicians make these recommendations come to life. NICHQ, together with key partners, is creating an Implementation Guide to accompany the recommendations of the Expert Committee. This comprehensive Implementation Guide is for health care providers and will include detailed tools they can use with their patients.

The key to making these recommendations a reality is for providers to have easy access to tools and resources that they can start using immediately in their practice. The Implementation Guide will bring these together from successful practices that clinicians can easily adapt to their own patient population. To develop a guide that best serves you, we’d love to have input from you and your colleagues. Click here to complete a short survey, letting the team know what you would like to see in the Implementation Guide.

NICHQ’s Action Network works to ensure that providers have access to the best available evidence and promising practices on prevention and treatment of childhood obesity and the tools necessary to implement these recommendations. The Implementation Guide is kicking off a series of upcoming changes and developments in the Action Network that will help clinicians work together to make a strong impact on the childhood obesity epidemic. The Implementation Guide will be available on the NICHQ website the week of June 25th.
To learn more about the Childhood Obesity Action Network and other NICHQ programs, please visit www.nichq.org.

Expert Committee Releases Recommendations to Fight Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

Expert Committee releases recommendations to fight childhood and adolescent obesity Friday (June 8) the Expert Committee on the Assessment, Prevention and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity released recommendations for the management of overweight and obese children. The committee, made up of representatives from fifteen health professional organizations*, was convened by the American Medical Association (AMA) and co-funded in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/17674.html
Note: The link is to the press release. As you read the release, at the end of the 4th paragraph you find another link to the actual recommendations page. Once you get to that page, the recommendations are listed as a PDF on the right side. If you don't want to read through all the accompanying materials, the PDF link is:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/433/ped_obesity_recs.pdf
The committee's work is an important step forward and updates the 1998 guidelines. These new recommendations further address a critical public health issue for those who care for children and adolescents. CDC will take the expert committee's recommendations under advisement.


*The following organizations are members of the Expert Committee:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association of Family Physicians
American College of Preventive Medicine
American College of Sports Medicine
American Dietetic Association
American Pediatric Surgical Association
American Psychological Association
Association of American Indian Physicians
The Endocrine Society
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Association of School Nurses
National Hispanic Medical Association
National Medical Association and the Obesity Society

Survey - Most Asthma Patients have Uncontrolled Disease

Not kid-centered, but asthma related - check it out…
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/06/18/health.asthma.reut/index.html

Tell EPA to Clean Up Dirty Trains and Ships

Dear Friend,

I thought you might be interested in this American Lung Association Action Network e-activism campaign to support the clean up diesel locomotives and marine engines. If you go to the URL below you can send your own free message directly to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Take action on this action alert from American Lung Association Action Network at http://lungaction.org/campaign/Locomotive_Marine

Parents of Kids with Special Health Care Needs

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/119/5/e1047
Need For and Use of Family Leave Among Parents of Children With Special Health Care NeedsParents of children with special health care needs are especially vulnerable to work-family conflicts that family leave benefits might help resolve. In this study, published in the May issue of Pediatrics, researchers find that many full-time working parents of kids with special health care needs say they need more leave than they have access to.

Now Online: Cases in Public Health Communication & Marketing

Now Online: Cases in Public Health Communication & MarketingCheck out this open-access online journal for reviews of lessons learned from recent public health programs, designed to improve public health communication and marketing. Contact cases@gwu.edu for more information.

This journal is intended to advance practice-oriented learning in the fields of public health communication and social marketing.

Teens and Accessing Care

Under One Roof: Primary Care Models that Work for Adolescents This report looks at integrated health care models that tailor their services to teens' unique physical, behavioral and reproductive health care needs and focus on positive youth development. It examines three programs in different settings -- in a hospital, private practice and a qualified community health center -- and examines how each addressed the financing challenges to creating an integrated program.

From the CFK Archives: Not Their Parent's MD -- Why Teens Need a Doctor of Their OwnIn this CFK article, historian Heather Prescott argues that adolescent health care is a much-needed and often-overlooked field of health.

Centering Pregnancy Instructional Workshop

SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 16 & 17, 2007
Centering Pregnancy Instructional Workshop
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond VA -- www.lewisginter.org
Objectives:
1. To understand the basic principles underlying a group approach to prenatal care and to

understand Centering Pregnancy as a particular model of group prenatal care.
2. To articulate the theory guiding groups and to differentiate Centering groups from

other therapy, education, and support groups
3. To identify leadership components which contribute to success in leading Centering groups
4. To understand the potential contribution of the model to the education of professional

students
5. To develop a plan for the design and implementation of a Centering program within various

agencies

For further information please contact: Kathleen McClelland CNM at mcnellis@rcn.com or 540-788-3145

From the Virginia Health Care Foundation Newsletter Vital Signs, Winter 2007:

Unintended Consequences: The Impact of New Medicaid Citizenship Documentation Requirements on Virginia's Children

Among the requirements of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 is a provision requiring documentation of citizenship and identity for all those applying for or renewing eligibility for Medicaid. This was added to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining public benefits intended for U.S. citizens, a problem that has not been identified in Virginia. Instead, the new federal requirement has hampered Virginia's ability to enroll eligible, uninsured children.
After years of steady growth and an average net increase of 1000 children per month in the 12 months immediately preceding the implementation of the new requirements, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of children enrolled in Virginia's Medicaid program since the requirements took effect. Specifically, there has been a net decrease of 11,108 children enrolled in Virginia's Medicaid program in the first nine months of implementation (7/06 - 3/07).
In an effort to "look behind" the enrollment data and to understand the overall consequences of the documentation requirements, the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) contracted with Matrix Research Group to conduct a telephone survey of 800 adults who applied for Medicaid for their children after the requirements were implemented. VHCF also conducted interviews with Medicaid eligibility workers from around the state.
The study found that the new requirements have had a much broader impact than expected, adversely affecting thousands of citizen children since implementation last July. In addition to the significant decrease in the number of children enrolled in Medicaid, other unintended consequences include:
4-6 month delays in obtaining Medicaid coverage for Virginia children;
Inability of citizen children to obtain medical care; and
A dramatic increase in emergency room utilization by those caught up in lengthy eligibility determinations
While waiting for their health coverage to be approved, Virginia children have gone without needed medical care, including care for illness or injury, immunizations, dental care and prescription medications. All evidence indicates that these are US citizen children, born in U.S. hospitals, with more than two-thirds born in Virginia.
The new requirements have also had a serious impact on state and local agencies responsible for administering the Medicaid program, and have undermined Virginia's previously successful efforts to simplify and streamline application procedures.
Virginia's impressive progress in enrolling eligible children in the Medicaid program is being diminished by these requirements, and the health of thousands of Virginia's most vulnerable children is threatened.
Details about the study and its alarming results have been shared with Virginia's congressional delegates, as well as with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the federal agency that administers Medicaid. We are hopeful that this overly restrictive policy will soon be changed.
For more information about the study, including a study brief and full study report, click here

Immunization Satellite Broadcasts

Upcoming Immunization Satellite Broadcasts:

Please mark your calendars for several upcoming satellite broadcasts from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). These include Immunization Update 2007 (August 9, 2007) and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (December 13, 2007). Also, the annual four-part series broadcast, Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, will occur on January 31, February 7, February 14, and February 21, 2008. As more information becomes available, it will be posted at www2.cdc.gov/phtn.

Upcoming TA Conference Call Hosted by AED

Upcoming TA Conference Call Hosted by AED

Promotion of Pre-teen Vaccines
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 2:00 PM EST

Presenters:
Kari Sapsis, MPH, Health Communication Specialist, Office of Health Communication, NCIRD/CDC
Natalie Nakahara, MFA, Creative Director, Information and Education Section, California Department of Health Services Immunization Branch

Call Description: This TA call will provide an overview of pre-teen vaccine campaigns at the state and national levels. CDC is preparing to launch a national pre-teen vaccine campaign in August 2007 that will reach out to parents of 11 and 12 year olds as well as healthcare providers. In preparation for the campaign, CDC conducted extensive formative research and materials testing with these populations in four states. Kari Sapsis of the CDC will present the research results and an overview of the campaign activities and materials.
The state of California organized a Pre-teen Vaccine Week this past January, with pre-teens themselves as the primary target audience. Natalie Nakahara of the California Department of Health Services will discuss the campaign activities and results.
By the end of this TA call, participants will be able to:

1. Name the materials and activities that CDC is planning for its upcoming pre-teen vaccination campaign.
2. Describe parents' and providers' knowledge and attitudes about new pre-teen vaccines, based on CDC's formative research.
3. Describe activities conducted by the state of California for its Pre-teen Vaccine Week.

Registration: To register for this TA call, please email izta@aed.org, with the subject line “Sign me up for the Pre-teen Vaccine Call.”

Visit IZTA Online:

Website: http://www.izta.org/

Blog: izta.blogspot.com

Current Issues in Immunization NetConference

Current Issues in Immunization NetConference (CIINC) The National Immunization Program presents a live netconference on July 12 as part of the “Current Issues in Immunization” program designed to provide clinicians with the most up-to-date information on immunization. This program will combine a telephone audio conference with simultaneous online visual content. It will allow for a question and answer segment both by telephone and via the Internet. For more information, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/netconferences.htm.

New CDC Immunization Website

New CDC's Vaccines and Immunization Web Site CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) launched its new Vaccines & Immunization Web site this week. The site, www.cdc.gov/vaccines, replaced www.cdc.gov/nip and features a new look, a new feel, and many more resources! The Web site has changed to a topic-driven layout to make it easier for healthcare professionals, parents, and immunization partners, to quickly find accurate vaccine and immunization information. If you have suggestions or comments on the new Web site, please email them to: mailto:ncirdwebteam@cdc.gov?subject=From%20GovDelivery%20recipient--.

Order Immunization Materials: CDC’s publication order system is now up and running. To order immunization materials, please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/default.htm. (The order form is located at the bottom of the web page.) Immunization materials that are currently available include immunization schedules, CD’s, DVD’s and annual reports. More items are expected to be available in the near future.

Virginia Pediatric Asthma Conference - July 26, 2007

The Virginia Pediatric Asthma Conference is filling up fast - register now!

On behalf of the Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH) and the Virginia Department of Health, you are invited to attend the Virginia Pediatric Asthma Conference on July 26, 2007, in Norfolk, VA.

The conference will be held in the Brickhouse Auditorium at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital from 8am-3pm in conjunction with Pediatric Grand Rounds. Please share this information with your colleagues and friends.

Although this is a free conference, registration is required. Click on the link to access a brochure and electronic registration: http://pediatrics.evms.edu/.

If you have any questions, please contact CINCH at 668-6495 or CINCH@evms.edu

CINCH Workgroup Meetings For This Week & Next

Dear CINCH Members,
The following workgroup meetings are confirmed for the week's of June 11-15 and June 18-22:

Monday, 6/11/07
Allies Against Asthma
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Conference room A2-A & A2-B
E.V. Williams Hall

Tuesday, 6/12/07
Injury Prevention
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Conference room A4
E.V. Williams Hall

Wednesday, 6/13/07
Obesity Prevention
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Conference room A4
E.V. Williams Hall

Thursday, 6/14/07
Health Disparities
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Park Place Medical Center

Thursday, 6/21/07
Immunization Service Providers
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Conference Room A
E.V. Williams Hall

**Don't forget, the following groups will NOT be meeting in July:
Health Disparities
Covering Kids & Families
Immunization Service Providers
Injury Prevention
Allies Against Asthma
Children with Special Health Care Needs

If you are not a member of CINCH but would like to become a member, please call 757-668-6426.

Food and Beverage Companies Targeting Children and Teens with Digital Marketing Tactics

Click here for Rapid Response talking points.
A report released on Thursday, May 17, 2007 by Berkeley Media Studies Group and the Center for Digital Democracy revealed that food and beverage companies are using the latest digital media technologies to promote their products to children and adolescents.

The report, entitled “Interactive Food & Beverage Marketing: Targeting Children and Youth in the Digital Age,” documents in vivid detail how major food, soft drink and fast food brands are deploying a panoply of new techniques -- including cell phones, instant messaging, video games, user-generated video, and three-dimensional virtual worlds --to target children and adolescents, often under the radar of parents. The report also reveals a range of new digital strategies these marketers have devised for targeting multicultural youth, including African Americans and Hispanics.

Among the many digital marketing examples cited in the 98-page report are the following:
To “create a compelling way to connect with the younger demographic,” 600 McDonald’s restaurants in California launched a mobile marketing campaign, urging young cell phone users to text-message to a special phone number to receive an instant electronic coupon for a free McFlurry dessert.

Coca-Cola’s “My Coke Rewards” program offers special codes in its products that enable young people to access a website, where they can earn such rewards as downloadable ring tones and “amazing sports and entertainment experiences.”

“Digital technologies are fundamentally transforming how food and beverage companies do business with children and adolescents in the twenty-first century,” explained American University professor and report co-author Kathryn Montgomery, Ph.D. “We urge the Federal Trade Commission to include the full range of new media strategies identified in this report in its investigation of contemporary food marketing practices.”

As Rapid Responders, we urge you to monitor your local media for coverage of the report and to respond with letters to the editor and op-eds. Specific actions to highlight include: Asking the FTC to compel food and beverage companies to provide information on specific practices documented in the report, including “cookies,” “tags,” and other profiling and tools; “psychosocial research”; social-network campaigns; user-generated content; immersive media; and avatar-based techniques.

Click here to access the executive summary, full report, and interactive visual examples.
We welcome you to share any letters or op-eds that get published with the rest of the Strategic Alliance membership by sending them to sana@preventioninstitute.org

WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE?
The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity away from a focus on individual choice and lifestyle towards one of environment and corporate and government responsibility. Current Steering Committee members are: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit), California Center for Public Health Advocacy, California Food Policy Advocates, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, California Parks and Recreation Society, California Project LEAN, California WIC Association, Child Care Food Program Roundtable, Latino Health Access, Partnership for the Public's Health, Prevention Institute, Samuels & Associates and YMCA of the East Bay.

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
The Strategic Alliance is currently engaged in building a broad and diverse statewide membership. To join or for more information, please visit us on the Web, www.eatbettermovemore.org, or contact Sana Chehimi at 510.444.7738 or Sana@preventioninstitute.org. And even if you're already a member, please forward this message on to your colleagues so we can continue to strengthen our coalition. Thank you!
The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity--from a focus on individual choice and lifestyle, towards one of environment and corporate and government responsibility.

CINCH Chair, Ann Campbell, Honored by Operation Smile

Virginia Beach resident and CINCH Chairperson, Ann Campbell, was named a Volunteer of the Year by Operation Smile. Ann is a nurse and senior lecturer at Old Dominion University's School of Nursing. She has travelled to Brazil, Morocco, Bangladesh and Jordan since becoming a volunteer in 2000, and she will return to India in November during Operation Smile's World Journey of Smiles. During missions, Ann handles pre- and post-operative care during 15-hour workdays. She also serves on the speaker's bureau and volunteers as a World Care coordinator for several surgical cases brought to the United States. Congratulations for an award well deserved!

FREE 3-day Grant Writing Workshop for Faith-Based and Community Organizations

Representative Thelma Drake is coordinating a FREE 3-day grant writing workshop for faith-based and community organizations. The hands-on, informative workshop will cover the a-b-c's of grant writing and finding funding sources. See additional information below or contact Claire Winiarek in Congresswoman Drake's District Office at 497-6859 to register (Congress Woman Drake's webpage is http://drake.house.gov/specialfeatures/communityevents.htm). Please provide your name, telephone number, email address, name of organization or ministry and mailing address when calling to register.

What: Grantwriting and More Workshop
When: July 23, 24, and 25
Where: Advanced Technology Center on the Virginia Beach campus of Tidewater Community College, 1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Who should attend? It is specifically targeted to Faith-Based and Community nonprofit organizations . While our community and industry partners are always welcome at HUD events, this training will not allow us to respond to the concerns of our more advanced partners or local governments, and it is not appropriate for "for-profit" businesses. Our focus will be on emerging Faith-Based and community grass-roots organizations who are just starting to develop their programs and seek funding; and those who have tried, but have not been successful, with program and funding development. Others who may benefit from attendance are staff members with responsibility for fund development. Topics will include business management issues for Faith-based and nonprofit groups, as well as organizational development, Board development, strategic planning, marketing, budgeting, grants research, outcomes planning and reporting, sustainability strategies, HUD funding, factors for awards and application basics. The workshop does not lend itself to partial attendance. There will be a lot of material, mostly consisting of an extensive powerpoint presentation, with applied learning exercises on the third day. Materials will be given to you at the workshop, which will be interactive - with visuals, discussions and homework. Its value will be diminished if participants are not able to attend the full 3-day session. Here is a link to directions to Tidewater Community College Virginia Beach campus: http://www.tcc.edu/welcome/locations/vabeach/info/auto.htm. At this site, you can also click on a map of the campus. If you need to stay overnight, here is a link on the City of Virginia Beach Tourism webpage for lodging: http://www.vbfun.com/visitors/lodging.asp?cat=7 As some of you know, but many of you maybe don't know - neither Congresswoman Drake nor HUD is permitted to spend (your) tax dollars on food or beverages. Here is a link to search for places to eat: http://www.vbfun.com/visitors/dining.asp?cat=6 There are also a few places very near the campus at the corner of Independence Blvd. and Princess Anne Road. Thank you.

CNN FitNation Series - Excellent Resource

Please go to http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/ to review some good resources on how to get fit!

Cultural Diversity Workshop - Training Opportunity

You and your staff are cordially invited to attend a new cultural diversity workshop called
"Restoring African American Families: A Unique Approach to Addressing Community Violence & Behavioral Challenges". Presented by: Diversity Restoration Solutions, Inc.

When: Thursday, June 28, 2007
Where: Point Plaza Suites and Conference Hotel
950 J. Clyde Morris Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601
Time: 8:30am - 4:00pm
Cost: $99/person (includes continental breakfast)

Who Should Attend??? Professionals and leaders in the following fields: Social Services, Community Relations, Cultural Diversity, Education, Human Rights/Human Relations and anyone interested in investing in Diversity Restoration Solutions, Inc.’s training programs to help make positive changes in the condition of the African American community.

To register, please download attached registration information. Registration deadline is Monday, June 25, 2007. Any registrations received after the 25th will incur an additional $10 on-site registration fee. For more information, please contact Lisa Sheppard at (757) 238-7790 , email lsheppard@diversityrestoration.com or visit our web site at http://www.diversityrestoration.com/.

Obesity-related web links

Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance (2005) http://www.nap.edu/books/0309091969/html/

Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up? (2007) http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11722#toc

Kids Data: Community Resources
http://www.kidsdata.org/reading_results.jsp?t=5

Get Kids in Action
http://www.getkidsinaction.org/

Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health: Kids Weigh In
http://www.lpfch.org/informed/facts/weight/

Mayo Clinic: Children’s Health
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childrens-health/HQ00419/LOCID=
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childrens-health/HQ01107/LOCID=
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/HQ01396/LOCID=

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
Healthy Eating and Activity Together (HEATSM)
http://www.napnap.org/index.cfm?page=220&sec=500

North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO): Childhood Overweight
http://www.naaso.org/information/childhood_overweight.asp

CDC Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/index.htm

HealthierUS.gov
http://www.healthierus.gov/

National Dairy Council: Parents Family Guide to Healthy Eating
http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/parents/meal-planning.asp

Moving to the Future: Tools for Planning Nutrition and Physical Activity Programs
http://movingtothefuture.org/index.php?sid=39f374696d638c520f058e54c1aa57dc

Nutrition.gov: Smart Nutrition Starts Here
http://www.nutrition.gov/

The Portion Plate
http://www.theportionplate.com/index.html

The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/

Virginia Center for Health Communities
http://www.vahealthycommunities.com/default.asp?pageid=1D3241EF-C343-42BA-9EEE-DDD4189166E4

A Report on Injury Related Deaths and Hospitalizations Available

The Injury in Virginia 2005 – A Report on Injury Related Deaths and Hospitalizations report is now available from DIVP. Feel free to visit our Web site http://www.vahealth.org/civp/datacivp.asp to view or download a copy. To request a hard copy by mail, please contact Ms. Sharon Jones by phone at 804-864-7732 or by e-mail at Sharon.Jones@vdh.virginia.gov . IPN members who have their contact information on file with us will automatically receive a mailed copy.

Cribs for Kids Program - Training Opportunity

Upcoming FREE training scheduled for June 8, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Department of Health, 4452 Corporation Lane, Virginia Beach 23462. Any agency/program that wants to participate in the Cribs for Kids Program through the Virginia SIDS Alliance must complete this training in order to obtain cribs from them. Some topics that will be covered include: Perinatal Substance Abuse Use, Five A's tobacco/substance intervention, Prematurity: It's a bigger problem than you think, and Sudden Infant Death...please call 757-518-2701 to sign up.

Hampton FAMIS Sign 'Em Up Training - FREE

Click here to register for the Hampton Sign 'Em Up Training

SIGN ’EM UP! Free Training on FAMIS!

THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2007
10:00 A.M.—12:00 P.M.
Hampton Health District
3130 Victoria Boulevard
Hampton, VA 23661

This workshop will provide detailed information on Virginia’s Health Insurance
Programs for Children (FAMIS, FAMIS Plus and FAMIS Select) and Pregnant Women (Medicaid for Pregnant Women and FAMIS Moms).

This workshop is for people who work with families who want to know more about FAMIS or who need an update on recent changes.

If you have any questions, please contact Carol Jones, Sustainability Specialist,
Consortium for Infant and Child Health at (757) 668-6472.

PLEASE RSVP YOUR ATTENDANCE by clicking on the link above to register!