Children's Easy Access to Unhealthy Foods

RWJF-Supported Study Details Children's Easy Access to Unhealthy Foods
A third of public secondary schools nationwide have at least one fast food restaurant or convenience store within walking distance, according to a study in the journal Health and Place. The first national study of its kind examined more than 31,000 schools in all 50 states and over 1,700 schools in the 20 largest cities. Results highlight the disparities that exist in the availability of healthy foods: schools in low-income neighborhoods have twice as many convenience stores nearby as do schools in high income neighborhoods, and nearly 50 percent more fast food restaurants. Additionally, urban neighborhoods with a high school have more fast food restaurants than neighborhoods without a secondary school. Shannon Zenk, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., and Lisa Powell, Ph.D., researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Bridging the Gap national research program, co-authored the study.
Learn more about the study.RelatedChildhood Obesity Program AreaA Look at Obesity Trends Nationwide

Earned Income Tax Credit Help - FAMIS Outreach Onsite!

This information may be helpful to partners with lower income families needing tax preparation assistance. Additionally, CINCH is partnering with the South Hampton Roads Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition to provide FAMIS Outreach to families at 12 sites and also at the awareness day event.

The earned income tax credit is a special credit for lower income workers to reduce their federal income tax. Attend the National Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day event at the Norfolk Workforce Development Center, 201 East Little Creek Road on Thursday, January 31st from 1:00 to 4:00 pm to find out if you qualify for the EITC and get your taxes done for FREE! There will also be representatives from the Norfolk Voter Registration Office, Access Partnership, The Up Center (formerly Child and Family Services of Eastern Virginia), and Virginia Individual Development Accounts Program to provide information about their agencies. Visit shreitc.com for more information.

Free Dental Care

FREE DENTAL CARE

H.E.L.P. free dental clinic will be opening October 15, 2007. They have taken over the dental practice formally operated by the Peninsula Christian Free Clinic on Marshall Avenue. Dental service is available to all peninsula residents who do not have dental insurance and meet income eligibility guidelines. Individuals can contact help on Tuesdays to schedule an appointment for services.

Location: 1310 Todd Lane – Hampton, Virginia (near the corner of Big Bethel Road & Todd Lane)

Telephone#: 848-5396

Teens' Reasons for Drinking May Predict Future Problems with Alcohol

A study from researchers at Penn State has identified four major reasons why high school students drink, and has found that those who drink for multiple reasons -- including trying to cope with life's problems -- are at greatest risk for heavy and problem drinking behaviors. "It is important to know why high school seniors drink so parents, teachers and high school counselors can pay special attention to the needs of the small but high-risk group of seniors who offer multiple reasons for drinking and who also have anger or frustration issues," said Donna Coffman, post-doctoral fellow at Penn State's Prevention Research Center and the Methodology Center. The study can be found in the December issue of Prevention Science.
Read the full article at:http://live.psu.edu/story/27677

Immigrant Children at Greater Risk for Lead Poisoning

A new health department study finds that children in New York City who have recently immigrated to the United States are five times as likely as U.S. native children to suffer from lead poisoning. "This study suggests that immigrant children are being exposed to lead in their home countries before they arrive in New York City," said Jessica Leighton, deputy commissioner of environmental health and co-author of the study. "We encourage all parents, especially parents who are recent immigrants, to be sure their children are tested for lead poisoning at ages one and two, as required by law." The study appears in the online edition of the American Journal of Public Health.
Read the full article at:http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2007/pr100-07.shtml

Teen Births Up for First Time in a Decade and a Half

The teen birth rate in the United States has been on the decline since a recent peak in 1991, but preliminary data for 2006 show a rise of 3 percent in teen births between 2005 and 2006. "It's way too early to know if this is the start of a new trend," said Stephanie Ventura, head of the Reproductive Statistics Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "But given the long-term progress we've witnessed, this change is notable." The findings, based on data from over 99 percent of all 2006 births in the United States, are featured in a new CDC National Center for Health Statistics report, "Births: Preliminary Data for 2006."
Read the full article at:http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/07newsreleases/teenbirth.htm

Pedometers May Help Increase Amount of Exercise for Americans

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 45 percent of Americans get the recommended daily amount of physical activity. However, a new study from Stanford University's School of Medicine may have found a way to improve that number -- giving people pedometers. "These little devices were shown to increase physical activity by just over 2,000 steps, or about 1 mile of walking per day," said Dena Bravata, M.D., M.S. -- a senior research scientist in medicine and the study's lead author. "This goes a long way toward helping people meet the national guidelines for daily physical activity."
Read the full article at:http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2007/november28/med-pedometer-112807.html

Child Development Associate Credential - Education for Child Care Providers

Have you ever wanted to obtain your Child Development
Associate Credential? If so, please Join Us for an informative session on the:
Essentials of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Certification.

The Planning Council will be offering a series of workshops along CDA competency areas. We have planned an information session on February 2nd for individuals who are interested in obtaining their CDA credential. We believe that this will help childcare providers, home or center based, move along the career lattice, and develop the childcare workforce. They will answer your questions, and guide you through the CDA process.

When: Feb 2, 2008, 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Contact Courtenay Truett at 622-9268 ext. 3028 to register and for more information.
This workshop is an information session that will outline and explain the CDA
process as well as the CDA Competency Units.

CINCH Position Vacancy

CINCH has a FT w/ benefits job opening for the Adminstrative Support Coordinator (what we call Program Associate). This position provides administrative support to CINCH and all its Work Groups and staff. Duties include common secretarial tasks, member management, meeting management, minutes, and maintenance of CINCH's website, among other daily tasks. See the EVMS website for more information.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT COORDINATOR
8160606/PG1212/31/2007
CENTER FOR PEDIATRIC RESEARCHWILLIAMS HALL
3 years administrative support exp req'd. Strong organizational & communication skills needed. Must be proficient in MS Office.

Please call EVMS HR or CINCH with questions.

Position Available

There is a Health Educator Position available with the Western Tidewater Healthy Eating Task Force in Suffolk. It will serve as project coordinator for the Healthy Eating & Fitness Task Force with responsibilities consisting of researching federal, state & local activities/programs related to prevention/intervention of obesity issues; coordinate, schedule and facilitate focus groups within institutions, businesses and citizens on perceptions of maintaining healthful lifestyle habits; translate data and information obtained into a proposed Community Action Plan to address the issue of obesity at the local level; recruit additional community partners for participation/membership; investigate and seek future funding opportunities.

Click here to see full posting.

For more information contact: Western Tidewater Health Department Human Resources
757-686-4905

Assessment and Intervention Methodologies for

Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center
1100 First Colonial Road ∙ Virginia Beach, VA 23454(757) 627-5433

Friday February 8, 2008
9:00 AM- 3:00 PM

Cost: $35

Guest Speakers:

Dr. C. Rick Ellis, Ed.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Spectrum Psychological Services
and

Dr. John W Harrington MD
Chief of General Pediatrics
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD)

Dr. Ellis is a sought-after speaker in Virginia on the topic of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). He has worked with hundreds of children and adults on the spectrum from age 3-60. Dr. Harrington is a Pediatrician that treats Children on the ASD spectrum and has frequently presented and published on alternative interventions with ASD children. He is also the parent of a child on the spectrum.

6 CE Units Available Through ODU

For Registration material contact Ms. Debbie Evans at debi.evans@absfirst.com or call (757) 496-4462

New CDC Study Finds Decline in Single-Victim School-Associated violent deaths.

Despite the recent occurrence of high-profile events, single-victim school associated violent death rates have declined, and multiple-victim rates have remained stable according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Results show total and single-victim school associated student homicide rates decreased significantly (from .07 to .03) during the 14 year period from July 1, 1992 to June 30, 2006. However, the rates for total and single-victim student school associated homicides between July 1, 1999 and June 1, 2006 remained relatively stable.

While the quest for preventing the problem of targeted school violence is of critical importance, these findings show that schools remain safe places for students. In fact, the vast majority of children and youth homicides occur outside school hours and property.
For your information, a copy of the MMWR article and press release is attached. For more information on CDC's efforts to prevent youth violence please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/YVP/default.htm

Body Mass Index Measurement in Schools

Body Mass Index Measurement in Schools
The CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health and Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity announce the release of Body Mass Index Measurement in Schools in the Journal of School Health. For full access to the article and executive summary, visit CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health web site: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/overweight/bmi/

School-based body mass index (BMI) measurement has attracted much attention across the nation from researchers, school officials, and legislators as a potential approach to address obesity among youth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention produced Body Mass Index Measurement in Schools to describe the purpose of school-based BMI surveillance and screening programs. The article examines current practices, identifies concerns surrounding programs, and outlines needs for future research. Guidance is provided on specific safeguards that need to be addressed before schools decide to collect BMI information.

Plan First - Virginia's New Family Planning Program

Plan First, Virginia's new Family Planning program began January 1, 2008. The program is open to men and women who earn less than or equal to 133% of the federal poverty level - or $1,132 monthly income for an individual. Individuals who have comprehensive health care coverage or have had a sterilization procedure are excluded from this program.

For additional questions on what is covered and how do you enroll, please contact Ashley Barton, Maternal and Child Health Coordinator, at (804) 371-7824.