Jazz it up for the Kids!

YMCA and Kids priority One are having a fundraising event on Friday, October 23 from 6:30 - 9:30 pm at Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth. Tickets $35.00 advance $40.00 door. For more information go to http://www.kidspriorityone.org/file/jazzitupflyer.pdf

New Data Available in the KIDS COUNT Data Center

The KIDS COUNT Data Center has been updated with new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, including indicators of child well-being from the American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey. Topics include children under five in poverty and children in single-parent families. See Data Across States for the latest information.

Annual TUCP Training Meeting

The Annual TUCP Training Meeting is being held on November 5, 2009 at the Marriott Richmond West Hotel. The theme for this year's meeting is Working Together to Create Healthy Communities. Within that theme, the meeting objective is to encourage integration of tobacco use control as a cross-cutting risk factor for the management and prevention of chronic and communicable diseases.
The registration is $15.00 and it includes six CHES credits, educational material, and lunch. Hotel has free parking, located off I-64 in the Innsbrook business area, and handicapped accessible. To register for this event go to:
http://www.vahealth.org/forms/healthy_commmunities_annualmeeting.htm

If additional information is needed, please contact by email BA.Caro-Justin@vdh.virginia.gov or by phone, 804-864-7876.

Smoke Free Restaurants in Virginia Q & A

The questions below were answered by Gary Hagy, Virginia Dept. of Health. For additional information contact Gary Hagy – gary.hagy@vdh.virginia.gov

1. If you go into a restaurant and there is smoking, what can you do? First, restaurants can create smoking rooms that are physically separated and properly vented. However, if you observe someone smoking in a non-smoking area you should first discuss with the issue with the manager. If he does not ask the patron to cease smoking, contact the local health department and report the incident. You can also report the incident to local law enforcement
2. Who issues the citations? What is the amount of the citation? Local law enforcement can issue citations. The maximum civil penalty is $25
3. How often can they receive citations? For each day they are in violation
4. What happens if they continually refuse to be smoke free? The law only authorizes a maximum $25 civil penalty. The permit to operate a restaurant is linked to compliance with the new smoking law.

Unnatural Causes

FYI – Unnatural Causes episodes are airing on WHRO next week. You may access more information on the website: http://whro.org/home/publictv/sched.htm

Sunday, October 11, 2009 11:00 PM
Monday, October 12, 2009 3:30 AM
Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? In Sickness and In Wealth

Sunday, October 18, 2009 11:00 PM
Monday, October 19, 2009 3:30 AM
Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? When The Bough Breaks/Becoming American

Sunday, October 25, 2009 11:00 PM
Monday, October 26, 2009 4:00 AM
Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? Bad Sugar/Place Matters

Sunday, November 01, 2009 11:00 PM
Monday, November 02, 2009 3:30 AM
Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? Collateral Damage/Not Just A Paycheck

Needle Tips and Vaccinate Adults!

The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has recently released its fall issue of Needle Tips, with news and information for all health professionals who give vaccines. Also available is Vaccinate Adults, a condensed version of Needle Tips for those who work only with adult patients. Both publications contain H1N1 vaccine information, ready-to-print educational materials for healthcare professionals and their patients, updated immunization schedules, vaccine news, and IAC’s popular “Ask the Experts” question-and-answer column with questions answered by CDC experts.
This is the first year in IAC’s 15 year publishing history that its periodicals have been available online only, but their content remains as fresh and reliable as ever. You can find Needle Tips at www.immunize.org/nt and Vaccinate Adults at www.immunize.org/va.
Visit IAC’s Subscribe page (www.immunize.org/subscribe) to sign up for early notifications of future issues of these publications or to receive IAC Express, IAC’s free weekly e-mail newsletter, which complements IAC’s semiannual publications. Also, please forward this message to colleagues who may benefit from these valuable immunization publications.

The Science and Value Behind Targeted Home Environmental Interventions Webinar

Presenting the scientific basis on multi-trigger, multi-component interventions for an upcoming series of webinars on successful home-based environmental intervention programs.
Please join us for an interactive discussion that will focus on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Community Guide evidence-based recommendations regarding asthma control and in-home environmental intervention programs.
EVENT DETAILSDate: October 22, 2009Time: 1:00-2:30pm Eastern Time Presenter: Gema Dumitru, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stay tuned for registration details - coming next week!

FLU ESSENTIALS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

FLU ESSENTIALS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
This is a collection of attractive 1-page information sheets
that cover various groups of people (e.g., asthmatics,
diabetics, pregnant women) for whom influenza vaccine is
recommended. The collection also includes information for
the general public.

To access the information sheets in this collection, go to:
http://www.flu.gov/know.html

To access "Emergency Warning Signs," go to:
http://www.flu.gov/pdfs/emergencywarningsigns.pdf

Stopping Medicine Abuse Before It Starts

Thursday, October 15
6 p.m. ~ Reception, Networking
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. ~ Speakers and Q&A
Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Road
Richmond, VA
Prescription medication overdosages, about 60% of them unintentional, take the lives of hundreds of Virginians of all ages every year. And the numbers are growing at an astounding rate. Intiatives to successfully address this problem must include partners from a variety of interest areas: families, law enforcement, mental health, pediatric health, substance abuse, poison control, injury prevention and many others. Here is an event that will provide some initial information on the problem, and an opportunity for concerned individuals to find out about prevention initiatives. Please share the attached info with others who may be interested.

Virginia Poison Center’s 2008 Annual Report

As a FYI, the Virginia Poison Center’s 2008 Annual Report is now available. According to the report, in 2008, they responded to 38,267 calls for assistance; an increase of 1.8% over 2007. Three quarters of all patients were managed on site without need for further medical intervention. The majority of patients treated were children under 6 years of age. Incoming calls to the Virginia Poison Center increase each year. Despite this, and with no increase in funding, the Center continues to provide its life saving services twenty four hours daily to all callers free of charge. The complete 2008 Annual Report will be available for viewing or download from their Website at www.vapoison.org in a few days. Hard copies are available. Contact Evelyn Waring by phone at 804.628.3468 or email ewaring@mcvh-vcu.edu to request a copy.

Mental Health Conference

“Family Secrets”

October 31, 2009
The Founders Inn & Spa, 5641 Indian River Road
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23464
9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Morning plenary guest speaker, the Honorable Michael O. Royster M.D. Director of Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy Luncheon speaker distinguished David A Rosin, M.D., Medical Director, Division of Mental Health Substance Abuse, Virginia Beach Health District
Sponsored byMinority Health Coalition of South Hampton Roads, Inc. & AstraZeneca
COST TO INCLUDE CONFERENCE MATERIALS & LUNCH
$25.00 IN ADVANCE AT THE DOOR$35.00

Contact: Gloria D. Smith
757/ 625-4248 ext.21

Access Partnership’s Annual Membership meeting!

Friday, November 20, 2009
8:30: Registration, Breakfast & Networking 9:00 - 11:00: Presentations & Panel Discussion
Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach Center for Higher Education
1881 University Drive

Topic: How Oral Health Affects Overall Health
Updates from Access Partnership & the Oral Health Improvement Coalition will also be provided.
Enjoy a light breakfast and networking prior to the presentations!
This free event is generously hosted by ODU College of Health Sciences.Space is limited so please RSVP early.
Call 853-8500 Ext. 124 to register or for additional information

Tobacco Use Control Annual Training Meeting

The Tobacco Use Control Project is having its Annual Training Meeting on November 5, 2009. As many have experienced, we all are having budget restraints, and printing is one area that we can reduce our expenses. Therefore, we have eliminated the cost of a slick, brochure and mailing and sending this information to you by email. The registration fee has been kept low so that it can accomodate everyone's' budget and encourage our partners, coalition members and colleagues to plan on attending this Annual Training. We are hoping that if you are not able to attend, but know someone in your organization or advocate that can benefit by attending this meeting, please share the attached information. The presenters are all outstanding and will be sharing their strategies and programs that can be implemented towards "Working Together To Create Healthy Communities".
http://www.vahealth.org/cdpc/TUCP/

If you need additional information, please contact me either by email or by phone, 804-864-7876 (direct line). We look forward to seeing you on November 5th. Thank YOU! Bunny Caro-Justin

Health Care Reform or No, Virginia Can Cover More Kids

New Report Details How and Why Virginia Should Maximize Federal Funding for FAMIS

RICHMOND -- A new law passed by Congress earlier this year provides an immediate opportunity for the state to improve the successful Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) program and cover more of the 129,000 uninsured children in Virginia. But if the General Assembly and the Governor don’t take the required action, some of the funding could disappear in less than two years. A new report from The Commonwealth Institute details the changes in the law and how Virginia should leverage the maximum funding available to help protect the health of Virginia’s children......

Check out our new report:
Covering More Kids in Virginia

Full Service Community Schools

Full-service community schools can serve as hubs for low-income and distressed communities, providing vital services for families and supports for students. On September 9, 2009 House Majority Leader Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) joined forces to re-introduce the Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2009, HR 3545. Community Schools urges you to share the press release with your local, state, and national policymakers, media contacts, networks, listservs and colleagues.

Healthy Communities Action Strategies Toolkit

Leadership for Healthy Communities Action Strategies Toolkit This Leadership for Healthy Communities Action Strategies Toolkit has collected current best approaches in providing for more physical activity, improving school food options, supporting local food networks, and other ways communities and schools can change to help reduce rising rates of childhood obesity and related health risks.

Step Up for Kids Week

Step Up for Kids Week (October 5-9)
It's the second annual Step Up for Kids Day, a time to remind officials that although they can't vote, the needs of babies, kids, and teens shouldn't be left out of policy conversations.

Speaking of young people and policy, watch for the Children's Budget from First Focus, coming September 30!

Health Care Reform or No, Virginia Can Cover More Kids

A new law passed by Congress earlier this year provides an immediate opportunity for the state to improve the successful Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) program and cover more of the 129,000 uninsured children in Virginia. But if the General Assembly and the Governor don’t take the required action, some of the funding could disappear in less than two years. To read more:
http://www.thecommonwealthinstitute.org

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL VIRGINIANS coalition!

Hello Everyone!
We are planning a Richmond press conference on Wednesday, September 30th to launch the HEALTHCARE FOR ALL VIRGINIANS coalition! The event will be held in the State Capital building, around lunchtime. We’ll let you know the specific room and time when details are finalized. In the meantime – please SAVE THE DATE & PLAN TO ATTEND –and bring colleagues and friends to fill the room!
Our Coalition has grown to 46 organizations, representing a wide spectrum of interests!! If you know of any groups that ought to be involved, please invite them to sign up. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your support and patience as we’ve been preparing for our roll-out!
Jill
Jill A. Hanken
Staff Attorney
Virginia Poverty Law Center
700 E. Franklin St. Suite 14T1
Richmond, VA 23219
804-782-9430 x 13
804-649-0974 (fax)
jill@vplc.org

New IOM Report Affirms Local Governments’ Role in Creating Healthy Environments

This week, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity. The report identifies specific actions that local governments can take to improve healthy eating and increase physical activity in communities. For more information go to

http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3788/59845/72798.aspx

http://www.preventioninstitute.org/IOMreport.html#more