Weekly Insider Jul 23-Jul 28 2009

The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools Weekly Insider is a web-enhanced newsletter that offers news alerts, grant announcements and general web site updates delivered directly to your email box on a weekly basis. The Center is located at the School of Public Health and Health Services at The George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.



New Resources
 
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has issued  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: An evidence-based prevention resource for nurse practitioners.  The article describes the work of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and encourages nurse practitioners to use its evidence-based recommendations for clinical preventive services.

Preventing Childhood Obesity: A School Health Policy Guide,  a report from the National Association of State Boards of Education, offers recommendations to promote physical activity and healthy eating in schools.

Major Depressive Episode and Treatment among Adolescents,  a National Survey on Drug Use and Health report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, focuses on major depressive episode and treatment for depression among adolescents aged 12 to 17.


New from the Center

The Center has recently announced a job opening for a Senior Secretary. Duties include serving as office receptionist by greeting visitors, answering phones, and directing inquiries appropriately by understanding and providing detailed information on programs, functions, policies and procedures. Employee will collect, organize and present substantive information required by supervisor to assist with managing the organization's website content and electronic networks by: identifying relevant content to regularly update the website; locating resources for weekly newsletter; assisting with managing social networking site and managing electronic listservs. Individual will schedule meetings and conferences for the organization by arranging and reserving conference rooms, collect information to assist with developing visual and background materials; and assemble and distribute information related to agenda. To apply for this position, please visit: http://www.gwu.jobs/applicants/Central?quickFind=51689

A year ago the Center published  “Screening and Assessing Immigrant and Refugee Youth in School-Based Mental Health Programs,” an issue brief that summed up what is known about mental health tools that support culturally competent mental health care.  The positive responses we’ve received encourages us to re-introduce the paper to make sure valuable information is available to health professionals across the country. We extend our deepest appreciation to the authors, Dina Birman, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Wing Yi Chan, a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, for the fine quality of their work. To download this issue brief, click here.

The Center has released Issue Brief #2, Partnering with Parents and Families to Support Immigrant and Refugee Children at School, written by Eileen Gale Kugler. The issue brief provides background on the impact of the immigrant and refugee experience on children and youth and the importance of engaging the entire family in addressing the mental health needs of immigrant and refugee students to build a crucial home-school partnership that may open doors to student success. View Issue Brief #2 here under Publications for Caring Across Communities

On Thursday, May 21, 2pm EST the Center held its third webinar on Understanding the rise in suicide attempts in Latina teens presented by Dr. Luis Zayas, professor at the School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. The webinar examined the high rate of suicide attempts by adolescent Latinas in the US and factors that may contribute to the rate. To access the archived webinar (PowerPoint and audio), click here.


Important Topic

Meningitis

Upcoming Meetings

  • Philadelphia, PA: The Sixth Annual National Urban Service-Learning Institute. August 5-7,2009. For more information and to register for the event, please click here
  • Washington, DC: American Academy of Pediatrics 2009 National Conference and Exhibition. October 17-20, 2009. For more information and to register for the event, please visit: http://www.aapexperience.org/

Previously Posted Meetings

  • Anaheim, CA: 22nd Annual National Prevention Network Prevention Research Conference. September 15-18, 2009. For more information and to register for the event, please visit: http://swpc.ou.edu/npn/ 
  • Alexandria, VA: The World Health Care Congress 4th Annual Obesity Congress: Combating the Economic Burden of the Obesity Epidemic Through Behavioral Modification Programs and Wellness Initiatives. September 30-October 2, 2009. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.worldcongress.com/events/HL09088/


Job opportunities

  • The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools – Senior Secretary (Washington, DC)
  • George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services – Research Associate (Washington, DC)
  • NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene – Medical Director, (New York, NY)
  • Colorado Health Foundation –Communications Officer, Media and Public Policy (Denver, CO)
  • National Institute for People with Disabilities – School Nurse (New York, NY)
  • TEAM Schools, A Network of KIPP Schools – School Nurse (Newark, NJ)


    Grant Alerts

    Advocates for Youth – Youth of Color Initiative      (Deadline: 8/14/09)
    The Advocates for Youth has established the Youth of Color Initiative to prevent HIV/STI infection among young African Americans, Latinos, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans.

    Ronald McDonald House Charities - Improving the Health of Children     (Deadline: 9/4/09)
    Ronald McDonald House Charities is accepting applications for its Children’s Health Grant program to support projects that directly improve the health and well-being of children (ages 0-21), address a significant funding gap or critical opportunity, have a potential long-term impact, and produces measurable results.

    Do Something – Disaster Grants! (Deadline: Rolling - winner chosen each week of 2009)
    Do Something and the Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation have teamed up to fund project ideas and existing projects that assist people in emergency situations.

    U.S. Department of Health and Health and Human Services - Straight Talk on Preventing HIV Program (Deadline: 8/15/09)
    The purpose of the Straight Talk on Prevention HIV program is to develop gender/age-specific HIV/AIDS prevention education that is culturally and spiritually appropriate for female teenagers at-risk or living with HIV/AIDS.

    WHO Foundation -Women and Children Program Grants (Deadline: 9/8/09)
    The Women Helping Others (WHO) Foundation nationally supports charities serving the overlooked needs of women and children.

    Tony Hawk Foundation - Supporting Youth and Public Skateboard Parks Grant     (Deadline: 10/1/09)    
    The Tony Hawk Foundation promotes high-quality, public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the U.S. The Foundation is currently accepting applications for skatepark projects that are: 1) designed by qualified and experienced skatepark contractors; 2) include local skaters in the design process; 3) are in low-income areas; and 4) can demonstrate strong grassroots commitment to the project.


    • News Alerts

    CDC Report Indicates Teen Sexual Health Trends Have Stalled
    A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that after a decade of steady improvement in sexual health outcomes for teens and young adults nationally, there is a slowing of progress and in some areas an increase in negative outcomes. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summary “Sexual and Reproductive Health of Persons Aged 10-24 Years—United States, 2002-2007” issued on July 17, 2009 shows preliminary data that indicates births to adolescents aged 15–19 years increased from 2005–2007, after they had been decreasing annually from 1991–2005. 

    CDC Report Shows Obesity Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children has Stabilized
    The obesity rate among low-income preschoolers may be stabilizing, according to a July 24, 2009 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summary “Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children --- United States, 1998—2008” indicates that obesity prevalence among this group increased steadily from 12.4% in 1998 to 14.5% in 2003, but remained essentially the same with a 14.6% prevalence in 2008.


    New Resources

    The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has issued      The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: An evidence-based prevention resource for nurse practitioners.  Nurse practitioners can use Task Force recommendations to guide their screening, counseling, and preventive medication decisions. They can also educate patients about the missed prevention opportunities related to underuse of effective services and the potential harms of overuse of inappropriate preventive services.  The article is intended to assist clinicians, employers, policymakers and others make informed decisions about the provision of healthcare services.

    Preventing Childhood Obesity: A School Health Policy Guide,  a report from the National Association of State Boards of Education, synthesizes research on obesity and physical activity to deliver useful integrated policy models for stakeholders.  The policy models suggests to educators and lawmakers basic goals upon which to base their new standards and specific components that can be integrated into new policies, such as providing students with life-long skills and knowledge to make healthy decisions and coordinated school and community activities for times when school is not in session.  

    Major Depressive Episode and Treatment among Adolescents,  a National Survey on Drug Use and Health report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, indicates that in 2007 about 1 in 12 American adolescents experienced a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. About two fifths of those with MDE received treatment for their depression in the past year, and rates of treatment were particularly low among adolescents who did not have health insurance coverage—with only about 17 percent of these adolescents receiving treatment. The report is based on data collected from a representative sample of approximately 22,000 adolescents in the U.S. and the findings suggest the need for increased efforts to raise parental, caregiver, and teacher awareness of the signs of adolescent depression and the availability of treatment options, as well as the need for improving access to treatment among adolescents without health insurance. 
     

    Job opportunities

    The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools – Senior Secretary (Washington, DC)
    The     Center for Health and Health Care in Schools is seeking a Senior Secretary to support Center staff within the organization. Duties include serving as office receptionist by greeting visitors, answering phones, and directing inquiries appropriately. Additional responsibilities include collecting, organizing, and presenting substantive information required by supervisor to assist with managing the website content and electronic networks. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.gwu.jobs/applicants/Central?quickFind=51689

    George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services– Research Associate  (Washington, DC)
    The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services is working to provide technical assistance on HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis to the District of Columbia Department of Health HIV/AIDS Administration.  The Research Associate will provide epidemiologic and technical support, including manipulating multiple datasets, designing, conducting and supervising epidemiologic analyses, supervise GWU graduate students, and write manuscripts and abstracts. The RA will also have the opportunity to work on the publication of the public health reports on HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.publichealthjobs.net/search/detail.cfm?jobID=8480

    NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene – Medical Director     (New York, NY)
    The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is seeking a Medical Director to lead the planning and development of medical field response capability during an emergency incident response with a particular focus on mass prophylaxis of the public. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.publichealthjobs.net/search/detail.cfm?jobID=8477

    Colorado Health Foundation – Communications Officer, Media & Public Policy       (Denver, CO)
    The Communications Officer, Media & Public Policy will develop and implement programs targeting journalists in traditional, new and evolving media as a way to educate and increase awareness about health care policy. For more information and to apply to this position, visit: http://philanthropy.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000604328-01&pg=s

    National Institute for People with Disabilities – School Nurse      (New York, NY)
    The National Institute for People with Disabilities is seeking a School Nurse to administer first aid and medication on site to all children and staff, maintain medical and immunization records, participate in case conferences, and provide trainings. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/344190-252

    TEAM Schools, A Network of KIPP Schools – School Nurse      (Newark, NJ)
    TEAM Schools is seeking a School Nurse to cover two schools. Responsibilities include ensuring that the appropriate health records are received for new students, providing vision and authority screenings, administering student medications, and monitoring students with chronic health conditions. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/341821-195/c