Weekly InsiderSeptember 16, 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

Cover Your Cough is a quick two-page brochure that describes strategies for staying healthy and avoiding getting sick or spreading germs, published by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Measure Inventory, accessible through the NQMC web site, is a self-reported comprehensive listing of the measures that are currently being used by the Divisions in HHS for quality measurement.

New from the Center

THE CENTER MOVES AHEAD!  After several years of planning, on September 1, 2009 Center director Julia Graham Lear handed the Center’s leadership reins over to Olga Acosta Price, who during her 3 1⁄2 years with the Center has served as its deputy director and most recently co-director. Olga has been the director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative, Caring Across Communities, that is modeling new ways of building school-connected mental health services for immigrant and refugee youth. Julia remains with the Center as its Senior Adviser but is also now serving as Interim Chair for the Department of Prevention and Community Health in the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. The Center is an affiliate of the department. As always, both Olga and Julia can be reached at 202-466-3396. See Olga's bio below as well as a message from Julia. 

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Meet the new Center director!
Olga joined the Center in early 2006. She came from the DC Department of Mental Health where she had launched the School Mental Health Program and nurtured its growth over six years. Previously Olga, who was trained as a clinical psychologist at SUNY-Buffalo and the University of Maryland, worked as Associate Director at the Center for School Mental Health Assistance, University of Maryland. She's been a long-term board member and volunteer with the DC Assembly on School-Based Health Care and the Montgomery County Citizen's Review Panel for Children. She is the mother of the best-looking, most
energetic three-year-old in the greater Washington area (that would be Owen) and is the only Center staff member with a reliably neat desk.

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Thoughts on new beginnings from Julia:
As school people, we see September as the true beginning of the year. In keeping with our sense of fresh starts, we are announcing an exciting transition at the Center-- moving from our founding years to a new phase of growth and development. It has been a great honor to work with so many of you in your important efforts to make the lives of children and their families better through effective school-connected care. Your commitment to children and to quality school-based services has been an unfailing inspiration for us at the Center. Hence, I can't tear myself away. While I will continue to work with the Center, I am delighted to announce that we have a new leader in Olga Acosta Price. Her imagination and talent will sustain us where we are strong; her fresh perspectives on long-term issues will take us in new and productive directions. Please join Theresa, Brandi, Donna and me in wishing Olga and the Center well on their new journey. Best wishes, Julia.

To view photos and bios of the Center staff, click here.

New Presentations Posted to the Website

The Future is Now: Supporting the Needs of Immigrant and Refugee Children at School. 2009 School Health Interdisciplinary Program Conference, Ellicott City, MD. August 3, 2009.
The presentation summarizes recent immigration trends nationally and in the state of Maryland. It also describes several projects the Center has been working through the RWJF Caring Across Communities initiative. These projects have created a range of services that address both the academic and emotional needs of children and they offer lessons that others can use.

Building Successful School-Health Partnerships: Meeting the Challenges of Working Across Systems. Grantmakers in Health, Washington, DC. May 29, 2009.
While schools and health organizations share a commitment to children's well-being, they have profoundly different organizational structures and operate in very different political environments. The presentation explains how the systems differ and how good partnership practices can overcome differences.

Important Topic

Childhood Obesity

•    CHHCS: Schools and Childhood Overweight

•    CDC: Childhood Overweight and Obesity


Upcoming Meetings

•    CDC Webinar: Child Maltreatment Prevention as a Public Health Priority. September 10, 2009, 1:00 PM ET. For more information and to register for the event, please click here

•    Bethesda, MD: AHRQ 2009 Annual Conference - Research to Reform: Achieving Health System Change. September 13-16, 2009. For more information and to register for this even, please visit: http://meetings.capconcorp.com/ahrq/

•    Web Conference: Planning for an Influenza Pandemic in the Home Health Care Sector. September 23, 2009, 1:00 PM ET. For more information and to register for this even, please visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/about/flupheweb.htm

•    Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents- Recognizing & Treating the Emerging Epidemic. September 25, 2009. For more information and to register for this event, please click here

•    Palatine, IL: Exceptional Help for the Exceptional Child. September 26, 2009. For more information and to register for this event, please click here

•    Philadelphia, PA: Association of Schools of Public Health Annual Meeting. November 7-10, 2009. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=930

Previously Posted Meetings

•    Louisville, KY: 15th Annual Safe Schools, Successful Students Conference. October 12-13, 2009. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.kysafeschools.org/calendar/?event=381

•    Long Beach, CA: 18th Annual CACFP Conference: Foundation for Healthy Habits. October 18-21, 2009. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.ccfproundtable.org/2009conf.asp

•    Miami, Florida: National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) 2009 Annual Conference. October 18-21, 2009. For more information and to register for the event, please visit: http://www.nphic.org/conference_callforsession2009.aspx

•    Madison, WI: The Midwest Conference on Child Sexual Abuse. October 19-22, 2009. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/pda/midwest/index.html

•    Denver, CO: 83rd Annual American School Health Association (ASHA) Conference: Healthy Kids, Healthy Lives, Healthy Futures. October 28-31, 2009. For more information and to register for the event, please visit: http://www.ashaweb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3315

•    Minnetonka, MN: 2009 Minnesota Fall Conference on Programs for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders. November 5-6, 2009. For more information and to register for the event, please visit: http://www.ashaweb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3315

Job Opportunities

•    The Forum for Collaborative HIV Research – Deputy Director (Washington DC)
•    The Healthy Schools Campaign – Public Affairs Manager (Chicago, IL)
•    Boston Preparatory Charter Public School – School Nurse (Hyde Park, MA)
•    Flood Brook Union School – School Nurse (Londonberry, VT)
•    Turner House Children’s Clinic – Clinic Manager (Kansas City, KS)
•    The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare – Director of Educational Services (Washington, DC)

Grant Alerts

Kinder Morgan Foundation - Youth Program Grants (Deadline: 10th of every month beginning in January)
The Kinder Morgan Foundation is aimed at providing youth the opportunity to learn and grow by supporting nonprofit youth programs that focus on education, the arts and the environment.

Entertainment Software Association - Positive Youth Program Grants (Deadline: Rolling)
The purpose of the ESA Foundation is to promote positive programs and opportunities that make a difference in the quality of life, health and welfare of America's youth. The Foundation is committed to using the power of the interactive entertainment industry to create a positive social impact across the country.  Youth programs must be focused in one of the following areas: skills and personal development; general health and welfare; risk behavior prevention; education and multimedia arts/technology.

Home Depot - Building Healthy Communities Grant Program (Deadline: 9/15/09)
The mission of Home Depot's Building Healthy Communities Grant Program is to support communities who are using the power of volunteers to improve their neighborhoods and community.

Johnson & Johnson and the Society for the Arts in Healthcare - Arts in Healthcare Grant (Deadline: 10/15/09)
Johnson & Johnson and the Society for the Arts in Healthcare are funding a grant opportunity focused on engaging community healthcare workers, caregivers, families and artists in the practice of arts in healthcare. Since 2001, this partnership has provided funding to 117 organizations that represent initiative in quality healthcare through the use of arts. The goal of this grant is to provide funding for a three-year period.

The Appalachian Regional Commission and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation - Children's Oral Health Grant (Deadline:  10/30/09)
The Appalachian Regional Commission and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation have teamed up to fund a grant for children's oral health in West Virginia. This award is aimed at increasing access to preventative dental services for youth in West Virginia through school-community partnerships.

Irene W. and Guy L. Anderson Children's Foundation - Coachella Valley Youth Program Grants (Deadline: Rolling)
The purpose of the Irene W. and Guy L. Anderson Children's Foundation is to provide grant money to organizations aimed at meeting the unmet needs of youth in Coachella Valley. This grant is specifically focused on the cultural, ethnic, socio-economic and geographic differences that exist there.

U.S. Department of Education - Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program  (Deadline: 10/6/09)
The Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program is focused on improving student achievement; improving the quality of new prospective teachers by improving the preparation of prospective teachers and enhancing professional development activities for teachers; holding teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education accountable for preparing highly qualified teachers; and recruiting highly qualified individuals, including minorities and individuals from other occupations, into the teaching force.

The Baxter International Foundation - Access to Healthcare Grants  (Deadline: 9/25/09)
The purpose of The Baxter International Foundation is to increase access to healthcare for the disadvantaged and under-served in and near communities where Baxter employees live and work. The Foundation funds programs and projects that improve the access, quality and cost-effectiveness of direct healthcare services. This includes general health, dental, mental health and substance abuse programs.

Bedford Community Health Foundation - Community Health Grant (Bedford, VA)  (Deadline: 10/1/09)
The purpose of the Bedford Community Health Foundation is to support a variety of health related programs in the community in the areas of dental care, health education, school health and nutrition and wellness.

The Luzerne Foundation - Community Development Grant (Luzerne County, PA)  (Deadline: 10/12/09)
The Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program is focused on improving student achievement; improving the quality of new prospective teachers by improving the preparation of prospective teachers and enhancing professional development activities for teachers; holding teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education accountable for preparing highly qualified teachers; and recruiting highly qualified individuals, including minorities and individuals from other occupations, into the teaching force.

News Alerts

IOM Releases Guide to Curb Childhood Obesity
A new report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on September 1, 2009 outlines practical steps to curb or prevent childhood obesity. The report is a guide for a city, town, county, or state level government officials and includes suggestions such as limiting video game and TV time in after school programs, implementing “Safe Routes to School” programs, and providing better grocery stores in underserved communities.

Vaccine for 2009 H1N1 Influenza Approved by FDA
Four H1N1 influenza vaccines were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The announcement  by the FDA on September 15, 2009  stated that the first lots are expected to be available within the next four weeks and will then be distributed across the U.S.

New Resources

Cover Your Cough is a quick two-page brochure that describes how people can stay healthy and avoid getting sick or spreading germs, published by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  This brochure is available in 14 different languages and provides helpful information on how to stay healthy and prevent sickness, proper hand washing, and what to do if you become sick.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Measure Inventory, available through the NQMC web site, is a self-reported comprehensive listing of the measures that are currently being used by the Divisions in HHS for quality measurement, improvement and reporting for those involved in assessing the quality of school-based healthcare. The goal is to further advance collaboration among members of the quality community and to advance the effective use coordination of quality of care measures.


Job Opportunities

The Forum for Collaborative HIV Research – Deputy Director (Washington, DC)
The Forum for Collaborative HIV Research seeks to enhance and facilitate HIV research by bringing together experts from government, academia, industry and advocacy to identify issues that need to be addressed and recommend new research approaches to achieve progress in the field. The forum has an opening for Deputy Director to work with staff and senior researchers to further this mission. Candidates must have a doctoral degree and 5-10 years relevant experience. Knowledge of drug development processes for HIV and Hepatitis C is preferred. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.hivforum.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=259&Itemid=65

The Healthy Schools Campaign – Public Affairs Manager (Chicago, IL)
The Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC), a leading advocate for healthy school environments at the local, state, and national level, is seeking a Public Policy Manager to implement the organization’s state and federal policy agenda. Candidates will have at least five years experience, expertise in at least one of HSC’s issue areas, research skills, excellent writing and presentation skills, analytical and critical thinking skills, an understanding of the legislative and regulatory environment and processes at the federal an state levels and excellent computer skills and experience with the Microsoft Office Suite. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/349764-211

Boston Preparatory Charter Public School – School Nurse (Hyde Park, MA)
Boston Preparatory Charter Public School is a free, public school offering a rigorous curriculum to over 300 students from the most underserved neighborhoods in Boston in grades 6-12. The school seeks a part-time or full-time nurse. Primary responsibilities include: administering student medication; maintaining student health records; conducting student health testing; supporting the school nutrition program and managing student paperwork. Interested applicants must have a current MA RN license, pediatric/adolescent health experience and a CPR certification. School nurse experience is preferred. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/347672-141

Flood Brook Union School – School Nurse (Londonberry, VT)
Flood Brook Union Schools, a K-8 public school located in Southwestern Vermont, has an immediate opening for a full-time school nurse. Preferred candidates will have an Associates Degree from a nursing program accredited by the National League for Nursing, a current Vermont license as a Registered Nurse, current certifications in CPR and First Aid, four years of clinical nursing experience and completion of an educational orientation program provided through the Department of Education. For more information and to apply for this position, please visit: http://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=31153

Turner House Children’s Clinic – Clinic Manager (Kansas City, KS)
The Turner House Children’s Clinic is a non-profit pediatric clinic dedicated to providing quality primary healthcare to underserved and underinsured children in Kansas City. The clinic is seeking a full-time clinic manager supervise and support medical assistants and reception personnel, assist in developing and maintaining patient care and protocols, and generally govern clinical care services. Applicants should hold a current Kansas license as a Registered Nurse, have strong supervisory experience and significant experience in nursing care and clinical management, demonstrate professionalism and be bilingual in English and Spanish. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/350323-192

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare – Director of Educational Services (Washington, DC)
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a non-profit association of organizations that provide mental health and addiction services to adults and communities across the United States. The organization has an opening for a mid-level leader with experience in conference curriculum planning and faculty management. Applicants should be experienced and engaging communicators, detail-oriented and possess excellent computer skills. For more information and to apply to a position, please visit:
http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/350169-45