Weekly Insider 29.07.2009
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
A recent publication from the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Investigating the Relationship between Teenage Childbearing and Psychological Distress Using Longitudinal Evidence, suggests that adolescents experiencing high levels of distress have a higher likelihood of teenage pregnancy than non-distressed peers.
Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2009, a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updates the 2008 recommendations regarding the use of influenza vaccine for the prevention and control of seasonal flu.
Public Health Advisory: The FDA recommends that consumers should not use body building products marketed as containing steroids or steroid-like substances, was released July 28, 2009 to notify the public about new safety information concerning products marketed for body building and increasing muscle mass. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received reports of serious adverse events associated with the use of these kind of products.
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
Vitamin D
Upcoming Meetings
- Baltimore, MD: Diagnosing and Treating Bipolar Disorders in Children and Adolescents. October 16, 2009.For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.mspaonline.org/calendar.html
- Nashville, TN: School Choice and School Improvement – Research in State, District & Community Contexts. October 25-27, 2009. For more information and to register for the event, please visit: http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/upconf.htm#sep09
- Cincinnati, OH: Successful Practices: Surviving to Thriving – Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Conference. November 5-7, 2009. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://searchconference.org/index.html
Previously Posted 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/
Job opportunities
Mind Body Awareness Project – Executive Director (Oakland, CA)
Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc. – Health Educator (Union City, CA)
McKing Consulting Corporation – Health Marketing/ Communication Specialist (Atlanta, GA)
City of Bloomington, MN – Health Specialists for State Health Improvement Plan (Bloomington, MN)
Washington DC School Health Program – Manager, Children’s Health Services (Washington, DC)
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids – Senior Associate for Strategic Planning and Development (Washington, DC)
Grant Alerts
Nike – Back Your Block Grant (Deadline: 8/24/09)
The Nike Back Your Block program is supporting organizations that utilize sports as a tool to bring about a positive change in local communities. Specifically, Nike is looking for organizations whose programming will encourage young people, ages 15-24, to create a better life through sports
Pacific Life Foundation – Health, Education, and Community Grants (Orange County, CA and Omaha, NE) (Deadline: 8/31/09)
The Pacific Life Foundation supports programs and projects in the areas of health and human services, education, and civic, community and environment. Contributions are made primarily in the greater Orange County, CA area and Omaha, NE.
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust – Helping People in Need (Phoenix, AZ or Indianapolis, IN) (Deadline: 9/8/09)
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is accepting applications for its Helping People in Need Grants program to support projects that improve the well-being of children and youth, including programs that provide health and educational services.
The Barbara Bush Foundation – Family Literacy Grant Program (Deadline: 9/14/09)
The Barbara Bush Foundation’s national grant program supports efforts to develop and expand family literacy efforts nationwide and the development of literacy programs that build families of readers.
California Wellness Foundation – Grant Making for a Healthier California (Deadline: Rolling)
The mission of the California Wellness Foundation is to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education, and disease prevention. The California Wellness Foundation (CWF) is interested in funding the following health issues: Diversity in the Health Professions, Environmental Health, Healthy Aging, Mental Health, Teenage Pregnancy Prevention, Violence Prevention, Women’s Health, and Work and Health.
All Stars Helping Kids - Helping Hands Fund (San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York) (Deadline: Rolling)
The mission of All Stars Helping Kids is to promote a safe, healthy and rigorous learning environment for disadvantaged children in low-income communities. The Helping Hands Fund is interested in funding projects that can be categorized under the three criteria: Rigorous Academics, Health and Fitness, and/or Life skills.
News Alert
Study of School District Wellness Policies Shows Many Fail to Provide A Healthy School Environment
In school years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, many school wellness policies were underdeveloped and fragmented, lacking sufficient plans for implementation and monitoring, according to a report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Bridging the Gap program. The report found that although the strength of the policies did increase during the first two years of the requirement, they were still weak overall and did not require schools to take action.
New Resources
A recent article from the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Investigating the Relationship between Teenage Childbearing and Psychological Distress Using Longitudinal Evidence, suggests that adolescents experiencing high levels of distress have a higher likelihood of teenage pregnancy than non-distressed peers. For instance, teen mothers were severely distressed more than twice as frequently compared to their non-pregnant peers. Further, the study found that the presence of both poverty and psychological distress in girls was predictive of teenage childbearing. This publication concludes with an identification of policy implications based on the indicated findings.
Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2009 a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updates the 2008 recommendations regarding the use of influenza vaccine for the prevention and control of seasonal flu. Highlights of the 2009 recommendations include 1) a recommendation that annual vaccination be administered to all children aged 6 months--18 years for the 2009--10 influenza season; 2) a recommendation that vaccines containing the 2009--10 trivalent vaccine virus strains A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like antigens be used; and 3) a notice that recommendations for influenza diagnosis and antiviral use will be published before the start of the 2009--10 influenza season. Vaccination efforts should begin as soon as vaccine is available and continue through the influenza season.
Public Health Advisory: The FDA recommends that consumers should not use body building products marketed as containing steroids or steroid-like substances, was released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on July 28, 2009 to notify the public about new safety information concerning products marketed for body building and increasing muscle mass. Adverse event reports received by the FDA for body building products that are labeled to contain steroids or steroid alternatives involve men (ages 22-55) and include cases of serious liver injury, stroke, kidney failure and pulmonary embolism. The FDA also issued a Warning Letter to American Cellular Laboratories Inc. for marketing and distributing body building products containing synthetic steroid substances. Products containing synthetic steroids are frequently marketed as dietary supplements, but instead are unapproved new drugs that have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.
Job opportunities
Mind Body Awareness Project – Executive Director (Oakland, CA)
The Mind Body Awareness Project (MBA) works to bring mindfulness meditation to incarcerated youth in a classroom setting. The MBA Project is seeking an Executive director. Responsibilities include leading and overseeing a team of 15 MBA Project employees, providing financial management, fundraising, overseeing program execution, training teachers, overseeing the curriculum, and conducting research. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.opportunityknocks.org/JobseekerX/ViewJob.asp?JobID=1tlHjLPxeNOGinRWiykp6naoy3ud&Keywords=mental+AND+health
Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc. – Health Educator (Union City, CA)
The Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc. is a provider of community-based healthcare, including a School Based/School Linked program. The Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc. is seeking a Health Educator to provide services to the Tennyson High School Students and their families. Additional responsibilities include coordinating health education outreach to students, providing counseling, and coordinating after-school Youth Empowerment Programs. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.opportunityknocks.org/JobseekerX/ViewJob.asp?JobID=ogEN5SElNuQwd7AQ1hUtUj57VGrS&Keywords=mental+AND+health
McKing Consulting Corporation – Health Marketing/ Communication Specialist (Atlanta, GA)
McKing Consulting Corporation is seeking one or more Health Marketing/ Communication Specialist for consideration for anticipated contracts at CDC. This position requires expertise in consultation, strategy, design, and implementation of health communication and health marketing theories, principles and applications. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://cfusion.sph.emory.edu/PHEC/phec.cfm (Search term: Health Marketing/ Communication Specialist)
City of Bloomington, MN – Health Specialists for State Health Improvement Plan (Bloomington, MN)
The City of Bloomington, MN is seeking Health Specialists to fill the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Coordinator position. Responsibilities include implementing, coordinating, and managing SHIP in the cities of Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://cfusion.sph.emory.edu/PHEC/phec.cfm (Search Term: City of Bloomington)
Washington DC School Health Program – Manager, Children’s Health Services (Washington, DC)
The Washington DC School Health Program is seeking a Manager for Children’s Health Services. For more information and to apply for this position, please click here
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids – Senior Associate for Strategic Planning and Development (Washington, DC)
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a child advocacy organization, is seeking a Senior Associate for Strategic Planning and Development. Responsibilities include writing proposals, letters, reports, and other materials, organizing, planning and implementing a donor program, and developing and implementing strategies to achieve organizational objectives. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://philanthropy.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000605200-01