Weekly Insider 18.02.2009
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.
On February 24, 2009, 2pm EST the Center is sponsoring a webinar on Helping immigrant and refugee students achieve school success: Partnering with families to support student mental health.
The webinar will highlight strategies that engage family members, who
often provide a close-knit, protective force in the child’s life.
To register, click here:
New Resources
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s recently released policy brief, Improving Child Nutrition Policy: Insights from National USDA Study of School Food Environments provides recommendations for policymakers on supporting healthy changes to the school food environment as a way of improving children's diets and overall health.
The newly established National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research is offering a series of free, web-based seminars aimed at increasing skills of researchers and practitioners in policy evaluation effectiveness. The first webinar, Basics of Design to Evaluate Policy Interventions will be held on February 27th from 1-2pm EST.
The latest edition of Covering Health Issues from the Alliance for Health Reform is now accessible online. Chapters one to three, which cover health reform, the cost of health care, and quality of care, are currently available. Additional chapters will be offered as soon as each chapter is complete.
Important Topic
The Importance of Recess
School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior: Pediatrics
Recess in Elementary Schools: Council on Physical Education for Children
Recess in Elementary School - What Does the Research Say?: ERIC Digest
Recess Makes for Better Students: Medline PlusUpcoming Meetings
Previously Posted Meetings
Job opportunities
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care - Project Manager: Pediatric Obesity Prevention Program (Boston, MA)El Paso County Department of Health and Environment - Nurse Practitioner (Colorado Springs, CO)
First Focus - Senior Director of Health Policy (Washington, DC)Sports4Kids – City Director (Los Angeles, CA)
Dwa Fanm - Family Advocate (New York, NY)J. Turner Hood Elementary School - Elementary School Nurse, RN (North Reading, MA)
Grant Alerts
Avon Foundation – Not Seen, Not Heard: Helping Children of Domestic Violence Grant (Deadline: 4/1/09)
The Avon Foundation, as part of its Speak Out initiative, launched the Not Seen, Not Heard: Helping Children of Domestic Violence program to assist children affected by domestic violence. The Avon Foundation is particularly interested in supporting model programs developed through collaborations with domestic violence service providers and legal service providers.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) – Youth Program Grant (Deadline: 4/15/09)
The ESA Foundation supports positive programs and opportunities that make a difference in the quality of life, health and welfare of America’s youth. The Foundation is currently accepting applications from organizations that provide youth programs in one or more of the following areas: skills and personal development, general health and welfare, risk behavior prevention, education and/or multimedia arts/technology related or applied.
Tony Hawk Foundation – Supporting Youth and Public Skateparks Grant (Deadline: 3/2/09)
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.
National Gardening Association – Healthy Sprouts Awards (Deadline: 10/17/09)
To encourage the growth of health-focused youth gardens, the National Gardening Association (NGA) recognizes outstanding programs through the Healthy Sprouts Awards, which are sponsored by Gardner’s Supply Company. These awards support school and youth garden programs that aim to teach children about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States.
Autism Speaks – Family Services Community Grant (Deadline: 6/25/09)
Recognizing that there are multiple needs in the expansive and varied autism community, the focus of Autism Speaks Family Services Community Grants is on proposals that serve to build the field of services for individuals with autism and to expand the capacity to effectively serve this growing community.
The Women’s Sports Foundation – GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards (Deadline: 7/17/09)
The GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards championed by Gatorade reward high school girls for taking the lead by inspiring other girls to participate in sports and physical activity. Gatorade is seeking teams that lead their own project and get girls in their communities physically active.
New Resources
Improving Child Nutrition Policy: Insights from National USDA Study of School Food Environments, a policy brief published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study (SNDA-III) and other studies using SNDA-III data. SNDA-III includes data from the 2004-2005 school year on the food and nutrient content of meals offered to and selected by children, children's dietary behaviors at school and outside of school, and the availability and consumption of competitive foods.
The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research’s first webinar, Basics of Design to Evaluate Policy Interventions, is being held on February 27th from 1-2pm EST. This webinar will address: (1) planning to enhance the elements of methodological integrity in design: validity, reliability, statistical testing, and generalizability; (2) pre-testing all data collection instruments in the appropriate populations; (3) establishing appropriate comparisons; (4) establishing appropriate benchmarks for assessing performance; and (5) sampling strategies.
The latest edition of the Alliance for Health Reform’s Covering Health Issues is being offered online chapter by chapter, as soon as each chapter is complete. Chapters one to three are currently available, and over the coming weeks chapters on employer-sponsored coverage, individual coverage, children’s coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, disparities, public health and mental health will be made available. Each chapter will include fast facts on the topic, background information, and likely policy debates.
Job opportunities
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care - Project Manager: Pediatric Obesity Prevention Program (Boston, MA)
The Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care seeks an experienced Project Manager to manage a five year research initiative called “Improving Primary Care to Prevent Childhood Obesity,” funded by the National Institutes of Health. The Project is sponsoring an intervention in Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates pediatric practices to help prevent obesity among young children.
For more information and to apply to this position, please visit http://www.publichealthjobs.net/search/detail.cfm?jobID=7714
El Paso County Department of Health and Environment - Nurse Practitioner (Colorado Springs, CO)
The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment has an opening for a Nurse Practitioner to perform physical assessments, diagnosis and treatment under protocol for clients. Essential job functions include obtaining medical and psycho/social histories on clients and determining a plan of health care for clients based on data.
For more information and to apply to this position, please visit http://www.publichealthjobs.net/search/detail.cfm?jobID=7710
First Focus - Senior Director of Health Policy (Washington, DC)
First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy organization that is committed to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions, is seeking a Senior Director of Health Policy. The Director will support organizational goals and objectives to develop and implement a strategy to increase advocacy, education, and research with respect to health policy issues of importance to children at the federal level.
For more information and to apply to this position, please visit http://firstfocus.net/pages/3560/Senior_Director,_Health_Policy.htm
Sports4Kids – City Director (Los Angeles, CA)
Sports4Kids is a nonprofit that provides safe, healthy playtime at low-income schools to create a positive environment for learning and teaching. The Los Angeles City Director is responsible for managing all aspects of the new program in Los Angeles, CA including the implementation of the Sports4Kids comprehensive school-based programming at 16 new schools.
For more information and to apply to this position, please visit http://www.sports4kids.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Itemid=73
Dwa Fanm - Family Advocate (New York, NY)
Dwa Fanm, a Haitian women's rights organization committed to empowering all women and girls with the freedom to define and control their own lives, has an opening for a Family Advocate. This person will be responsible for individual and family counseling to a complex caseload of clients with children at-risk for foster care placement and/or children who are awaiting reunification with
For more information and to apply to this position, please visit http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/328172-139
J. Turner Hood Elementary School - Elementary School Nurse, RN (North Reading, MA)
J. Turner Hood Elementary School, of North Reading Public Schools, is seeking an Elementary School Nurse. Requirements include a BS/BA in Nursing and a Massachusetts Nursing License. Massachusetts School Nurse Certification is desirable.
For more information and to apply to this position, please visit http://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=25648