Weekly InsiderJanuary 25, 2012

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.


Looking for a Spring Internship?

CHHCS has excellent volunteer opportunities for individuals interested in children’s health and the delivery of health programs in schools. Duties include assisting the program assistant by serving as office receptionist, and aiding in the collection, organization, and presentation of new information for the weekly newsletter. General office clerical experience is required. For a full description, click here.

New Resources

Preventing or Reducing Socio-emotional Problems in Adolescents, Child Trends' latest brief, synthesized findings from 37 random-assignment social intervention programs designed to prevent or treat internalizing problems for adolescents.

Health Policy Brief: Medicaid Reform, a brief analysis published by Health Affairs, provides background and a short update on the proposed reforms to Medicaid (not the health care reform changes).

What Works for Asthma Education Programs, a recent Child Trends brief, reviews 17 random assignment experimental evaluations of asthma education programs.

Center Resources

  • A November 2011 Health Affairs article by Center staff Donna Behrens & Julia Lear asks why dental care is out of reach for many kids and how in-school care can help. Visit our homepage for access to the full article.

  • The Impacts of School-Based Behavioral and Emotional Health Interventions on Educational Performance is an annotated bibliography that describes recent rigorous research from peer-reviewed literature. Visit our Spotlight section to view the full document.

    • Important Topic

    Lunch in Schools

    • USDA Unveils Historic Improvements to Meals Served in America’s Schools

    • USDA Healthy Meals Resource System

    • Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project

    • KidsHealth: School Lunches

    Upcoming Meetings

    • Chapel Hill, NC: Annual Minority Health Conference. January February 24, 2012. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://studentorgs.unc.edu/msc/

    • Various Locations: 2012 Regional Bullying Symposium Series. Various Dates. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.schoolsafety911.org/

    • Webinar: Strong Roots and Bright Futures: Promoting Successful Adjustment for Refugee Youth. February 8, 2012, 12:30 – 1:30 pm EST. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22EB65PRU3Z

    • Minneapolis, MN: National STD Prevention Conference. June March 12-15, 2012. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/stdconference/default.htm

    • Greenville, SC: Annual Greenville Family Symposium. March 29-30, 2012. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://familysymposium.com/

    • Orlando, FL: National School Safety Conference. July 23-27, 2012. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.schoolsafety911.org/event.html

    Previously Posted Meetings

    • Longmont, CO: Title One Conference. January 21-23, 2012. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.cambiumlearning.com

    • Tampa, FL: Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference. March 4-7, 2012. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://cmhtampaconference.com/

    • Huntsville, AL: National Symposium on Child Abuse. March 20-22, 2012. For more information about this event, please visit: http://www.nationalcac.org/events/symposium.html

    • Washington, DC: USPHS 2012 Scientific and Training Symposium. June 19-21, 2012. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.phscofevents.org/index.cfm

    • Addis Adaba, Ethiopia: 13th World Congress on Public Health. April 21-29, 2012. For more information and to register for this event, please visit here.

    • Webinar: Steps to Respect (Anti-bullying) Overview. January 18, 2012, 3:00 pm EST. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.cfchildren.org/

    Job Opportunities

    • Washington West Supervisory Union—Waitsfield Elementary School (Waitsfield, VT)
    • George Washington University—Assistant/Associate Professors in Prevention and Community Health Maternal and Child Health Program (Washington, DC)
    • Revere Public School District—School Nurse (Revere, MA)
    •     The Village Family Services—Child & Family Specialist (Hollywood, CA)
    • Marlborough Public Schools—Licensed Practical Nurse (Marlborough, MA)
    • The Mount Sinai Medical Center—Associate Director of Development, Child Health and Development Institute (New York, NY)

    Grant Alerts

    Ashoka Changemakers--Activating Empathy: Transforming Schools To Teach What Matters      (Deadline: 3/30/12)
    Activating Empathy is a global collaborative competition designed to find the best ideas, programs, and learning-models from around the world that encourage social and emotional development, unlock new ways of viewing problems, address bullying, promote diversity and champion children as problem solvers.

    Toyota and Discovery Education--Teen Driving Safety Educator’s Challenge (Deadline: 2/16/12)
    This funding opportunity seeks to challenge educators to develop an action plan that improves safe teen driving at their school or community.

    Foundation for Youth Investment, 2012 Catalyst Fund--Accelerating Efforts to Introduce Youth to Outdoor Experiences (Deadline: 3/1/12)
    The Catalyst Fund supports organizations that connect underserved youth with outdoor experiences within or near their communities.  

    McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation--Academic Enrichment Grants (Deadline: 4/15/12)
    The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation partners with individuals to expand educational opportunities for America’s youth that inspire students by nurturing their curiosity about the world and their place in it.

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--State Implementation Grants for Systems of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) (Deadline: 3/1/12)
    The purpose of this funding is to improve access to quality, comprehensive, coordinated community-based systems of services for CYSHCN and their families that are family-centered and culturally competent.

    Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation—AmeriCorps-LEAP Early Childhood Development Grants (Minnesota) (Deadline: 2/15/12)
    The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation works to build a prosperous region with vibrant communities, innovative businesses and a skilled and valued workforce by investing in emerging businesses and the emerging workforce.

    New Resources

    Preventing or Reducing Socio-emotional Problems in Adolescents, a practical guide from The National School Boards Association (NSBA), Child Trends' latest brief, synthesized findings from 37 random-assignment social intervention programs designed to prevent or treat internalizing problems for adolescents. Adolescence is often characterized as a tumultuous time in youth development, marked by occasional mood swings and intense emotions. For some young people, however, more serious, internalizing problems such as depressive or anxious moods, negative self-perceptions and emotional distress, compromise healthy development. Left untreated, internalizing problems can undermine one's ability to succeed in school and work, form and maintain close relationships with others, and live a healthy, fulfilling life.

    Health Policy Brief: Medicaid Reform, a brief analysis published by Health Affairs, provides background and a short update on the proposed reforms to Medicaid (not the health care reform changes). One of the primary approaches to reforming Medicaid is to convert Medicaid into a block grant program. Under this structure, the federal government would send states a set amount of money and states would have great flexibility to design and manage their Medicaid program without federal standards or requirements. Another idea is to swap federal eligibility and benefit rules for state-specific goals. Under this arrangement, states would pledge to meet specific goals for their Medicaid programs in terms of quality, cost, access, and customer satisfaction and to assess program performance over time.

    What Works for Asthma Education Programs, a recent Child Trends brief, reviews 17 random assignment experimental evaluations of asthma education programs. Asthma, a chronic respiratory disease, affects 7.1 million children and adolescents under the age of 18. When children and teens are unable to manage their disease, it can compromise their physical, academic, and social development. The potential negative impacts of asthma on a child's development make it vital to identify effective, evidence-based asthma education programs to promote the well-being of children and youth.

    Visit our website for new resources on Immigrant and Refugee Children:
    http://www.healthinschools.org/Immigrant-and-Refugee-Children/Resources.aspx

    Job Opportunities

    Washington West Supervisory Union—Waitsfield Elementary School (Waitsfield, VT)
    The Washington West Supervisory Union is currently seeking a part-time school nurse for Waitsfield Elementary School. Responsibilities of the position include providing emergency care to students, implementing student health plans, and providing health counseling to students families and staff. Qualifications for the position include a Bachelors Degree in Nursing or related field, at least one year of experience in public health nursing, community health nursing, or pediatric nursing and a knowledge of school health. For more information and to apply for this position, please visit: http://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=65006

    George Washington University—Assistant/Associate Professors in Prevention and Community Health Maternal and Child Health Program (Washington, DC)
    The Department of Prevention and Community Health in The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services is seeking up to two scholars to serve as faculty members in the Maternal and Child Health program at the assistant or associate professor level, depending on experience and qualifications. Qualifications for the position include a Doctoral Degree or equivalent in public health, social and behavioral sciences, maternal and child health, or health sciences, a record of scholarly accomplishments, and teaching and advising experience at the graduate level. For a full job description and application requirements, click here.

    Revere Public School District—School Nurse (Revere, MA)
    Revere Public School District is currently seeking a full-time School Nurse. The district is comprised of eleven schools - six elementary, three middle, one high school, and one alternative middle and high school - and serves close to 6,000 students. Qualifications for the position include a valid School Nursing license and at least two years of relevant experience. A Bachelors Degree is preferred. For more information and to apply for this position, please visit: http://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=65064

    The Village Family Services—Child & Family Specialist (Hollywood, CA)
    The Village Family Services works to protect children from abuse, preserve families, and build a stronger, safer community for all. Currently they are seeking a full-time Child & Family Specialist. Responsibilities of the position include providing interventions that develop coping and problem solving skills, teaching social skills, and encouraging the transfer of those skills into the home, school, and community. Qualifications for the position include a Bachelors Degree and at least two years of relevant experience. For more information and to apply for this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/view/job/94m7nBsWskMD/

    Marlborough Public Schools—Licensed Practical Nurse (Marlborough, MA)
    Marlborough Public Schools are currently seeking a full-time Licensed Practical Nurse for the 1LT Charles W. Whitcomb School. Responsibilities of the position include assisting students with daily living skills, providing medical care and treatments to assigned students, and escorting students to classes, bathroom, lunch, playground, nurse’s office, and transportation when required. Qualifications for the position include a valid Licensed Practical Nursing license in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, pediatric nursing experience, and current CPR and First Aid certification. For more information and to apply for this position, please visit: http://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=65098

    The Mount Sinai Medical Center—Associate Director of Development, Child Health and Development Institute (New York, NY)
    The Mount Sinai Medical Center is currently seeking a full time Associate Director of Development for the Child Health and Development Institute. Responsibilities of the position include expanding philanthropic revenue, maintaining a portfolio of top prospective donors, strategizing ways to connect donors to the fundraising objectives, and performing direct solicitations. Qualifications for the position include a Bachelors Degree, at least seven years of direct fundraising experience in complex organizations, and proficiency in Raiser’s Edge. For more information and to apply for this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/view/job/PG5JTF2jZNH4/