Weekly InsiderJanuary 27, 2010

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

Success at Every Step: How 23 Programs Support Youth on the Path to College and Beyond, published by the American Youth Policy Forum, describes 23 programs that have been proven to help youth successfully graduate from high school and move on to college and careers.

Suggestions for Interviewing Refugee and Immigrant Children and Families, released by the Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services, offers helpful tips for interviewing recently-arrived refugees in school, clinic, social services, and early child programs.

A National Survey of Obesity Prevention Practices in Head Start, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, discusses whether obesity prevention programs are an effective mechanism for decreasing obesity among children.

New from the Center

Congratulations! We want to share the news that Brandi Robinson, Research Associate with the Center, has accepted a new position at the Partnership for Prevention here in Washington, DC. Long-time colleagues know that Brandi has been a member of the CHHCS team since she was a grad student in the GW School of Public Health and Health Services in 2004.  We deeply appreciate her commitment to the Center and to the field. And we are delighted she will be only 3 blocks away in her new position. We know you will join us in wishing her great success in this next step in her professional journey. Best wishes, Olga, Julia, Donna, Theresa and Sarah

Addressing the Legal Issues Impacting Refugee and Immigrant Families, a video presentation by Mr. Fred Tsao, has been posted to the website. In this lecture, Mr. Tsao presents information on legal issues facing immigrants in the US including legal immigration categories, how immigrants can become citizens, sponsorship, public benefit eligibility, the impact of 1996 Welfare Reform, rules on public charge, and constitutional rights of illegal immigrants. Mr. Tsao is the Policy Director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. To view the video presentation, please click here: http://healthinschools.org/en/Immigrant-and-Refugee-Children/Tools-and-Documents/Understanding-the-Legal-Issues-Impacting-Immigrant-Families.aspx

Caring Across Communities Grantee Meeting materials were posted to the The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools website. This includes grantee posters, speaker presentations and inspiring success stories from the field.  To view these resources, please go to http://healthinschools.org/Immigrant-and-Refugee-Children/October-2009-Presentations.aspx

Treating Traumatized Immigrant and Refugee Youth, a webinar sponsored by The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, was presented on December 10, 2009. Many immigrant and refugee youth in the United States have experienced traumatic events, including personal violence, community violence, war, forced displacement, loss of family members, and separation from loved ones. Treating trauma-related symptoms and promoting healthy coping are crucial steps towards helping these new American youth survive and thrive in their new home, schools and communities. The Treating Traumatized Immigrant and Refugee Youth webinar presentation PDFs and audio are now available on our website at: http://www.healthinschools.org/en/Immigrant-and-Refugee-Children/Tools-and-Documents.aspx

Important Topic

January is Family Fit Lifestyle Month

• Awareness Dates: Family Fit Lifestyle Month

• ShapeUp.org: 99 Tips for Family Fitness Fun

• Family Education: Families and Fitness

Upcoming Meetings

•   Washington, DC: Second Annual Multi-State Health IT Collaborative for E-Health Conference. February 8-9, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/about/cmsehealth.htm

•   Phoenix, AZ: New Insights for Improving Schools. February 23-26, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please click here.

•   Washington, DC: Children 2010 - Leading a New Era. February 25-27, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please click here.

•   Washington, DC. National Economic Forum on Early Childhood Investment. March 10-22, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.partnershipforsuccess.org/index.php?id=52

•   Atlanta, GA: International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections. March 18-22, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.decennial2010.com/index.php

•   Denver, CO: American Public Health Association Public Meeting and Expo. November 6-10, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.apha.org/meetings/

Previously Posted Meetings

• Webinar: A Growing Hunger:  The Nation’s Demand for Food Safety and Nutrition Information. April 8, 2010 at 4 PM EST. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.nalboh.org/Ned_E_Baker_Lecture.htm

• Washington, DC: World Health Care Congress. April 12-14, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.worldcongress.com/events/HR10000/

• Atlanta, GA: New Urbanism-Rx for Healthy Places. May 19-22, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.cnu.org/node/2927

• Memphis, TN: National Association of County and City Health Officials Conference. July 14-16, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.naccho.org/events/nacchoannual2010/

• Washington, DC: Global Health Council 2010 Conference. June 14-18, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please visit: http://www.globalhealth.org/conference_2010/

• Boston, MA: Academy Health Annual Research Meeting. June 27-29, 2010. For more information and to register for this event, please click here.

Job Opportunities

•    American Public Health Association - Senior Program Manager (Washington, DC)
•    Strategic Alliance for Health School-Program - Evaluation Consultant (New York, NY)
•    Alliance for Children and Families - Chief Operating Officer (Milwaukee, WI)
•    The Institute for Children and Poverty - Principal Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
•    Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania - Family Advocate (Philadelphia, PA)
•    Woodbury Elementary - School Nurse (Woodbury, VT)

Grant Alerts

Lowe’s Foundation - Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant (Deadline: 2/12/10)
The Lowe’s Foundation is accepting applications for its Toolbox for Education Grant Program. The purpose of this program is to increase parent involvement and build strong community spirit and school traditions that improve educational opportunities for children.

William Penn Foundation - Children, Youth, and Families Program Grants (Pennsylvania) (Deadline: Rolling)
The Children, Youth, & Families program funds work in Greater Philadelphia to promote a better early care and education system, more effective and equitable public education policies, and the coordination of quality development opportunities for older youth. The Foundation's three main funding priorities are school readiness, public education, and youth development.

Association of Schools of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Public Health Fellowship (Deadline: 2/4/10)
The goal of the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Fellowship is to address emerging needs of public health, and to provide leadership and professional opportunities at the CDC for students and graduate students of ASPH member graduate schools of public health. The fellowships are one to two years in duration, depending on the needs of CDC and the fellow.

US Department of Education – Migrant Education High School Equivalency Program (Deadline: 2/19/10)
The purpose of the Migrant Education High School Equivalency Program is to assist migrant and seasonal workers and members of their family obtain a General Education Diploma. It further helps program participants find post secondary education opportunities or gain employment.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina Foundation - Healthcare Programs Grants (South Carolina) (Deadline: 2/24/10)
The mission of the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation is to promote the health of South Carolinians and to expand access to health care for the economically disadvantaged by supporting integrated research, education, and community service. The Foundation funds programs in the areas of childhood/adolescent health, community health, healthcare and free medical clinics, mental health, nursing issues, prevention of obesity, and research.

The Vermont Community Foundation - Community Development Grants (Vermont) (Deadline: 2/26/10)
The Vermont Community Foundation is committed to building healthy and vital Vermont communities by offering grants that address basic human needs, sustainable communities, and successful communities. The Basic Human Needs category focuses on youth, elderly, and family services; housing, food and shelter; and health. The Successful Communities category supports civic engagement, diversity and equity, and education. The Sustainable Communities category addresses arts, humanities and cultural heritage; the environment; and economic development.

News Alert

Abnormal Lipid Levels in Adolescents Cause Concern for Heart Disease
One out of five adolescents, ages 12-19, have abnormal lipid (fat) levels, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

New Resources

Success at Every Step: How 23 Programs Support Youth on the Path to College and Beyond, published by the American Youth Policy Forum, describes 23 programs that have been proven to help youth successfully graduate from high school and move on to college and careers. The programs represent a range of interventions including school reform initiatives, after-school programs, and work-based learning opportunities. The report identifies elements of each program that may contribute to its successful outcome.

Suggestions for Interviewing Refugee and Immigrant Children and Families, released by the Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services, offers helpful tips for interviewing recently-arrived refugees in school, clinic, social services, and early child programs. The brief offers suggestions on preparing for interviews, connecting with the interviewee, and setting expectations for the interview.

A National Survey of Obesity Prevention Practices in Head Start, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, discusses whether obesity prevention programs are an effective mechanism for decreasing obesity among children. The report found that there are some difference in healthy eating and physical activity practices across regions. The article also looked at relationships between program characteristics and healthy eating and physical activity scores.

Job Opportunities

American Public Health Association - Senior Program Manager (Washington, DC)
The American Public Health Association is seeking a senior program manager to work in their Center for School, Health & Education department. The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for the programmatic and financial management and administration of the Center under the direction of the Center Director. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in human services, business, public health, education or related field and a minimum of three years grant administration experience, preferably in a nonprofit setting. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://careers.apha.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=3277667

Strategic Alliance for Health School-Program - Evaluation Consultant (New York, NY)
The NYC Strategic Alliance for Health (SAfH) seeks to engage an Evaluation Consultant to collect data on current after-school programs in order to initiate a dialogue on how after school programs can offer better physical activity programs. The consultant will perform assessments that will enhance knowledge of after-school programs, practices and activities in the SAfH target areas in the South Bronx and East and Central Harlem. Applicants should have a Masters Degree in Public Health or a related degree with a focus on research methods and at least three years professional experience, including independently conducting research or evaluation. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/365094-19

Alliance for Children and Families - Chief Operating Officer (Milwaukee, WI)
The Alliance for Children and Families, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the capacities of North America’s nonprofit child- and family-serving organizations, is seeking a chief operating officer (COO). The COO will oversee the Alliance’s Washington, DC office and will work with the President and CEO of the Alliance as well as its holding company, Families International. This position calls for a person with at least a masters or equivalent degree and experience in associations, human services and public policy. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/364829-168

The Institute for Children and Poverty - Principal Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
The Institute for Children and Poverty (ICP) is a nonprofit policy and research organization that works to inform the public on the issue of children, poverty, and family homelessness, and to provide timely analysis and recommendations that will enhance public policies and programs targeted at this population. ICP is seeking a principal policy analyst to serve as the senior manager and reviewer on projects that both collect primary data and use secondary data, and advise project staff and senior management on the analysis and presentation of the data in a variety of formats. Applicants should have: a Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, economics, or related social science; a minimum of five years work experience on quantitative data analysis in a hands-on management capacity; a minimum of three years work experience with supervision of in-house policy or research staff; and proficiency with SPSS or STATA. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/360673-213

Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania - Family Advocate (Philadelphia, PA)
The Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania is seeking a Family Advocate to assist families whose children have emotional or behavioral concerns with navigating the public child-serving systems. An undergraduate degree is preferred, however a high school diploma or GED and two to four years recent, consecutive and relevant experience will be considered. Experience as a care giver navigating the public child-serving systems is preferred. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/364818-165

Woodbury Elementary - School Nurse (Woodbury, VT)
Woodbury Elementary School is seeking a school nurse to work one day a week. Applicants must have citizenship, residency or work VISA in US. Two years relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree is preferred. For more information and to apply to this position, please visit: http://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=33194