Click
on the above news updates from the Kaiser Family Foundation
News & Resources:
News Stories:
A new study, funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and WellPoint Foundation, found that a few measures—such as more adults getting flu shots and being screened for cancer—could save tens of thousands of lives each year in the United States.
Kaiser Permanente on Tuesday released a Web-based video game designed to teach children ages 9 to 10 about eating healthy foods and being more physically active, Reuters reports. While playing "The Incredible Adventures of the Amazing Food Detective," available in English and Spanish, children will follow the routines of eight culturally diverse characters whose health would benefit from healthy food and increased physical activity.
All types of alcohol _ wine, beer or liquor _ add equally to the risk of developing breast cancer in women, say American researchers after releasing a study in September
EPA celebrates Children's Health Month each October by developing publications and activities that highlight the importance of protecting children from environmental risks. View a calendar with a children's environmental health tip for every day in October. President George Bush declared October 1, 2007 Child Health Day.
NEW Healthy living could save U.S. $1 trillion, study finds.
A report released by the Milken Institute, a not-for-profit economic think tank, suggests that chronic disease accounts for $1.1 trillion in lost productivity annually in the U.S. and calls for more aggressive disease prevention and management efforts, the Los Angeles Times reports.
A study in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that overweight employees who received monetary bonuses for weight loss shed more pounds than those without the financial incentive, USA Today reports.
Two teachers were taken to the hospital after getting sick at a school that has been criticized by thelocal teacher's union as unsafe. Many familiare with the school suspect the cause was mold or some other air-quality problem. School officials say inspections have found no unusual mold levels.
With each passing day, American toy companies and their Chinese suppliers have another pair of eyes looking over their shoulders. Since early this summer, Mattel, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us have said they would increase safety testing of toys. On Monday, Walt Disney Co. said it would do the same on toys that use its licensed characters. Chinese product-safety officials said they would take immediate steps to eliminate lead paint from toys bound for the United States, in part by increasing inspections.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the launch of a new Web site to address health issues related to the September 11th World Trade Center attacks.The site, which will be accessible through the city's main Web portal, grew out of a recommendation made in a mayoral report called "Addressing the Health Impacts of 9/11." According to Bloomberg, the Web site will be the first dedicated source of information about the health effects of the September 11th attacks and will highlight the latest scientific research.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department has awarded $3.5 million to support nursing programs at 17 of the state's colleges and universities, the New Mexico Business Weekly reports.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has issued a new guide to help health facilities funded under the federal Health Center Program bolster emergency preparedness, AHA News Now reports. The HRSA Policy Information Notice aims to guide health centers as they work to address the three key components of core planning: safeguarding human resources, protecting physical resources and ensuring business continuity.
The Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration last week awarded $3.67 million for projects developed under the federal Safe Routes to School program, the Baltimore Sunreports. The initiative supports efforts that encourage students to walk or bike to school and improve the safety of local communities. to School programs.
Federal and state guidelines aimed at improving students' health, and pressure to curb childhood obesity rates, have prompted schools nationwide to offer new cafeteria fare that emphasizes sound nutrition, the New York Times reports. While federal guidelines require all states to adopt basic nutrition standards for cafeteria food, critics say the parameters are too lax and outdated.
With each passing day, American toy companies and their Chinese suppliers have another pair of eyes looking over their shoulders. Since early this summer, Mattel, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us have said they would increase safety testing of toys. On Monday, Walt Disney Co. said it would do the same on toys that use its licensed characters. Yesterday, Chinese product-safety officials said they would take immediate steps to eliminate lead paint from toys bound for the United States, in part by increasing inspections. And today, executives from Mattel and Toys R Us are scheduled to testify before a Senate subcommittee.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is launching a statewide marketing campaign aimed at encouraging kids to follow healthier lifestyles. The "Eat and Move" campaign aims to get its message out through classrooms, grocery stores, pediatrician offices, the Internet and community events.
Health coaching is spreading as a growing number of companies and insurers try to play a more active role in helping their workers and members stay healthy and better manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
International Studies Show HPV Vaccine is Highly Effective Against Virus Responsible for Cervical Cancer
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - ATLANTA--A new vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent effective against the two types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for most cases of cervical cancer--strains 16 and 18. Results of an international meta-analysis study of the vaccine are published in the June 1 issue of the journal Lancet.
Two high school students, Megan Blewett and William Slack, have won a nationwide $50,000 scholarship contest that seeks out entries about the various sciences surrounding medical disease.
A Subcommittee within the U.S. House of Representatives has approved funding for FY 08 of a bill that would increase both research into and programs for autism.
A 50 state study by the Govt. Accountability Office contends that the nation’s schools lack the capability to effectively respond to a major disaster. Schools across the nation exhibited a lack of planning and collaboration with local authorities in the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster, etc.
While the many of the major news stories over the years (i.e. Columbine, the Iraq War & the recent VA Tech shootings) have exposed youth today to both difficult and, at times, tragic news stories, today’s youngest generation is not disillusion as a result.
Fire chiefs from around the nation seek to cultivate, what one called, a “culture of preparedness”, as to be able to adequately respond to future disasters.
The Robert Johnson Wood Foundation has begun an initiative aimed the prevention and treatment addictions. The effort, moreover, serves to correct many of the negative social stigmas surrounding those with addiction.
A new poll conducted by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids was issued and seems to indicate that a overwhelming majority of Americans cannot specific chemical (a great many of which are carcinogenic) commonly found in cigarette smoke.
The City Council in the District of Columbia passed a measure that would mandate HPV vaccinations for adolescent girls, with an exception being made in cases where the parents conscientiously object. The bill still needs to be sent to Mayor Fenty and the U.S. Congress before final approval.
Anti
- Obesity Campaign Targeting African Americans to Kick Off in Washington,
D.C
In a response to what some have deemed as a major health crisis within their community, African-Americans have gathered together to promote a collaborative weight loss campaign aimed at curbing the presently alarming figures.
This Washington Post Article discusses childhood obesity and advertising
in response to a Kaiser Family Foundation Report titled Food
for Thought: Television Food Advertising to Children in the United
States. For more information about childhood
obesity, click here.
NEW YORK – GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
Network, today released From Teasing to Torment: A Profile of School
Climate in Missouri, a report that provides a rare look into student
experiences with bullying and harassment in Missouri schools. The
results are based on responses from Missouri students who took
part in a national survey of secondary school students and teachers
conducted by Harris Interactive® for GLSEN.
Highly Promising Maine Initiative to be Replicated in California, Michigan
and Oregon
Ordering Materials
In an effort to recognize the
hard work and dedication of NEA ESP, NEA HIN is offering a variety of resources
available for custodians, school nurses, paraprofessionals, school bus drivers,
and more!Click here for more information!
Resources:
Resources From Selected Topics:
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires
federally funded school districts to develop and implement a local
wellness policy by the fall of 2006. This policy will address nutrition
and physical education, establish an assessment plan, and involve
a wide range of stakeholders. Does your school or district need
a guiding hand in this effort? SmartBODY,
HIN¹s new fitness information center, contains model programs
and useful links to get you started.
Healthy Teen Network (HTN), formerly the National Organization on Adolescent
Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention (NOAPPP), has created a new
website for their renamed organization. HTN provides information
and education materials about adoclescent pregancy, parenting and
prevention. For resources, see More...
New Can
We Talk? Family Activity
Books are Now Available!
The
NEA Health Information Network's Can We Talk? program
helps parents and educators address health and sexuality
issues with late elementary and middle school aged youth.
On June 1st, 2005, the new and improved Can We
Talk About Puberty & Sexuality? Family Activity Book was released.
While supplies last, customers will receive a complimentary copy of the original
activity book when placing an order for the new activity book ($10). Due
to shipping costs, for orders over 50, customers will only receive 5 copies
of the original activity book. Call Paul Sathrum at the National Office if
you have any questions (1-800-718-8387). Click here for more information: Can
We Talk Website
Childhood Obesity
The Weight Bias Task Force has published a new fact sheet: Obesity,
Bias, and Stigmatization. The fact sheet examines the serious and
pervasive social consequences of being overweight and obese and
addresses five key questions:
- What is weight stigma?
- Where does weight stigma occur?
- What are the consequences of weight stigma?
- How are children affected by weight stigma?
- How can weight stigma be reduced?
More from NAASO...
The
re-designed food guide pyramid, dubbed “MyPyramid,” has been
made public. In an attempt to convey an individualized approach to diet
and physical activity, the USDA’s dietary guidelines are now represented
by 12 different pyramids in order to account for differences in sex,
age, and physical activity level. Six color bands extend from the top
to the bottom of the pyramids in vertical lines, representing recommended
proportions of 6 food groups. A staircase along one side of the pyramid
symbolizes daily physical activity.
Click here for more details
about MyPyramid.
The site also includes interactive tools for creating a personalized
diet and activity plan and resources for professionals. Explore
the new website to learn how to incorporate this new tool into
your own life as well as into the lives of your families and
students.
Heart
Disease
Heart
disease is a complex term that refers to a variety of conditions. The most
common form of heart disease is coronary heart disease (CHD). 7 million
Americans have CHD and it is the number one killer of both men and women
in our country. Risk factors for CHD are primarily controllable. They include:
high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and physical
inactivity. Visit the following websites for detailed information on CHD
and how to prevent it:
The American Heart Association recently released the Medical
Emergency Response Plan for Schools which details how schools
should prepare for life-threatening medical emergencies in the
first minutes before the arrival of emergency medical services
(EMS) personnel. Click
here for more information
These national programs jointly sponsored by the American Alliance
for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the American
Heart Association. These programs promotephysical education, healthy
children, and knowledge of heart disease and stroke while raising
funds for cardiovascular disease research, stroke research, and
health education. Visit
their website to learn more.
Cervical
Cancer Screening is Essential Every year, about 10,520 women in the United States
get cervical cancer and approximately 3,900 women die from it. Screening
can prevent the development of cervical cancer and if cancer is detected, finding
it at an early stage can save lives. Visit the following websites for more
information on this critical issue:
Autisim
About 70% of developmental delays
are first diagnosed by school system
officials, and the affluence of the
school system may have a lot to do
with how many children are falling
throughthe cracks. Visit the Autism
Society's Website to
learn more.
Federal Grants
The CDC is posting all of its funding announcements on one website.
This site is a "one stop shop" for all Federal grants
and cooperative agreement funding opportunities. The website willprovide
improved access to funding opportunities, increased interaction
with the Federal government, simplified application processes that
save time and money, and a secure and reliable way to apply for
Federal grants. Visit their website for
details.
Teenage Pregnancy
According to a new poll released by the National Campaign to
Prevent Teen Pregnancy teens say their parents (37%) influence
their decisions about sex more than friends (33%), the media (5%),
or siblings (6%. Adults, however, mistakenly believe that friends
(47%) are more influential than parents (28%). These are just some
of the results of a poll conducted among 1,000 young people and
1,014 adults. From more results visit the National Campaign website
at www.teenpregnancy.org.Order
ESP Materials!
Over 80% of gay, lesbian, bi or transgendered (GLBT) students
report that verbal, physical andsexual harassment related to their
sexual orientation is a common part of their school experience,
according to the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network's (GLSEN)
National School Climate Survey. Students report that they do not
feel safe at school and that having effective policies in place
in schools can make a huge difference. Click
here to view the survey or learn more about how your school can
promote school safety.
This new web page is intended to serve as a portal to on-line
resources to help facility managers, school administrators, architects,
design engineers, school nurses, parents, teachers and staff address
environmental health issues in schools. Information on how to improve
the environment of school facilities and educational resources
for students and teachers are included on the site Visitors can
browse resources by topic or by geographic area. More....
As Seen in this
Month's NEA TODAY:
Forget what it says on your driver’s license. By assessing and improving a host of lifestyle factors, you can be younger and more fit—at
any age.
Archived Infromation
2005 | 2006 2005 and older
Researchers have found that being physically active may increase
the chances of surviving breast cancer. Physical activity has already
been identified as a possible means of preventing the disease and
of improving patients' quality of life. These new findings indicate
that it may also be an important factor in surviving the disease.
The greatest benefits were found among those women whose physical
activity levels were roughly equivalent to walking 3-5 hours a week. More...
Calling 2005 “The Year of the Healthy Child,” U.S.
Surgeon General Richard Carmona announced that his agenda this year
will focus on “improving the body, mind, and spirit of the
growing child.” Visit the Health
In Schools Website to learn more about his 2005 health agenda.
At least six states are considering health insurance pooling plans
for school districts
as a way of holding down increasing health care costs. Supporters of insurance
pools "see it as a way for states to free up money for books and teachers'
salaries in their school districts," which are "hurting for revenues
and pressed" by health care costs, according to the AP/Las Vegas Sun.
However, pools are opposed by some who say "a state-run bureaucracy can
diminish benefits and strip them of collective bargaining rights," the
AP/Sun reports (Welsh-Huggins, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 5/3).
The recommendations emphasize the increased consumption of whole
grains, fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat milk, while steering
away from saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt, and added
sugar. In addition, the guidelines stress the importance of physical
activity, recommending 60 minutes daily to prevent weight gain and
60-90 minutes on most days to lose weight. For more details, read
the Dietary
Guidelines at the Healthier Us Website
The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) surveyed
children aged 9-13 years and their parents and found that 61 percent
of children of those ages do not participate in any organized physical
activity during their after-school hours or on weekends, and 23 percent
do not engage in free-time physical activity during those hours.
To learn more visit More...EPA
Launches Healthy School Environments Web Portal 2006
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