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January 17, 2007

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Happy New Year! I hope you had a blessed holiday season. This year holds much promise and potential. Several people have asked me about resolutions. In thinking about what a resolution is, I realized that resolutions do not have to be just about fixing what is wrong. You can also use them to celebrate what is right. Organizationally, DHPE has made great strides the past couple of years. Our strategic planning process has allowed for much reflection and growth. We will update our organizational plans in March.

On behalf of DHPE, I want us to continue in our path to make DHPE the premier organization for public health education and health promotion professionals. Our DHPE staff and board members are exceptional. In addition to board duties, members are also involved in many other partnership activities and advisory committees at the state and national levels. We are completing some projects, enhancing existing initiatives and embarking on new ones in partnership.

Please take a moment to visit our new and improved website, http://www.dhpe.org/. I think you will find it easier to navigate and to find relevant information. You can also get a project update on the Minority Health Internship Program, School Health Initiatives, Worksite Wellness Project, Physical Activity Collaborative, Prevention Research Centers, and the Arthritis Project. We are evaluating next steps with the National Public Health Education Leadership Institute (PHELI). An advisory group is exploring more cost-effective ways to deliver this valuable educational opportunity.

Policy development is a core public health function. Currently available on our website is the Health Policy and Environmental Change Competencies. This report details specialized competencies for the public health workforce. It can also be used as a guide to help train staff and to develop position descriptions for hiring key health policy staff. Training strategies and dissemination plans are being discussed. The 2007 National Health Education Advocacy Summit is March 3-5, 2007 in Washington DC. This partnership effort provides an excellent opportunity to sharpen your advocacy skills and to visit Capitol Hill. The experience culminates with congressional visits. For more info, visit www.healtheducationadvocate.org

We have an ambitious agenda planned for this year. We need teamwork to keep the various special projects and new initiatives moving forward. With your active participation, energy, and ideas, I know we can do it.

So as we start the year, please consider how you can be of service. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. As always, thank you for all that you do at the state level to promote and enhance the professional practice of Health Promotion and Public Health Education.

Sincerely,

Lavell R. Thornton

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

109th Congress Adjourned December 9, 2006
The 109th Congress adjourned on December 9, 2006 without completing most of the FY 2007 appropriations bills. Only the defense and homeland security spending bills have been enacted.. Read more

The New Democrat-Controlled Congress Convened January 4, 2007

The new Congress convened on January 4, 2007. The incoming chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees issued a joint press release indicating that they intend to extend the continuing resolution for the remainder of fiscal year 2007 that ends on September 30, 2007. Read more

President to Submit his Proposed FY 2008 Budget to New Congress
On February 5, the President will send to Congress his proposed FY 2008 Budget Request. All expectations are that the budget will be tight as the President is proposing to balance the budget by 2012, which means closing an annual budget shortfall of over $200 billion. (The President’s term will of course expire during the first half of FY 2009, so he will not be in office to see this pledge through). More

NEWS FROM DHPE

DHPE Launches its New Website
The Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) recently unveiled its new website. Please visit http://www.dhpe.org.

CDC, DHPE and SOPHE Join Together to Offer 2007 Conference in Seattle
Mark your calendars and make plans to attend the DHPE/CDC 2007 National Conference on Health Promotion and Education and SOPHE’s 2007 Mid-year Meeting to be held in Seattle, WA on June 7-9, 2007. The conference theme is “Changing the Face of Health Education and Health Promotion.” Click here for more information.

Nominations for 2007 CDC/DHPE National Health Promotion and Education Awards
The DHPE Awards Committee is pleased to announce that submission of nominations for the 2007 National Health Promotion and Education Awards is now open. These awards, given in conjunction with the annual CDC/DHPE National Conference, consist of nine categories namely, Leadership Award, Health Promotion Medal of Excellence, Hod Ogden Award, Evans/Muneoka Award, National/Regional Collaboration Award, State/Community Collaboration Award, Health Promotion and Education Advocacy Award, David Satcher Award and Emerging Leader Award. If you are interested in nominating someone, go to http://www.dhpe.org/awards_info.asp. This is your opportunity to recognize your colleague’s contribution to health promotion and public health education. Click here for awards criteria.

Join DHPE Committees and Workgroups

DHPE invites you to join its committees and workgroups so you can be involved in contributing to the strategic direction of the association and importantly, enhance and advance the profession as well as increase awareness in health promotion and public health education. More information at http://www.dhpe.org/committees.html. To join, please fill out the form at http://www.dhpe.org/membership_svc/CommitteesSign-UpSheet.htm

MEMBERS CORNER

VOTING MEMBERS: DHPE welcomes its new voting member from Missouri, Larry Dickerson, Chief, Bureau of Health Promotion, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Larry has over 30 years of experience in Community Development, working most of the past 20 years in Alaska.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: DHPE welcomes Adrien Ngudiankama (MD), Aimee Halcomb (PA), Laban Kemoi (NY), Suzana Miljkovic (SC), Beverly Lucier (GA), Karolina Bizik (NY), Jennifer Nelson (NC), Marcia Johnson (NC).

DHPE Announcements:

DHPE wishes to thank Tricia Schlechte, Policy and Intervention Analyst for the MO Dept. of Health and Senior Services for her service as the interim voting member for Missouri the past year. In addition, DHPE welcomes Ana P. Novais, Associate Director for the Division of Community Health and Equity at RI Department of Health as a new member of DHPE’s Membership Services Committee. Her name was inadvertently omitted from the roster listed in the front page of The Voice in November 2006.

NEWS FROM THE STATES AND PARTNERS

FROM THE STATES

Arizona

Arizona’s Indoor Smoking Restrictions to Take Effect on May 1, 2007

Increased tobacco taxes and strict new indoor smoking restrictions make 2007 the year to commit to quit tobacco. Read press release. For more information go to http://www.ashline.org/

Colorado

Fewer Smokers in Colorado

In recent years, Colorado has seen a decline in the number of women who smoke, but the male smoking rate has remained unchanged. See press release from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Florida

New Sunshine Growers’ Market
The Florida Department of Health is excited about the new Sunshine Growers Market which provides fresh, seasonal and organically grown produce…..Full story

DOH to Create Intervention Program: “Mexican Folk Dance at the Farm Workers Village”
Migrant farm working families, largely of Hispanic origin, tend to face a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases compared to average Americans… Read more

Illinois

New Study Shows Illinois Leading the Nation in Health Improvement

Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced that a new study, America’s Health Rankings: A New Call to Action for People and their Communities showed Illinois has seen the greatest improvement in health over the previous year than any other state in the country. More from Illinois Dept. of Health.

Massachusetts

Department of Health Unveils Stroke Care Programs
Last November, the MA Dept. of Health, the American Stroke Association and the Statewide Emergency Telecommunications Board teamed up to unveil a multi-agency approach to prevent & treat stroke. Read press release from MA Dept. of Public Health.

Minnesota

Minnesota Honored as the Healthiest State
Minnesota was the healthiest U.S. state according to United Health Foundation’s yearly state health rankings report. Rounding out the five healthiest states were Vermont, New Hampshire, Hawaii and Connecticut. Go to http://www.americashealthrankings.org/

New Jersey

Assembly Approves Bill to Cut Junk Food in Schools
Two years ago, Richard Codey, then acting governor, ordered NJ public schools to get rid of candy, snacks, soda and other high fat junk food from their cafeterias and vending machines…Full story

New Jersey’s Asthma Summits and Asthma Collaborative
Asthma is a chronic disease that disproportionately impacts children and minorities. In recognition of this epidemic, the Commissioner of NJDHSS and key stakeholders are committed to increase…. Read more

New York

New York Board of Health to Phase Out Artificial Trans Fat from NY Restaurants
The NY Board of Health unanimously voted to require all city restaurants to remove artificial trans fat over the next 18 months, becoming the first location in the nation to require removal of artificial trans fat from restaurants. More information at NY Dept. of Health.

New York State Launches Campaign to Encourage Risk-Reduction Behaviors
The New York Department of Health has launched an educational campaign, “Keep Your Germs to Yourself.” The campaign, produced by the Department’s Office of Science and Public Health stresses proper hygiene etiquette. Read more

Rhode Island

Health Plans Cover Smoking Cessation Programs
Health plans in Rhode Island will be required to cover tobacco cessation programs. It includes coverage of prescription or over-the-counter nicotine replacement prescriptions as long as they are used in out-patient counseling sessions. S 2706Aaa, RI General Assembly, 2006 session.

Texas

State Bans Smoking in Foster Homes
Foster parents can no longer smoke around children under they care for in their homes beginning January 1, 2007 (Houston Chronicle)

UPCOMING STATE CONFERENCES AND PROGRAMS

Kentucky e-Health Summit – Mapping the Future, January 19, 2007, Louisville, KY, Kentucky Department of Public Health. Visit http://ehealth.ky.gov/summit

Healthy Lifestyle Summit, February 6, 2007, Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio Department of Health. More information.

Alabama Satellite Broadcasts, 2007 Schedule, Alabama Public Health Training Network, Alabama Department of Public Health.

State Directors Health Conference 2007, January 25-26, 2007, Raleigh, NC, Department of Public Health.

FROM OUR PARTNERS

New Resource on Improving Health & Reducing Disparities through Prevention

The Prevention Institute released an innovative report, “The Imperative of Reducing Health Disparities Through Prevention: Challenges, Implications and Opportunities.” To obtain a downloadable copy of the report, go to http://www.preventioninstitute.org/

FDA OK’s Drug for Early Breast Cancer

The breast cancer drug Herceptine is now officially available to women with early stage disease as approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Full story at http://www.cancer.org/ news center.

The National Survey of Children’s Health Releases Rural Health Chartbook

The National Survey of Children’s Health, NSCH released The Health and Well-Being of Children in Rural Areas: A Portrait of the Nation 2005. Click here for a copy of the chartbook.

Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation (CRPF) “Check Your Insides Out” exhibit
The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation (CRPF) “Check Your Insides Out” exhibit will be at Union Station in Washington, D.C., Jan. 14, 2007, through Feb. 4, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily. More at http://www.preventcancer.org/

ACSM Provides Reference Database

The American College of Sports Medicine Office of Museum, History and Archives is providing the Health and Physical Activity Reference Database of articles and books published over the past 200 years or more relating to the connection between health and physical exercise and early history of the physiology of exercise.

Proposed State Legislation for Menu Labeling and Trans Fat Information: 2003-2007
States, D.C. and territories with legislative proposals related to trans fat and menu labeling information can be found in the National Conference of State Legislatures website, http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/transfatmenulabelingbills.htm

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

AAHPERD 2007 National Convention and Exposition, March 13-17, 2007, Baltimore, MD, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. More information

ACSM Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition, March 21-24, 2007, Dallas, TX, American College of Sports Medicine. Go to http://www.acsm.org/

2007 ACHA Annual Meeting, May 29-June 2, 2007, San Antonio, TX, American College Health Association. Go to http://www.acha.org/

ACSM’s 54^th Annual Meeting, May 30-June 2, 2007, New Orleans, LA, American College of Sports Medicine. More information

The 19^th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education: Health Promotion Comes of Age, June 10-15, 2007, Vancouver, Canada. For information and registration go to http://iuhpeconference.org/

2007 Juvenile Arthritis Conference, July 1-4, 2007, Hershey, PA, American Arthritis Foundation. More information at http://www.arthritis.org/

81^st Annual ASHA School Health Conference: Health Literacy in Many Cultures, July 9-13, 2007, Honolulu, HI, American School Health Association. Informatiom available at http://www.ashaweb.org/

17th Annual Art & Science of Health Promotion Conference, March 28-31, 2 007, San Francisco, CA, IHRSA. Go to http://www.healthpromotionconference.org/

Get Out! AAPAR Outdoor & Adventure Education Conference, July 26-29, 2007, Coeur d’ Alene, ID, American Association of Physical Activity & Recreation. More Information available at http://www.aahperd.org/aapar/GetOut/

CDC CORNER

HHS to Develop Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
HHS Secretary Mike Levitt announced that the Department will develop comprehensive guidelines, drawn from science, to help Americans fit physical activity into their lives. Expected release will be late 2008. For more information, please go to http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20061026.html.

CDC Releases Report on the State of Childhood Asthma, United States: 1980 - 2005
A new report on childhood asthma released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that death rates for asthma among children under 18 have declined since 1999. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs for a copy of report.

New Directors at CDC
Kathleen E. Toomey, MD, MPH, is Director of the Coordinating Center for Health Promotion (CoCHP). Dr. Toomey has held several key positions at CDC. Most recently, she served as Director for the Division of Public Health (1997-200) at Georgia’s Dept. of Human Resources. CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation has selected Dr. Ann Albright to assume the post of Director in January 2007. Since 1995, Dr. Albright was Chief of the California Diabetes Program for CA Department of Health. From 2003-2004, she served as Senior Health Policy Fellow in the Office of U.S. Surgeon General.

School Health Index Training Manual Now Available Online
The School Health Index Training Manual is now available from the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health. Go to http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/SHI/Training to download the manual.

Obesity Statistics for those Aged > 20 Years Released
From 1999--2000, through 2003--2004, the prevalence of obesity among men increased significantly from 27.5% to 31.1%. During the same period, no significant change occurred among women, 33.2% of whom were obese in 2003—2004. Click here for more information.

Health, United States, 2006 Released by CDC
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released Health, United States, 2006 with Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans With Special Feature on Pain. More

CDC Discontinues Funding Announcements
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer publish funding opportunity announcements and requests for application and program announcements in the Federal Register. They will now be available at http://www.grants.gov/

HHS and FDA Announce New Tools to Help Consumers Use Nutrition Facts Label
New tools to help consumers use the Nutrition Facts label to choose nutritious food and healthy weight management are now available from the department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). More at http://www.fda.gov/

MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION

A Year of Major Advances in Cancer Cited
There were important advances in the detection and treatment of cancer this year – more people that ever are now surviving the disease, writes Steven Reinberg, a reporter from HealthDay News for Healthier Living. Read more

Abdominal Obesity, a Better Predictor the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Type2 Diabetes?
A recent study published in the November 2006 issue of Pediatrics, “Recent Trends in Waist Circumference and Waist-Height Ratio Among US Children and Adolescents,” reports that abdominal obesity maybe a better predictor...... Full story

Obesity Cited Number One Kids’ Health Issue
Obesity or being overweight is seen as the most important issue for U.S. children according to a new poll commissioned by Research!America and the Endocrine Society.

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

The Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) is a 501(C)(3) association based in Washington, DC and is an affiliate of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). DHPE is organized specifically to provide leadership in health promotion, programming, practice, training, technical assistance and policy developments. DHPE is funded primarily through cooperative agreement # CU 012359, “Development and Support of Core Public Health Functions Related to Health Promotion and Education.”, coordinated by the Division of Adult and Community Health (DACH) of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP). DHPE’s “The Voice” is supported by this cooperative agreement. DHPE makes every effort to present reliable and accurate information in this newsletter; however, DHPE does not endorse, certify, approve or guarantee accuracy, timeliness or completeness of such information. Therefore, any references to a program, service, process or system do not imply or constitute endorsement or recommendation by DHPE, unless expressly noted. Past issues are archived on-line at http://www.dhpe.org/pubs_school.html

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