November 15, 2005

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Thank you for your positive response to “The Voice,” the new online newsletter from DHPE.  Importantly, I am glad that you appreciated information from DHPE --- and yes, we will make sure you are kept abreast!  We all witnessed the continuing growth, changes and challenges within our profession the past couple of years.  However, I believe that there has never been a more exciting time to enter the field of public health to address those challenges.  From the events on and after 9/11, to the public health concerns of the recent hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, a clear interdependence between proliferation of global-related health issues and the critical impact of health at the community-level exists.  In short, public health concerns are staggering and complex as they impact individuals, communities, states, nations and our planet!  From the rising incidence of asthma and diabetes, to the threat of bioterrorism as well as the overwhelming burden of chronic diseases due to tobacco use, obesity, physical inactivity and poor nutrition, we have our hands full. 

 

Yet, crises do indeed have ways of stirring up changes.  While worldwide concerns seem pervasive, our commitment must start with our local communities.  Long standing problems of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, tobacco and substance abuse and many more chronic diseases demand providing education at the community level and promoting ways to prevent onset of these diseases and/or minimizing their effects.  Do we have the tools? Yes.  Are these tools enough? No.  We need to do more to improve health through organized community action; to be prepared and take responsibility and to help those in desperate need.  The challenges are overwhelming, but we can do something.  As members of the premier organization advocating health promotion and education, DHPE is your resource.  I encourage you to participate and become involved with DHPE, your association…and we can make a difference. 

 

Let me also take this opportunity to thank those who opened their hearts and gave support to our friends affected by hurricane Katrina.  I appreciate your kindness and generosity.

Once again, please enjoy “The Voice.”

 

Sincerely,

                                                                                                     

Jim McVay

DHPE President    

                                                                      

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

 

House and Senate Transportation Bills Included “Safe Routes to School” Program

Final bill devotes $612 million in transportation funds over five years to make it safer for children to walk or bicycle to school. Full story.

 

DHPE Supports Letter to Bush Administration

A letter requesting increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was recently sent to President Bush. To learn more about this letter please click here.

 

NEWS FROM DHPE

 

DHPE Provides Distance Learning Programs

The Directors of Health Promotion and Education, through the Alabama Public Health Training Network, broad casts sessions from DHPE annual meetings using satellite conferencing and internet webcasts. See summary.

 

SCHOOL HEALTH NEWS (FROM DHPE’S SCHOOL HEALTH INITIATIVES)

 

School Health Workgroup Welcomes Three New Members

DHPE welcomes three new members to its School Health Workgroup:  Tom Sims, (West Virginia); Jennifer Dunlap, (Indiana) and Kimberly L. Peabody, (Atlanta).  

 

Move More: North Carolina's Recommended Standards for Physical Activity in School

North Carolina unveiled “Move More School Standards” on August 26, 2005.  The program was jointly released by the NC Division of Public Health, NC Department of Public Instruction, NC Healthy Schools and NC Cooperative Extension Service. Click here for full story and to download standards.

 

COMING SOON! Protecting Our Assets: A School Employee Wellness Guide

DHPE is releasing a new publication, “Protecting Our Assets: A School Employee Wellness Guide,” scheduled for release to public by summer 2006.  More information to follow.

 

MORE NEWS FROM DHPE

Nationwide Meeting of State PA Coordinators Held in Chicago

The Physical Activity network (PAN) held its first nationwide meeting of state physical activity coordinators last September in Chicago with thirty-nine states represented.  Full story.

 

DHPE Members Attend Evidence-Based Public Health Course

President-elect Lavell Thornton (SC) and Member-at-Large L. Kaili McCray attended a 3-day course in Shruns, Austria last September 26-29, 2005.  Full story.

 

MEMBERS CORNER

 

VOTING MEMBER:  Warm welcome to Deborah Arms, RN, PhD., Chief, Division of Prevention at the Ohio Department of Health, as the new voting member from Ohio.

 

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:  DHPE welcomes Kathy Payne (OK), Chia Thao (CA); Mathew Suneeth (India); Thomas J. Lenz (NE); Jeanne DiMuzio (CT); Jescee Bennett (UT); Gina Baral (NJ); Simon Maina Rukwaro (Kenya); Lori Flood (OH); Cheri Marshall (ID); Corinne Davis (NE); Rohit Anand (FL); Virginia Munoz (FL); Hsianghsin Kung (NY); Yolanda Randes (CA); Laura Atkinson (OH); Marc Manoli (MA)

 

Wyoming’s Governor Dave Freudenthal appointed Dr. Brent Sherard as the new Director of the Wyoming Department of Health.  

 

Frank S. Bright, DHPE voting member from Ohio recently joined the American Cancer Society, Ohio Division as its Vice President for Health Initiatives after 31 years of service at the Ohio Department of Health.  

 

Jimm Murray, DHPE voting member from Wyoming recently retired after many years of service.  

 

DHPE welcomes Cynthia Somers as its new Program Administrative Assistant.  Cynthia, formerly an Administrative Assistant with MCI-Worldcom, joined DHPE on November 1, 2005.  She can be reached at (202) 659-2230 Extension 100 or e-mail her at admin@dhpe.org

 

NEWS FROM STATES AND PARTNERS

 

FROM THE STATES

 

Vermont Department of Health Uses New Technology to Stop Smoking

How about using the latest animation technology for a new website to quit smoking?  That is just what the Vermont Department of Public Health did!  Its campaign provides a forum for Vermonters to share personal stories on the impact of smoking.  The new website, http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=999999999&sid=723623&m=128898&u=DHPE&s=http://www.tobaccostories.org/ contains stories from Vermonters, with animated technology used for the characters sharing them via the website. It aims to personalize and bring to life the message through characters telling their stories; with their eyes following the on-screen cursor from one’s computer. For information and related links, read press release .

 

INShape Indiana Raises Awareness for Better Health Measures

In his inaugural address in January, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels issued a challenge to citizens of Hoosier state when he unveiled his initiative, INShape Indiana.  It helps connect citizens with programs and offerings from Indiana organizations and agencies in order to achieve healthier lifestyles.  By visiting http://www.in.gov/inshape/, one can register as a participant; wherein the registrant is able to update a brief health profile every two weeks.  In conjunction with the initiative, an INShape Indiana Obesity Prevention Summit was held on October 27, 2005 at the University Place in IUPUI campus. Awareness, information and involvement were the focus of the gathering.  Contact Kathy Weaver, Communications at kweaver@isdh.in.gov or (317) 233-7451.

 

Improving the Health of Oklahomans

Oklahoma is busy trying its best to get fit!  Based on alarming statistics on obesity and overweight in Oklahoma, Governor Brad Henry’s Healthy Oklahoma Initiative, the State Fit Kids Coalition and the State Health Department’s Action Team on Improving Oklahoma’s Health are teaming up to improve the health of Oklahoman’s.  Full story.

 

UPCOMING STATEWIDE CONFERENCES AND PROGRAMS

 

2005 Illinois Women’s Health Conference, December 7-8, 2005, Rosemont, Illinois Department of Public Health.  Click here for more information.

 

2005 Alaska Health Summit, November 28-December 2, 2005, Alaska Public Health Association, Anchorage, AK. Please contact Marie J. Lavigne at (907) 332-1030 Direct; Outside Anchorage 1-866-332-1036.

 

Local Public Health and the Law: Preparing for the Likely Prepares Us for the Unlikely, November 21, 2005, Worcester, MA, Massachusetts Department of Health and the Harvard School of Public Health.  Contact Amy Rosenstein at (617) 354-1497.

 

FROM OUR PARTNERS

 

State Legislatures Address Obesity in 2005

This year state legislators considered a variety of policy options to prevent obesity-related chronic diseases in children and adults.  The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) publishes updates and summaries of state legislations on childhood obesity policy options. 

 

Obesity Prevention Resources for States

The Council of State Governments (CSG) released two tool kits during the Trends Summit on Obesity held last July 20-22, 2005, addressing policy approaches to combat adult and youth obesity.  Click here to download copies.

 

SOPHE Seeks Associate Editors

Health Promotion Journal, an official journal of the Society for Public Health Education is looking for Associate Editors to co-edit two journal departments, “Health Education in Health Care Settings” and “Career Development.”  For more information about this posting please click here.

 

University of Albany School of Public Health Receives Award

The University of Albany School of Public Health received a Gold Award for Excellence in Programming in Satellite Higher Education from the United States Distance Learning Association. More information.

 

University of Maryland Launches Professional Development Program in Public Health

The University of Maryland in College Park, MD is now offering four new web-based Public Health Informatics courses intended to advance professional career.  Click here 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 

SOPHE 56th Annual Meeting “Global Health Promotion: Bridging New Worlds and New Cultures,” December 8-10, 2005, Philadelphia, PA.  Go to http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=999999999&sid=723627&m=128898&u=DHPE&s=http://www.sophe.org/ for program and  registration information.

 

Using the ACHA-NCHA To Examine the Health Status and Health Needs of Your Students, American College Health Association (ACHA) Professional Development Workshop.  Contact Robert Ward, rtward@acha.org or call (410) 859-1500. Click here for more details.

 

Public Health And The Uninsured, Thursday, December 15, 2005 from 9am-10am EST, University of Albany (SUNY) School of Public Health with Robert E. Fullilove, EdD, Associate Dean Community and Minority Affairs, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Visit http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=999999999&sid=723628&m=128898&u=DHPE&s=http://www.t2b2.org/ or call 518-402-0330.

 

CDC CORNER

 

CDC Announces New Leadership Team at NCCDPHP

Dr. Janet Collins, Director of NCCDPHP (National Center on Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion) announced new members of the leadership team. Full story

 

Thompson Appointed as CDC’s Acting Director of the Coordinating Center for Health Promotion

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that Dr. Ed Thompson, CDC’s Chief of Public Health Practice as the new acting Director of the Coordinating Center for Health Promotion effective immediately.  Full story

 

Genomics Report from CDC Available Online

CDC’s Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention (OGDP) announces the release of Genomics and Population Health 2005 available online click here to view report.

 

Eleventh Annual Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Conference, December 7-9, 2005, Miami, FL – DHPE and the Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contact Mariela Alarcon-Yohe, DHPE Program Director at malarcon@dhpe.org or (202) 659-2230 Ext. 103.

 

Recent Updates to CDC’s Guide to Community Preventive Services

New updates to CDC’s Guide to Community Preventive Services include school-site and worksite interventions to promote a healthier weight, available at http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=999999999&sid=723629&m=128898&u=DHPE&s=http://www.thecommunityguide.org/ and click on obesity.

 

Year 1 Results of VERB Campaign in Pediatrics

Year 1 results of the VERB campaign were published in the August 2005 issue of Pediatrics.  Learn more about VERB at http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=999999999&sid=723630&m=128898&u=DHPE&s=http://www.cdc.gov/VERB. Two additional articles on VERB also in Preventing Chronic Disease.

 

Chronic Disease Notes & Reports’ on the Burden of Obesity

In its winter 2005 issue, Chronic Disease Notes & Reports published “The Burden of Obesity in the United States: A Problem of Massive Proportions.”  

 

CDC Releases Obesity Fact Sheets

The CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health released Obesity Fact Sheets on the Healthy Youth website.

 

Preventing Chronic Disease Releases Special Issue

CDC’s online publication, Preventing Chronic Disease featuring excellent articles of prevention efforts by DHPE members is online this month.

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention events and conferences can be found at http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=999999999&sid=740875&m=128898&u=DHPE&s=http://www.cdc.gov

 

 

 

MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION…

..

What is the Parent’s Role in Childhood Obesity?

Mayo Clinic.com, recently featured an article on the parents’ role in fighting childhood diabetes. Click here for “Childhood Obesity: What parents can do.” 

 

Call to Action on Overweight and Obesity

In his role as America’s chief health educator, the Surgeon General issued a call to action in preventing and decreasing obesity in children and adolescents. 

 

Vaccine to Prevent Cervical Cancer Found Effective

NCI Cancer Bulletin, featured an article about researchers that found the new experimental drug, Gardasil (developed by Merck) effective in preventing infections that cause cervical cancer.  Full story

 

Obesity is a Four-Letter Word

According to Prevention Institute, the focus on obesity is harmful to community health.  Find out why by reading the full story.

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

EVENT                                     DATE                                        LOCATION

Internship Program:                    Begins January 9, 2006              TBD

Minority-Serving Institutions

 

DHPE Strategic                         March 2006                               Atlanta, GA

Planning Meeting

 

Regional CSHP                          March 30, 2006                         Tampa, FL

Training Program

 

24th National Conference             May 23-26, 2006                        Washington,

on Health Promotion                                                                    D.C.

and Education  

 

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 at http:/www.dhpe.org.  Any comments or suggestions regarding newsletter should be directed to bdones@dhpe.org. If you wish to remove your name from future mailings of this newsletter, please reply to this issue and type “UNSUBSCRIBE.” in the subject line.

 

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DHPE WISHES EVERYONE A SAFE AND

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

 

DHPE
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Phone: 202-659-2230
Fax: 202-659-2339
bdones@dhpe.org

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