Weekly Insider Jul 31-Aug 06 2007

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 this month at the Center

  • August 2007 E-journal
    -- Keeping Score—How the States Measure Up on Health
    -- What We Know and Do Not Know about Child Protection
    -- The Impact of Media Violence on Children
    -- Consumers and Health Care—Are We Ready for Retail?

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New resources

  • Child and Youth Emergency Mental Health Care: A National Problem, from the National Center for Children in Poverty, is a policy brief that summarizes the incidence of emergency room usage by children, youth and adults seeking treatment for mental health problems.

  • How Schools Can Help Children Recover from Traumatic Experiences, a research brief from the RAND corporation, summaries the findings of a research project initiated in response to the need for comprehensive mental health services for children affected Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This research brief is also accompanied by a toolkit for schools that is available for purchase.

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Important topic

Mental health parity: What does it mean for you?

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    Upcoming meetings

    • Houston, TX: National Middle School Association 34th Annual Conference. November 8-10, 2007. For more information please visit
      http://www.nmsa.org/annual/

    • Boston, MA: American Psychological Association School Mental Health: Treating Students K to 12 conference. December 14-15, 2008. For more information please visit http://www.apa.org/ed/other.html and view conferences listed for December.

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    Previously posted meetings
    • Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: 4th Annual International Bullying Prevention Association International Conference: Best Practices in Bullying Prevention. November 5-8, 2007. For more information please visit
      http://www.stopbullyingworld.com/

    • Chicago, IL: Learning Disabilities Association 45th Annual International Conference. February 27-March 1, 2008. For more information please visit http://www.ldanatl.org/conference/index.asp

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    Job opportunities

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    Grant alerts

    U.S. Department of Education -- Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Field-Initiated Projects  (Deadline: 9/21/07)
    The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for its Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Field-Initiated Projects grant program. The purpose of the program is to support projects that develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities.

    Abreu Charitable Trust -- Grant Program (Atlanta, GA area) (Deadline: 9/30/07)
    The Abreu Charitable Trust is accepting applications for its grant program. The purpose of the program is to support organizations in areas including arts and culture, secondary and higher education, health and human services, and children and youth services.

    McCune Charitable Foundation -- Grant Program (New Mexico) (Deadline: 9/30/07)
    The McCune Charitable Foundation is accepting applications for funding of projects in areas including arts, economic development, education, environment, health, and social services.

    Best Buy -- Teach Awards (Deadline: 9/30/07)
    The Best Buy Company is accepting applications for its Teach Awards grant program. The purpose of the program is to support use of interactive technology in K-12 schools by rewarding schools that enable students to use technology to learn standards-based curriculum in programs with available technology.

    Kids In Need Foundation -- Teacher Grants Program (Deadline: 9/30/07)
    The Kids In Need Foundation is accepting applications for its Teacher Grants Program. The purpose of the program is to provide funds for classroom teachers who have innovative, meritorious ideas, such as using common teaching aids creatively, approaching the curriculum from an imaginative angle, or tying nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities.

    NPower Greater DC Region -- Technology Innovation Award (Washington, DC metro area) (Deadline: 9/07/07)
    NPower Greater DC Region is accepting applications for its Technology Innovation Awards to support greater impact by nonprofits in the community through use of innovative technology.

    Johnson & Johnson/Society for the Arts in Healthcare -- Enhancing Healthcare Experiences Using the Arts Grant Program (Deadline:9/19/07; Letter of Inquiry)
    The Society for the Arts in Healthcare, in conjunction with Johnson & Johnson, is accepting applications for its grant program to improve healthcare experiences for patients, their families, and caregivers through the use of the arts. The specific focus of the program is to support established programs that can be replicated, documented, and disseminated nationally or internationally to serve underserved communities.

    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Changemakers -- Why Games Matter: A Prescription for Improving Health and Health Care Open Source Competition (Deadline: 9/26/07)
    The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in conjunction with Changemakers, is accepting entries into its Why Games Matter: A Prescription for Improving Health and Health Care open source competition. The purpose of the competition is to promote development of innovative, sustainable computer/video games that help people manage their health, improve how their care is provided, and have wide social impact.

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    News alerts

    Senate Begins Debate on SCHIP Reauthorization  
    Debate began July 31st on a bill now before the Senate that would reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which is set to expire next month. As expected, in hours of debate, Senators differed on whether the program that provides health insurance to children in working-poor families should be reined in or expanded, though all Senators who spoke favored continuing the program at some level. 

    House Passes SCHIP Reauthorization 
    As the Senate continued debate on a reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), yesterday the House of Representatives abruptly passed its own bill, the Child Health Care and Medicare Protection Act of 2007, which authorizes an increase of almost $50 billion over the next five years for SCHIP and makes school-based health centers eligible for reimbursement.

    Senate Passes SCHIP Extension 
    The United States Senate passed a bill August 2 that reauthorizes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for another five years, with a funding increase of $35 billion that is expected to enable states to add 3 million more children to current SCHIP enrollment.

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    New resources

    Child and Youth Emergency Mental Health Care: A National Problem, from the National Center for Children in Poverty, is a policy brief that summarizes the incidence of emergency room usage by children, youth and adults seeking treatment for mental health problems. A fact sheet and the full document are available online at http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_750.html

    How Schools Can Help Children Recover from Traumatic Experiences, a research brief from the RAND Corporation, summaries the findings of a research project initiated in response to the need for comprehensive mental health services for children affected Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This research brief is also accompanied by a toolkit for schools that is available for purchase. To view this research brief, please visit http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/2006/RAND_RB9229.pdf

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    Job opportunities

    Center for Social and Emotional Education -- Web-Portal Master (New York, NY)
    The Web-Portal master will work half-time to manage CSEE’s website, developing forums and information exchange technologies and managing the online survey tool. To apply for this position, please e-mail a resume, cover letter and three references to Jordan Blum at jblum@csee.nethttp://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/SiteIndex/AssetViewer/view?asset=Job
    &asset-id=229259-32&keywords=school&keywords=health&sid=105598025-17-hIs

    National School Boards Association -- Project Associate, School Health Programs (Alexandria, VA)
    The Project Associate will oversee the School Health Program, including providing technical assistance to school health programs, managing the program database and coordinating website activities. He or she will also be responsible for outreach, special projects and program assessments and evaluations as needed. For more information and to apply for this position, please visit http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/SiteIndex/AssetViewer/view?asset=Jo
    b&asset-id=233306-315&keywords=school&keywords=health&sid=105598025-17-xoC

    Lynn Community Health Center -- Nurse Practitioner (Lynn, MA)
    The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for the daily operations of one of six School-Based Health Centers located in a large urban school district. This position will require program management, clinical services and health education activities. He or she will coordinate with school administrators and outside agencies and participate in strategic planning and community outreach. To apply for this position, please contact Donna Coe, SBHC Clinical Director at dcoe@lchcnet.org.