December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month

• American Academy of Pediatrics: How can I be sure I am buying toys that are safe for my child?
  
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Toy Hazard Recalls
  
• Public Interest Research Group (PIRG):  Trouble in Toyland: The 22nd Annual Survey of Toy Safety

• Nashville, TN: Georgetown University Training Institutes Developing Local Systems of Care for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Needs and Their Families: New Directions to Improve Outcomes conference. July 16-20, 2008. For more information please visit http://gucchd.georgetown.edu/programs/ta_center/TrainingInstitutes/

• San Diego, CA: California School Nurses Organization 58th Annual Conference. January 24-26, 2008. For more information please visit http://csno.org/docs/08%20CSNOConf%20Brochure.pdf

• St. Louis, MO: American School Health Association Health Care 2008 and Business Institute. April 5-6, 2008. For more information please visit http://www.asha.org/about/events/hcare-conf/HC2008.htm

• Miami, FL: 7th Annual Forum for Improving Children's Health Care. March 19-21, 2008. For more information please visit http://www.nichq.org/NICHQ/Programs/ConferencesAndTraining/nichqforum2008.htm

Survey Finds Declines in Smoking, Drugs at Eighth Grade
This year's Monitoring the Future survey found encouraging drops in both smoking and illicit drug use by eighth graders, and the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) credited the declines to “a large science-based effort throughout the public health community to drive down the rates of smoking, illicit drug, and alcohol use among teens.” The director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Nora Volkow said her agency will be watching closely over the next two years to see if the decline will stick as the kids get older.

Bush Vetoes Second SCHIP Bill
As he had promised to do, President Bush yesterday vetoed a bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The vetoed legislation was the second try by Congress at a reauthorization; Bush had previously vetoed the first SCHIP bill Congress passed, and the new proposal was intended to meet some of the President’s objections to that original proposal.

After-School All-Stars -- Director of Marketing and Communications (Los Angeles, CA)
The Director of Marketing and Communications will work with the executive team to implement the organization’s marketing and communications plan. He or she will also develop materials to be used by schools promoting the health, cultural, visual and performing arts and youth leadership and community programs. For more information and to apply for this position please click here.

Montefiore Medical Center/School Health Program -- Community Health Organizer (Bronx, NY)
The Community Health Organizer will join a team promoting school-based health centers and community health organizations, beginning with obesity prevention activities. He or she will work to include teachers, parents and students in activities serving the greater goals of public health. For more information and to apply for this position please click here.

Harlem Children’s Zone -- Assistant Director, HCZ Obesity Initiative (New York, NY)
The Assistant Director will work with other administrative staff to implement a new obesity prevention and reduction program. He or she will work with the Director to ensure efficient operation of obesity programming, develop communications and marketing materials and campaigns and visit sites hosting these activities. For more information and to apply for this position please click here and search for ‘Assistant Director, HCZ Obesity Initiative.’