Go Viral to Improve Health Challengeh - 23-JAN-2012 The second annual collegiate challenge sponsored by the Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Engineering challenges students to work in interdisciplinary teams and transform health data into mobile apps, online tools or games, or other innovative products that solve vexing health problems. The deadline to register team members is February 10, 2012.

Binge Drinking is Bigger Problem than Previously Thought - 10-JAN-2012 More than 38 million U.S. adults binge drink an average of four times a month and the most drinks they consume on average is eight according to a new Vital Signs report form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New Study Predicts Nationwide Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Would Prevent Thousands of Heart Attacks, Strokes and Cases of Diabete - 10-JAN-2012 A nationwide, penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would prevent thousands of heart attacks, strokes, cases of diabetes, and premature deaths, helping avoid billions of dollars in medical costs over 10 years, according to a study published in Health Affairs.

National Sexuality Education Standards Set New Gold Standard for Sexuality Education in Public Schools - 10-JAN-2012 Four leading health organizations have released the first-ever national standards for sexuality education in schools.

NIH Study Shows HIV-exposed Children at High Risk of Language Delay - 09-JAN-2012 Children exposed to HIV before birth are at risk for language impairments, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

HHS Launches First Consumer Health IT Video Challenge of 2012 - 09-JAN-2012 The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announces the Healthy New Year Video Challenge intended to highlight personal stories of patients and families using health technology to improve health. Deadline February 16, 2012.

New Community Guide Recommendations and Findings on Health Equity and Tobacco Use Cessation - 09-JAN-2012 The Community Preventive Services Task Force has issued new evidence-based findings, based on systematic reviews, on interventions to promote health equity and increase tobacco use cessation.

Advisory Committee Recommends Lower Lead Lead-Poisoning Threshold - 09-JAN-2012 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (ACCLPP) recommends elimination of the use of the term "blood lead level of concern" and that a reference value be used to identify children with elevated BLL.

Chronic Illness, Cost are Barriers to Necessary Health Care - 05-JAN-2012 U.S. adults with health problems are more likely to go without care and have trouble paying bills than those in comparable countries, according to a Commonwealth Fund study that explored medical homes.

FDA Issues Order Prohibiting Certain Uses of Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals - 05-JAN-2012 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an order that prohibits certain uses of the cephalosporin class of antimicrobial drugs in cattle, swine, chickens and turkeys effective April 5, 2012.

NIH Launches Online Genetics Course for Social and Behavioral Scientists - 05-JAN-2012 A new genetics educational program provides social and behavioral scientists with sufficient genetics background to allow them to engage effectively in interdisciplinary research with genetics researchers.

NACCHO Releases Final Report on LHD Job Losses and Program Cuts - 05-JAN-2012 The report provides an in-depth look at data from NACCHO's Job Losses and Program Cuts Survey. New "stories from the field" illustrate the impact of budget cuts at two local health departments (LHDs).

Call for Submissions to APHA 2012 Film Festival - 04-JAN-2012 The Health Communication Working Group (HCWG) of the Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section (PHEHP) of APHA is accepting submissions to the APHA Film Festival at the APHA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, October 27-31, 2012. The submission deadline is April 1, 2012.

December 2011

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Report Finds Preparedness for Bioterror and Health Emergencies Eroding in States Across the Country - 20-DEC-2011 Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) have released the ninth annual Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism Report, which finds key programs that detect and respond to bioterrorism, new disease outbreaks, and natural or accidental disasters are at risk due to federal and state budget cuts.

ASPH Now Accepting Applications for a Variety of Public Health Fellowship Opportunities - 20-DEC-2011 ASPH offers a variety of mentored training experiences for recent graduates of CEPH-accredited Schools of Public Health.

APHA Announces Call for Abstracts: APHA 2012 Annual Meeting - Due February 6-10 - 15-DEC-2011 Abstract submissions for the 2012 APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition, to be held October 27-31, 2012 in San Francisco, are due February 6-10, 2012, depending on the APHA Section, Special Primary Interest Group, Caucus or Forum.

Global Study Identifies Key Interventions to Reduce Maternal, Newborn and Child Deaths - 15-DEC-2011 A new global consensus has agreed on the key evidence-based interventions that will sharply reduce the 358,000 women who die each year during pregnancy and childbirth and the 7.6 million children who die before the age of 5, according to a massive, three-year global study.

Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Widespread in the U.S. - 15-DEC-2011 On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States, according to new findings released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

NACCHO Seeking Tools and Resources for Climate Change Toolkit - 15-DEC-2011 NACCHO's Climate Change Workgroup is seeking materials for a new toolkit that will connect local health departments and others with publications, tools, and other resources related to climate change.

APHA Policy Innovation Contest - Due January 31 - 15-DEC-2011 APHA announces a policy contest for health departments to develop, implement, and/or evaluate an innovative policy approach, with a focus on reducing health inequities and building policy capacity.

Cigarette and Alcohol Use at Historic Low Among Teens - 15-DEC-2011 Cigarette and alcohol use by eighth, 10th and 12th-graders are at their lowest point since the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey began polling teenagers in 1975, according to this year's survey results.

Affordable Care Act Helps 2.5 Million Additional Young Adults Get Health Insurance - 15-DEC-2011 The National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released data that shows that since September 2010, the percentage of adults aged 19-25 covered by a private health insurance plan increased significantly, with approximately 2.5 million more young adults with insurance coverage compared to the number of young adults who would have been insured without the law.

NTSB Calls for Nationwide Ban on Personal Electronic Devices While Driving - 15-DEC-2011 The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for the first-ever nationwide ban on driver use of personal electronic devices (PEDs) while operating a motor vehicle.

CDC Home Page Gets a Face Lift - 13-DEC-2011 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a home page redesign that reflects the growing use of social media to access health information.

APHA Warns of Tremendous Health Consequences to Dramatic Cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund - 13-DEC-2011 The American Public Health Association urges the U.S. House of Representatives to reject a proposal that would drastically cut the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

Many Young Children Overdosing from Medicines at Home - 13-DEC-2011 To inform parents and caregivers about safe medication storage and what to do in case of an emergency, CDC, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Education Foundation, and a coalition of partners are launching an educational program, Up and Away and Out of Sight, encouraging parents to follow a few simple steps to protect children.

First U.S. Cell-Based Flu Vaccine Plant Set for Dedication - 13-DEC-2011 The first U.S. facility to use a faster and more flexible technology to make influenza vaccine was dedicated as part of an initiative that could provide vaccine supplies sooner in an influenza pandemic.

ASTHO Releases December 2011 Budget Cuts Research Impact Brief - 13-DEC-2011 ASTHO's December 2011 update of the Budget Cuts Impact Research Brief reports that state and territorial health agencies continue to experience budget cuts and job losses, resulting in the reduction or elimination of critical public health programs and services.

Call for Presentations: 2012 Annual NALBOH Conference - Due February 10 - 13-DEC-2011 The National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) Program Committee invites proposals for a workshop or breakout session presentation at its 20th Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA, August 8-10, 2012. Proposals are due February 10, 2012.

2012 PHSR Interest Group Call for Papers and Panels - Due February 15 - 13-DEC-2011 Abstracts and proposals for the AcademyHealth Public Health Systems Research (PHSR) Interest Group Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL, June 26-27, 2012, are due February 15, 2012.

NLM Announces Expansion of PubMed Health - 13-DEC-2011 The National Library of Medicine (NLM), the world's largest medical library and a component of the National Institutes of Health, announces the expansion of the information available from PubMed Health, which provides integrated access to clinical effectiveness reviews.

Health Care's Blind Side: Unmet Social Needs Leading To Worse Health - 13-DEC-2011 Findings from a national survey show that three in four physicians wish the health care system would pay for costs associated with connecting patients to services that address their social needs.

State Funding for Community Health Centers Reaches Lowest Level in Seven Years as Demand for Services Rises - 13-DEC-2011 A new NACHC report finds that over half the states plan to decrease direct funding to community health centers, bringing state funding in SFY2012 to its lowest level in seven years. Health centers in six states will face a decline of greater than 30%.

America's Health Rankings Finds Preventable Chronic Disease on the Rise - 06-DEC-2011 United Health Foundation's 2011 America's Heath Rankings finds that troubling increases in obesity, diabetes and children in poverty are offsetting improvements in smoking cessation, preventable hospitalizations, and cardiovascular deaths. For the fifth year in a row, Vermont was ranked the healthiest state.

NCI Launches Smoking Cessation Support for Teens - 06-DEC-2011 The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has launched an initiative, SmokefreeTXT, a free text message cessation service that provides 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to teens trying to quit smoking.

ASPH Announces New Fellowship Opportunities with CDC - Deadline January 12, 2012 - 06-DEC-2011 ASPH announces six-month fellowship training opportunities with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The application deadline is January 12, 2012.

New Core Public Health Journal List Released: Epidemiology - 06-DEC-2011 The Public Health/Health Administration Section of the Medical Library Association has released the Epidemiology journals list as part of the Version 3 Core Public Health Journal Project.

President Obama Announces New Efforts to End the AIDS Epidemic in the United States - 06-DEC-2011 President Barack Obama announced accelerated efforts to increase the availability of treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.

Younger Americans Face Greater Health Disparities - 06-DEC-2011 The gap between the least healthy and most healthy people has increased substantially among young American adults.

New Research Initiative Examines Economic Impact of Smoke-free Policies on Restaurants and Bars - 06-DEC-2011 As part of ongoing efforts to reduce disease and death caused by smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, the CDC Foundation and CDC have launched a new initiative to study the economic impact of smoke-free policies on restaurants and bars in nine states.

Only One Quarter of Americans with HIV Have Virus Under Control - 06-DEC-2011 Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans living with HIV do not have their infection under control, according to a Vital Signs report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

November 2011

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Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among High School Students - 30-NOV-2011 The CDC reports that the majority of students are not meeting the daily fruit and vegetable recommendations.

FDA Says Apple Juice Is Still Safe - 30-NOV-2011 The Food and Drug Administration has reiterated its finding that apple juice sold across the U.S. is safe to drink, with naturally occurring arsenic levels well below the agency's level of concern, but says it may set new guidelines on an appropriate level for inorganic arsenic.

AIDSinfo and infoSIDA Redesigned - 28-NOV-2011 To mark World AIDS Day 2011, a redesigned AIDSinfo Web site has been released, along with the Spanish-language infoSIDA. These sister sites offer federally approved information on HIV treatment and research, including medical practice guidelines and prevention research studies.

NLM Launches YouTube Channel - 28-NOV-2011 The National Library of Medicine (NLM) announces the launch of the NLM YouTube Channel that will post a variety of videos on topics from database training, NLM exhibitions, Public Service Announcements, lectures, and more.

CDC Reports Elderly at Risk of Hospitalizations from Key Medications - 28-NOV-2011 Each year there are nearly 100,000 emergency hospitalizations for adverse drug events in U.S. adults aged 65 years or older, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

NACCHO Releases State-Level Analysis on LHD Job Losses and Program Cuts - 22-NOV-2011 A new state-level analysis from NACCHO provides information on local health departments (LHDs) cuts to budgets, jobs, and programs for many states.

National Public Health Week: April 2-8, 2012 - 22-NOV-2011 National Public Health Week, April 2-8, 2012, will build upon the National Prevention Strategies to create a healthier nation by promoting healthy behaviors in the following areas: Active Living and Healthy Eating, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs, Communicable Diseases, Reproductive and Sexual Health, and Mental and Emotional Well-Being.

APHA's Flu Near You Challenge - 17-NOV-2011 APHA has launched an online surveillance tool, Flu Near You, that calls on the public to be a part of a public health challenge to help track flu cases.

NIH-Commissioned Census Bureau Report Describes Oldest Americans - 17-NOV-2011 The new report, 90+ in the United States: 2006-2008, details the demographic, health and economic status of America's oldest adults.

NALBOH Call for Presentations at Annual Conference - 16-NOV-2011 The National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) invites proposals for a presentation at their 20th Annual Conference, August 8-10, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge To Health Law - 15-NOV-2011 The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

New Guidelines Urge Cholesterol Check for All Kids Ages 9 to 11 - 15-NOV-2011 All U.S. children between the ages of 9 and 11 should be screened for high cholesterol, according to new guidelines endorsed by the nation's leading group of pediatricians.

CDC Now Tracking Antibiotic Use in Hospitals - 15-NOV-2011 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a new antibiotic tracking system allowing hospitals to monitor antibiotic use electronically, make better decisions about how to improve use, and compare themselves to other hospitals.

IOM and NAE Challenge Students to Improve Health by Going Viral - 15-NOV-2011 The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) invite college and university students to participate in the Second Annual Go Viral to Improve Health: IOM-NAE Health Data Collegiate Challenge.

Study Finds Unprecedented Marketing of Sugary Drinks to Youth - 15-NOV-2011 Young people are being exposed to a massive amount of marketing for sugary drinks, such as full-calorie soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and fruit drinks, according to a new study from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.

Community Guide Launches In Action Success Stories - 10-NOV-2011 The Community Guide's In Action Success Stories provide examples of how the Community Guide has been used to improve health in communities across the country.

NACCHO Public Health Logo Video Now Available as PSA for Broadcast - 10-NOV-2011 NACCHO has turned the public health logo video into a two-minute public service announcement (PSA) to promote LHDs on television and cable.

Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators App Challenge - 10-NOV-2011 The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT are challenging teams of developers and health professionals to co-design an application that will be used to help solve one or more of our nation's high-priority health problems. Submissions are due March 10, 2012.

Trust for America's Health Releases Healthier Americans for a Healthier Economy - 10-NOV-2011 Trust for America's Health (TFAH) has released a new report, Healthier Americans for a Healthier Economy, featuring six case studies focused on the relationship between health and economic development.

U.S. Court Rules Against Tobacco Warning Labels - 10-NOV-2011 Federal Judge Richard Leon in his ruling said that the labeling requirement for tobacco companies to include large, graphic warning labels on the front of cigarette packs compromises the tobacco industry's First Amendment rights.

New Study Shows Smokers Underutilize Proven Treatment and Services for Quitting - 10-NOV-2011 Most American adults who smoke wish they could quit, and more than half have tried within the past year, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Invites Public Comment on Draft Recommendation on Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer - 10-NOV-2011 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) welcomes comments on the draft Recommendation Statement on Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer. Comments are due December 6, 2011.

Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators Released - 02-NOV-2011 The leading health indicators have been developed to communicate high-priority health issues to the public, and actions that can be taken to address them.

Prescription Painkiller Overdoses at Epidemic Levels - 02-NOV-2011 The death toll from overdoses of prescription painkillers has more than tripled in the past decade, according to an analysis in the CDC Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Immigrants at Greater Risk for Poor Health the Longer they Reside in the US - 02-NOV-2011 Minority immigrants are at higher risk of experiencing poor health outcomes the longer they stay in the U.S., according to new research released at the American Public Health Association's 139th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Community Preventive Services Task Force Releases First Annual Report to Congress - 02-NOV-2011 The report describes Task Force background, methods, findings, research gaps, priorities, and how states and communities use its recommendations.

October 2011

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APHA's Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks on November 6 - 30-OCT-2011 APHA's Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign is reminding people to refresh their emergency supplies before a disaster occurs.

USPSTF Delivers Report to Congress on High-Priority Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services - 30-OCT-2011 In its First Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services, the USPSTF highlights eleven high-priority clinical preventive services that the USPSTF believes deserve further examination with the hope that it will assist public and private researchers and research funders in targeting their efforts.

ASTHO President's Challenge: The Healthy Babies Project - 30-OCT-2011 ASTHO President Dr. David Lakey has chosen to focus on improving birth outcomes as his President's Challenge.

ACIP Recommends All 11-12 Year-old Males Get Vaccinated Against HPV - 30-OCT-2011 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has approved recommendations for routine vaccination of males 11 or 12 years old with 3-doses of HPV4 to protect against Human Papalloma Virus.

USPSTF Opportunity for Public Comment: Screening and Management of Obesity in Adults - 30-OCT-2011 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on screening and management of obesity in adults. Comments are due November 23, 2011.

New Report Finds Children in Rural Areas Face Different Health Challenges - 26-OCT-2011 Children in rural areas are more likely to face different challenges to their health and have less access to care when compared with children in urban areas, according to a new report from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

CDC Launches Effort to Protect Cancer Patients from Infections - 26-OCT-2011 To help protect cancer patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a new program featuring tools to help both clinicians and patients prevent infections.

HPV Vaccine Myths Put Health, Lives at Risk, Say Health Leaders: Airing the Facts - 26-OCT-2011 An article from the Nation's Health says that misinformation about the HPV vaccine may cause some parents not to vaccinate their children.

SOPHE 2012 Midyear Scientific Conference Call for Abstracts - 26-OCT-2011 Abstracts are now being accepted for the SOPHE 2012 Midyear Scientific Conference. The submission deadline is November 30, 2011.

Excessive Drinking Costs U.S. $223.5 Billion - 26-OCT-2011 A new CDC study finds that excessive alcohol consumption cost the United States $223.5 billion in 2006, or about $1.90 per drink.

IOM Releases Report on Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols - 20-OCT-2011 The new IOM report, Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols, recommends criteria and a process that federal agencies could use to develop a single front-of-package system and icons that would help consumers compare foods and beverages and instantly recognize healthier options.

CDC Study Shows Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior Vary Among U.S. Adults - 20-OCT-2011 A report released by the CDC presents the first state-level data concerning suicidal thoughts and behavior among adults in the United States.

New Go4Life Campaign Focuses on Fitness for Older Adults - 20-OCT-2011 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a new federal campaign for people 50 and older to help them to get active and keep going.

National Release of the Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators - 19-OCT-2011 The Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators will be released on October 31, 2011 at the APHA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

USPSTF Opportunity for Public Comment and Briefing: Screening for Cervical Cancer - 19-OCT-2011 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is inviting public comment on its draft recommendation statement on screening for cervical cancer. Comments are due by November 16, 2011.

Health Care-Associated Infections Declined in 2010 - 19-OCT-2011 Four common infections seen in health care facilities declined in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HHS Agencies Express Support for Infant Safe Sleep Recommendations - 19-OCT-2011 Representatives of the agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with a focus on infant health and safety expressed their support for the new infant safe sleep recommendations issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Unhealthy U.S. Workers' Absenteeism Costs $153 Billion - 19-OCT-2011 Full-time workers in the U.S. who are overweight or obese and have other chronic health conditions miss an estimated 450 million additional days of work each year compared with healthy workers -- resulting in an estimated cost of more than $153 billion in lost productivity annually.

CDC Issues Initial 2011-2012 Seasonal FluView Report - 19-OCT-2011 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the initial FluView report for the U.S. 2011-2012 flu season with the message that flu activity is currently low, making this the perfect time to get vaccinated.

New MCH Library Knowledge Path: Sleep in Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women - 18-OCT-2011 The knowledge path, Sleep in Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women, can be used by health professionals, researchers, and community advocates to learn more about sleep, to improve diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, for program development, and to locate training resources and information to answer specific questions.

CDC Reports Uneven Declines in Coronary Heart Disease by State and Race/Ethnicity - 13-OCT-2011 The number of Americans who report they have coronary heart disease - which includes heart attack and angina (chest pain) - continues to decline but rates vary widely from state to state and by race and ethnicity, according to a new report published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Draft Recommendations on Prostate Cancer Screening from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Open for Public Comment - 13-OCT-2011 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force encourages interested individuals and organizations to review the draft recommendation statement on prostate cancer screening and provide comments. Comments are due by November 8, 2011.

CDC Reports More Teen Males Using Condoms - 13-OCT-2011 The percentage of teen males aged 15-19 years in the United States who used a condom the first time they had sex increased between 2002 and 2006-2010, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

NAL Thesaurus Now Available as Linked Open Data - 13-OCT-2011 The National Agricultural Library's (NAL) Agricultural Thesaurus is now available as Linked Open Data to make translations of agricultural information from different resources such as web pages, datasets, and research articles interconnected and to make it easier to locate related content.

Public Health Then and Now: Celebrating 50 Years of MMWR at CDC - 11-OCT-2011 CDC is celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)'s arrival at CDC and the contribution this publication has made to CDC and public health.

Healthy People 2010 Review Shows Progress, Yet Disparities Persist - 07-OCT-2011 A review of the Healthy People 2010 report shows we've made significant progress in an array of health improvement initiatives, yet health disparities and child and adult obesity remain considerable challenges for public health professionals.

NACCHO Reports More than Half of Local Health Departments Cut Services in First Half of 2011 - 07-OCT-2011 According to the results of a new survey released by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), from July 2010 to June 2011, more than half (55 percent) of all local health departments reduced or eliminated at least one program, with services for mothers and children among the hardest hit.

PHF Demonstration Project: Advancing Asthma Management in the Community through Quality Improvement - 07-OCT-2011 The Public Health Foundation (PHF) completed two phases of a quality improvement (QI) demonstration project called We Can Do Better: Improving Asthma Outcomes in America. The project brought together asthma stakeholders from the public health community to use QI tools and methods to identify areas where they could improve asthma management outcomes in two separate phases.

CDC Finds 60 Percent Increase in Youth Athletes Treated for Traumatic Brain Injuries - 07-OCT-2011 Emergency department visits for sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, among children and adolescents increased by 60 percent during the last decade, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More People Using Free Preventive Benefits Provided by Affordable Care Act - 07-OCT-2011 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that nearly 20.5 million people with Medicare reviewed their health status at a free Annual Wellness Visit or received other preventive services this year including mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, cardiovascular screenings, and colorectal and prostate cancer screenings with no deductible or cost sharing.

CDC Report Shows 112 Million Annual Incidents of People Drinking and Driving - 07-OCT-2011 Adults drank too much and got behind the wheel about 112 million times in 2010-that is almost 300,000 incidents of drinking and driving each day-according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nurses Health Study 3 Recruiting 100,000 Nurses - 07-OCT-2011 The Nurses Health Study, the world's largest and longest-running study of women's health, is recruiting new participants to form a diverse cohort of female RNs or LPNs who are between the ages of 22 and 46 from across the US and Canada.

NACCHO Accepting Model Practice Applications October 10 to November 11 - 03-OCT-2011 NACCHO's Model Practice Program nationally honors and recognizes outstanding local public health practice and shares the outstanding practices through the Model Practices Database.

Challenges, Opportunities in Store for Safety Net Providers: Meeting Health Needs of Those at Risk - 03-OCT-2011 When health reform is fully implemented in 2014, it will mean changes for the nation's thousands of safety net providers who care for uninsured Americans.

Affordable Care Act Helps Improve the Health of the American Workforce, Increase Workplace Health Programs - 03-OCT-2011 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced awards for comprehensive workplace health programs across the nation to help support healthy lifestyles and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases.

CDC Introduces New Way for State Health Departments to Access Data Reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network - 03-OCT-2011 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) is providing state health departments with additional access to data reported by healthcare facilities in their jurisdiction to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

WHO Releases Compilation of Air Quality Data - 03-OCT-2011 In many cities air pollution is reaching levels that threaten people's health according to an unprecedented compilation of air quality data released by WHO.

September 2011

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Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Environmental Health & Emergency Preparedness - (Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)) - 29-SEP-2011 The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has launched a new website to aid response to environmental health disasters and emergencies.

CDC Takes New Steps to Combat Childhood Obesity - 29-SEP-2011 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a new effort to address childhood obesity using successful elements of both primary care and public health.

New Affordable Care Act Initiative Helps Create Healthier Communities, Fight Chronic Disease - 29-SEP-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced grants to 61 states and communities with over 120 million residents to fight chronic disease, which is the leading cause of death in Americans.

NLM Opens New Interactive Exhibition - Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness - 28-SEP-2011 A new exhibition examining concepts of health and medicine among contemporary American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, is opening at the National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health.

NLM Funds Disaster Health Information Outreach and Collaboration Projects - 28-SEP-2011 The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is funding seven projects to improve the use of disaster medicine and public health information by librarians, health professionals, first responders, emergency planners and others responsible for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

HHS Announces Funding to Support Evidence-based Home Visiting Programs to Help Parents and Children - 22-SEP-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced $224 million to help at-risk families voluntarily receive home visits from nurses and social workers to improve maternal and child health, child development, school readiness, economic self-sufficiency, and child abuse prevention.

CDC Urges Americans: Get Your Flu Shot - 22-SEP-2011 U.S. health officials urge Americans to get a flu shot. More than 85 million doses of flu vaccine are available in doctors' offices, public health clinics, pharmacies and retail stores, and other sites.

Rotavirus Vaccination Leads to Large Decreases in Health Care Costs and Doctor Visits - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 22-SEP-2011 Vaccinating infants against rotavirus has resulted in dramatic decreases in health care use and treatment costs for diarrhea-related illness in U.S. infants and young children, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Dialogue on Improving Federal Websites - 21-SEP-2011 USA.gov is hosting a National Dialogue on Improving Federal Websites from September 19-30, 2011.

CDC Report Highlights Progress in Nation's Public Health Preparedness - 20-SEP-2011 Public Health Preparedness: 2011 State-by-State Update on Laboratory Capabilities and Response Readiness Planning, is the latest report by CDC's Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response that evaluates the nation's ability to respond to public health emergencies such as disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

APHA: Proposed Cuts to Prevention and Public Health Fund are Shortsighted - 20-SEP-2011 The APHA says that the "proposed cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund could effectively put the nation's health at risk, severely threatening ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of our nation's most feared and deadly diseases".

New WHO Study Details Low-Cost Solutions to Help Curb the Tide on Noncommunicable Diseases - 19-SEP-2011 A new WHO study reveals that low-income countries could introduce a core set of strategies to prevent and treat cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease for just US$ 1.20 per person per year.

NACCHO Releases 2010 Profile of Local Health Departments - 19-SEP-2011 The 2010 Profile of Local Health Departments provides a comprehensive view of local public health infrastructure and practice that can be used to make local and regional comparisons, drive policymaking, educate the workforce about local public health practice, and conduct research.

HHS Announces Text4Health Task Force Recommendations and Global Partnership - 19-SEP-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced new recommendations to support health text messaging and mobile health programs. HHS researchers will help create health text message libraries based on the best available science and make the libraries open access, publicly available, and downloadable and usable by anyone.

CDC Responds to Contagion - 19-SEP-2011 The CDC presents real stories of CDC′s disease detectives and their investigations to help keep communities safe from disease outbreaks.

HHS Awards Affordable Care Act Funds for Organizations to Become Community Health Centers - 19-SEP-2011 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced awards totaling $10 million to aid organizations across the country that would like to become community health centers.

CDC Report Details Influenza Prevention and Treatment for Children and Teens - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 19-SEP-2011 Although children and teenagers rarely die from flu-related causes, many deaths could have been prevented if the children had been vaccinated against the flu, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Public Health Accreditation Board Launches National Accreditation for Health Departments - 14-SEP-2011 The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) has launched the first national accreditation program for all public health departments. The goal of PHAB's accreditation program, initiated and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is to protect and improve Americans' health by advancing the quality and performance of all of the nation's public health departments-state, local, territorial and tribal.

WHO Maps Noncommunicable Disease Trends in All Countries - 14-SEP-2011 A new WHO report features information about noncommunicable diseases in 193 countries and indicates that governments need to focus on preventing and treating the four major killers: cancer, heart disease and stroke, lung disease, and diabetes.

New CDC Learning Connection Spotlight on Emergency Preparedness - 14-SEP-2011 The Emergency Preparedness spotlight provides public health learning products and resources designed to help educate the public health community on all-hazards approaches to emergency preparedness and response.

U.S. Census Bureau Releases Report: Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010 - 13-SEP-2011 The U.S. Census Bureau announces that in 2010, median household income declined, the poverty rate increased, and the percentage without health insurance coverage was not statistically different from the previous year.

HHS Launches Million Hearts Initiative to Prevent 1 Million Heart Attacks and Strokes in Five Years - 13-SEP-2011 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with several key initial partners, has launched Million Hearts, an initiative that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.

Measles Cases Abroad Linked to Increase of Disease in U.S.: Resurgence Shows Need for Vaccinations - 13-SEP-2011 In many parts of the world measles still rages, posing a growing threat to U.S. travelers and those who come in contact with them.

New CDC Vital Signs: Adult Smoking in the US - 08-SEP-2011 A new CDC report shows that fewer American adults are smoking cigarettes and that smoking prevalence varies substantially across population subgroups.

Texas and Massachusetts at Health Coverage Extremes in U.S. - 08-SEP-2011 Texas residents continue to be the most likely in the United States to lack health coverage, with 27.2% reporting being uninsured in the first half of 2011. At the other end of the spectrum is Massachusetts, where health insurance is required and 5.3% of residents lack coverage, according to Gallup.

APHA Distressed Over Delay of Lifesaving Smog Standards - 07-SEP-2011 The American Public Health Association has expressed its extreme disappointment with President Obama's delay of new national smog standards.

Comments Sought on Master's-Level Public Health Preparedness and Response Competencies - 07-SEP-2011 ASPH has developed a draft set of Master's-Level Public Health Preparedness and Response competencies. Comments and suggestions are due September 23, 2011.

APHA's Get Ready Day - September 20, 2011 - 07-SEP-2011 APHA's Get Ready campaign helps Americans prepare themselves, their families and their communities for all disasters including pandemic flu, infectious disease, natural disasters and other emergencies. To plan an event for Get Ready Day on September 20, download a free Get Ready Event Guide.

New Movie Contagion Puts Public Health and Infectious Disease in Spotlight - 07-SEP-2011 The new action-thriller film, Contagion, depicts the rapid process of an airborne virus and the public health response and social disruption that follows.

PHPartners - New Health Data Tools and Statistics Web Page - 06-SEP-2011 The Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce (PHPartners) has improved the Health Data Tools and Statistics page to make public health data and statistics easier to find.

CDC National Survey Finds Early Childhood Immunization Rates Increasing - 01-SEP-2011 Immunization rates for children 19-35 months of age for most vaccine-preventable diseases are increasing or being sustained at high levels, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Report: Health Laws Need To Be Updated To Meet Changing Demands - 01-SEP-2011 Public health laws in many parts of the United States are outdated and, in some cases, leave gaps that will make it difficult to move the country toward better health, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine.

Americans Getting Too Many Calories From Sugary Drinks - 01-SEP-2011 A new CDC report indicates that almost half of Americans get a substantial amount of their calories from sweetened drinks.

HHS Awards $40 Million to Boost Public Health Infrastructure, Prepare Tomorrow's Public Health Workforce - 01-SEP-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will fund state, tribal, local and territorial health departments and several schools of public health to enhance the nation's public health infrastructure and strengthen the public health workforce.

August 2011

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PHF Welcomes CDC TRAIN - 31-AUG-2011 CDC TRAIN is a component of the CDC Learning Connection, CDC's one-stop resource for public health training and training information.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Views of Americans Without Health Insurance - 31-AUG-2011 The latest Kaiser tracking poll reports that nearly half of the uninsured do not expect to be affected at all by the health reform law, either positively or negatively.

Report: 10 years After 9/11, Are We More Prepared? - 31-AUG-2011 Ten years after the 9/11 terror attacks, have we become a safer, more prepared nation? The question was posed to 1,000 first responders, law enforcement, public health officials and others as part of a national survey that examines how equipped the nation is to respond to the next crisis.

CDC Invites Feedback on New Home Page - 31-AUG-2011 In an effort to improve the design of CDC's home page, the CDC invites users to preview the new design and participate in a usability study.

NACCHO Tools and Resources for Aftermath of Hurricane Irene - 29-AUG-2011 The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is providing access tools, information, and resources that health departments and communities can use to manage the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Comments Sought on Draft Global Health Competency Model - 29-AUG-2011 The Association of Schools of Public Health welcomes comments and suggestions on Draft Version 1.0 of the Global Health Competency Model by September 23, 2011.

NIH Research Model Predicts Weight with Varying Diet, Exercise Changes - 29-AUG-2011 Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have created a mathematical model - and an accompanying online weight simulation tool - of what happens when people of varying weights, diets and exercise habits try to change their weight.

IOM Report: Few Health Problems Are Caused By Vaccines - 29-AUG-2011 An analysis by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of more than 1,000 research articles concluded that few health problems are caused by or clearly associated with vaccines.

NLM's Disaster Information Research Center Resources on Hurricanes - 29-AUG-2011 The National Library of Medicine (NLM) provides information resources related to hurricanes including information on mental health management, environmental cleanup and recovery, hazardous materials, animals in disasters, and more.

CDC Creates New Data and Analysis Tools: Data to Action - 24-AUG-2011 CDC has created new data and analysis tools that are intended to serve as resources for the promotion of policy, system and environmental changes to improve health.

NIH Releases Best Practices for Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Research - 24-AUG-2011 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released recommendations for scientists conducting mixed methods health research, including research that addresses public health problems, including obesity, health disparities among populations, poor adherence to treatments, and many other problems.

Gallop: Hawaii Continues to Lead in Wellbeing; North Dakota Second - 24-AUG-2011 Americans in Hawaii continued to set the national standard in wellbeing in the first half of 2011, followed closely by North Dakota according to data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

PHSSR Research Agenda- Request for Comments by August 31 - 23-AUG-2011 The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Kentucky National Coordinating Center for PHSSR (NCC PHSSR) seek to assess the current state of PHSSR and set forth an updated research agenda.

CDC Report Finds People Live Longer If They Practice One or More Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors - 22-AUG-2011 People can live longer if they practice one or more healthy lifestyle behaviors - not smoking, eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, and limiting alcohol - according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health Department to Survey 70,000 People about Their Health Ten Years after 9/11 - 22-AUG-2011 The World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry launched its third major survey of more than 70,000 people who were exposed to the WTC attacks and the aftermath, including nearly 13,000 who currently reside outside the New York/New Jersey area.

CDC Flu Vaccine Recommendations for 2011-12 Flu Season - 22-AUG-2011 The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends routine annual influenza vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months and that providers should offer vaccination as soon as vaccine is available.

National Children's Study Upgrading Data Gathering & Analysis - 18-AUG-2011 The National Children's Study, a multi-site research study examining the effects of environment and genetics on children, invites interested researchers in the federal government and in research institutions to collaborate on new informatics components that will best meet the needs of the study.

NACCHO's Health Impact Assessment (HIA): Request for Applications - Deadline September 15 - 18-AUG-2011 The Health Impact Project and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) have announced a request for applications for local health departments (LHDs) to participate in a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Mentorship Project.

CDC Awards Funding to Strengthen State and Local Health Departments - 18-AUG-2011 HHS has awarded $49 million in grants, partly supported by the Affordable Care Act, to improve the quality of health care and strengthen the public health infrastructure, including grants to strengthen health departments' capacity to perform critical epidemiology and laboratory work, detect and prevent healthcare-associated infections and support immunization programs.

New Immunization Video Collection from NACCHO - 18-AUG-2011 A new NACCHO webpage gathers many short vaccination videos that cover issues such as influenza, pertussis, adolescent immunization, and personal stories about vaccine-preventable diseases.

HHS, Treasury Take New Steps to Help States Build Affordable Insurance Exchanges - 18-AUG-2011 The Departments of Health and Human Services and Treasury took the next steps to establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges - one-stop marketplaces where consumers can choose a private health insurance plan that fits their health needs and have the same kind of insurance choices as members of Congress.

Task Force Finds Commercial Liability an Effective Strategy to Reduce Alcohol-Related Problems - 11-AUG-2011 Holding alcohol retailers liable for injuries or damage done by their intoxicated customers can reduce motor vehicle deaths, homicides, injuries, and other alcohol-related problems, according to the Community Preventive Services Task Force.

WHO: H1N1 Now in Post-Pandemic Period - 10-AUG-2011 The Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) says that we are moving into the post-pandemic period for the new H1N1 virus. The virus is expected to take on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come.

UCLA Center for Health Policy Research to Lead Development of New Network of State and Local Health Surveys - 10-AUG-2011 The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research has announced the formation of a National Network of State and Local Health Surveys that will promote the coordination of collection of state and local data that is comparable across states and local areas and with national surveys.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services Publishes Findings on Home-based Asthma Programs - 09-AUG-2011 Based on research findings on home-based asthma programs published in the Guide to Community Preventive Services, the Task Force recommends the use of home-based multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions with an environmental focus to reduce indoor asthma triggers.

APHA's Get Ready Video Contest - 09-AUG-2011 The video contest, to raise awareness about emergency preparedness, is open to U.S. students in sixth through 12th grade. Submissions are due October 14, 2011.

New Multi-Year Data Show Annual HIV Infections in U.S. Relatively Stable - 08-AUG-2011 The CDC's first multi-year estimates from its national HIV incidence surveillance find that overall, the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States was relatively stable at approximately 50,000 new infections each year between 2006 and 2009.

CDC: New Vital Signs Issue on Hospital Support for Breastfeeding - 08-AUG-2011 The newest edition of CDC Vital Signs examines data from CDC's national survey of maternity care practices in infant nutrition and care to determine the percent of U.S. hospitals with policies and practices that are consistent with the World Health Organization/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative's Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

CDC Reports Majority of U.S. hospitals Do Not Fully Support Breastfeeding - 03-AUG-2011 The CDC reports that less than 4 percent of U.S. hospitals provide the full range of support mothers need to be able to breastfeed.

APHA Launches Public Health News Website - 03-AUG-2011 The American Public Health Association (APHA) has launched Public Health Newswire, APHA's newest resource that provides the latest news of public health events, trends and advocacy.

Office of Minority Health Releases National Plan for Action to End Health Disparities Toolkit - 03-AUG-2011 The National Partnership for Action (NPA) Toolkit for Community Action provides community members information and resources to engage communities and local media as they educate others about the impact disparities have in the lives of individuals and society.

CDC Releases Data on Distracted Driving - 03-AUG-2011 The CDC reports that nearly 15 people die each day in the United States in crashes that involve distracted driving, and another 1,200 people are injured.

ASPH and Partners Release Undergraduate Public Health Learning Outcomes Model - 03-AUG-2011 The Learning Outcomes Model Version 1.0 is designed to facilitate the introduction of general public health for all undergraduate students in two- and four-year colleges and universities.

July 2011

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Extreme Heat Media Toolkit - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 28-JUL-2011 An important goal of this toolkit is to provide downloadable and customizable materials for local health departments and other organizations, assisting ongoing outreach efforts to those most vulnerable to extreme heat events

HHS Announces Proposal to Improve Rules Protecting Human Research Subjects - 25-JUL-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the federal government is contemplating various ways of enhancing the regulations overseeing research on human subjects. The government is seeking the public's input on an array of issues related to the ethics, safety, and oversight of human research.

ASPH Call for Photo Submissions: "This is Public Health" 2012 Calendar - Deadline: August 1 - 25-JUL-2011 ASPH is planning to produce a 2012 "This is Public Health" calendar with the theme of "Careers in Public Health" and will include photos of people performing their public health work.

Health Officials, Journalists Agree on Standards in Public Health Emergencies - 25-JUL-2011 New guidance developed by leaders in public health and health-care journalism provides a framework for releasing information to the public when someone dies or falls ill during a public health emergency.

PHF Announces "I'm Your Community Guide!" Contest Winners - 25-JUL-2011 The Public Health Foundation (PHF) has announced the winners of the "I'm Your Community Guide!" Contest, which identified model practices for implementing the evidence-based strategies outlined in the Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide).

IOM Report Recommends Eight Additional Preventive Health Services to Promote Women's Health - 20-JUL-2011 A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that eight preventive health services for women be added to the services that health plans will cover at no cost to patients under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA).

Latest State Data Show Rates of Obesity Remain High - 20-JUL-2011 Obesity has become a problem in every state, according to data analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

HHS announces the winners of 2011 Healthy Living Innovation Awards - 20-JUL-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced winners of an awards program that highlights innovative health promotion projects that have demonstrated a significant impact on the health of the community within the past three years.

PHAB Releases Version 1.0 Accreditation Materials - 20-JUL-2011 The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) has released materials for its voluntary national public health program for 2011-2012.

Proposed Data Collection Standards for Race, Ethnicity, Primary Language, Sex, and Disability Status - Public Comments Due August 1 - 20-JUL-2011 HHS has announced new draft standards for collecting and reporting data on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language and disability status, and announced the administration's plans to begin collecting health data on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations.

CDC Releases Infection Prevention Guide to Promote Safe Outpatient Care - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 14-JUL-2011 Guide details minimum expectations for safe care, recommends every practice identify an infection prevention leader

SOPHE Summer Webinar Series - (Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)) - 14-JUL-2011 SOPHE Summer Webinar Series, Implementing Evidence-based Diabetes Programs at the Community Level: The Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes July 25, 2011, 1:00-2:00ET

WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2011: warning about the dangers of tobacco - (World Health Organization (WHO)) - 14-JUL-2011 This report is the third in a series of WHO reports on the status of global tobacco control policy implementation

LactMed App - (National Library of Medicine (NLM) U.S.) - 14-JUL-2011 Need to know more about drugs and breastfeeding? LactMed can help. Find information about maternal and infant drug levels, possible effects on lactation and on breastfed infants, and alternative drugs to consider

The MCH Library at Georgetown University presents a new knowledge path, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Challenges in Children and Adolescents - (Maternal and Child Health Library, Georgetown University) - 14-JUL-2011 The knowledge path points to a selection of resources that analyze data, describe effective programs, and report on policy and research aimed at improving access to and quality of care for children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and mental heath challenges

New Report: Adult Obesity Increases in 16 States in the Past Year - (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Trust for America's Health (TFAH)) - 07-JUL-2011

Public Health Foundation Launches Immunization ID Contest - (Public Health Foundation (PHF)) - 07-JUL-2011

New Campaign to Help Families Prevent Food Poisoning - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S., United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)) - 07-JUL-2011 The Food Safe Families campaign launches to help consumers, especially parents, learn specific steps to protect themselves and their families from food poisoning

New videos, website offer important resources for people affected by diabetes - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH (NIDDK)) - 07-JUL-2011 NIH and CDC diabetes education program offers resources to support lifestyle change

Colorectal Cancer: Second Most Deadly Cancer Can Be Stopped Before It Starts - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 07-JUL-2011

June 2011

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Affordable Care Act to Improve Data Collection, Reduce Health Disparities - 30-JUN-2011 HHS announces new draft standards to improve the monitoring of health data by race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status, and begins planning for the collection of LGBT health data.

USDA and HHS Launch National Multimedia Campaign to Help Families Prevent Food Poisoning - 30-JUN-2011 The Ad Council is joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to debut their first joint national multimedia public service campaign to help families prevent food poisoning in the home.

Registration Open for 2012 CPH Exam - 30-JUN-2011 Registration is now open for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam, which will be administered across the world between February 3 and 27, 2012.

APHA Reports Affordable Care Act's Prevention Goals at Risk without Funding for Public Health Workers - 30-JUN-2011 A new report from APHA shows that while the new health reform law takes important steps to reorient the nation's health care system toward disease prevention and health promotion, it has thus far failed to adequately invest in the public health workforce, jeopardizing the goals of the sweeping health measure.

CDC Issues Health Advisory on Measles Outbreak - 30-JUN-2011 The CDC reports that that the U.S. is experiencing a high number of reported measles cases in 2011, many of which were acquired during international travel.

New Topic Page on Obesity on PHPartners.org - 23-JUN-2011 The new topic page links to obesity information and resources including government, professional and research organizations that focus obesity issues; reports, publications and guidelines; obesity programs and campaigns; child obesity information; data and statistics; legislation and policy issues; grants and funding opportunities; training and continuing education; and upcoming conferences and events.

New Strategic Directions Adopted to Guide the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice - 23-JUN-2011 The Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council) has adopted new Strategic Directions to guide its continuing efforts to help improve public health practice, education, training, and research.

IOM Report: Government Should Consider Public Health Implications Of All Major Legislation - 22-JUN-2011 A new report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) says that strong evidence indicates that policies beyond the health sector have substantial effects on people's health, and recommends that all levels of U.S. government adopt a structured approach to considering the health effects of any major legislation or regulation.

New Analysis of Local Health Department Budget Cuts Surveys Demonstrates Depth of Program and Job Losses - 22-JUN-2011 A recent survey analysis by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) found that roughly 19 percent of the nationwide local health department workforce has been eliminated since 2008, posing a staggering challenge to local health departments striving to keep Americans safe and healthy in the face of increasing staff and program cuts, even as the country's economic slump increases demand for services.

FDA Unveils Final Cigarette Warning Labels - 22-JUN-2011 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unveiled graphic health warnings required to appear on every pack of cigarettes sold in the United States and in every cigarette advertisement.

National Library of Medicine Launches MedlinePlus Connect - 22-JUN-2011 The National Library of Medicine has formally launched MedlinePlus Connect. This free service allows health organizations and health information technology (HIT) providers to link patient portals and electronic health record (EHR) systems to MedlinePlus.gov, a trusted source of authoritative, up-to-date health information for patients, families and health care providers.

NQF Population Health: Prevention Endorsement Maintenance - 21-JUN-2011 The National Quality Forum (NQF) Population Health: Prevention Endorsement project seeks to identify and endorse preventive health measures for public reporting and quality improvement. NQF is seeking measures and implementations comments in the areas surrounding population health issues and prevention - due July 12, 2011.

HHS releases National Prevention Strategy - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S.) - 16-JUN-2011 HHS releases the National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy, a comprehensive plan that will help increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. The National Prevention Strategy recognizes that good health comes not just from receiving quality medical care, but also from clean air and water, safe worksites and healthy foods.

NIH challenges public to help bring discovery into the classroom - (National Institutes of Health (NIH)) - 16-JUN-2011 The National Institutes of Health's K-12 Lessons About Bioscience (LAB) Challenge asks teachers, students, parents, scientists, and science enthusiasts to submit their favorite experiments for elementary, middle, and high school students. The best experiments will become part of an official collection that NIH will distribute for free in print and electronically.

National Cancer Institute's Cancer Classroom Webinar Series - June 28, 2011 - (National Cancer Institute, NIH (NCI)) - 16-JUN-2011 The National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Office of Communications and Education will present a free, four-part webinar education series, Cancer Classroom, for early career public health professionals or those new to the field of oncology. The third webinar in this series is titled "Clinical Trials 101" and will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. (Eastern) on Tuesday, June 28, 2011.

FDA Announces Changes to Better Inform Consumers About Sunscreen - (Food and Drug Administration (FDA) U.S.) - 16-JUN-2011 New Rules Give Consumers More Information to Help Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer, Early Aging

New measures, legislation aimed at antibiotic resistance: Infections cost millions, end lives - (American Public Health Association (APHA)) - 16-JUN-2011

New World Report Shows More Than 1 Billion People With Disabilities Face Substantial Barriers in Their Daily Lives - 09-JUN-2011 WHO and the World Bank reveal new global estimates that more than one billion people experience some form of disability.

IOM Releases Report on the Effects of Climate Change on Indoor Environments and Health - 07-JUN-2011 A new report from the IOM responds to a request from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for an analysis of the effects of climate change on indoor air quality and public health.

Federal Government Launches MyPlate to Help Consumers Make Healthier Food Choices - 07-JUN-2011 First Lady Michelle Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin have unveiled the federal government's new food icon, MyPlate, to serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices.

Health Care Quality Gaps and Disparities Persist in Every State - 07-JUN-2011 States are seeing improvements in health care quality, but disparities for their minority and low-income residents persist, according to the 2010 State Snapshots, released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Community Guide Releases New Evidence-Based Findings on Excessive Alcohol Consumption and Vaccinations - 07-JUN-2011

National Academies Press PDFs Available for Free Download - 07-JUN-2011 PDF versions of more than 4,000 books plus future reports published by the National Academies Press are now downloadable to anyone free of charge.

HHS announces Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program funding opportunity - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S.) - 02-JUN-2011

Report Finds Global Smokers Consider Quitting due to Graphic Health Warnings on Packages - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 02-JUN-2011

Ten Tips to Prevent an Accidental Overdose - (Food and Drug Administration (FDA) U.S.) - 02-JUN-2011

Springer Offers Free Access to Research Articles on E. coli Bacteria - 01-JUN-2011 Springer Science+Business Media is offering all journal articles and book chapters which deal with the E. coli bacteria free of charge on its online information platform www.springerlink.com.

May 2011

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FDA Takes Action Against Illegal Marketing of Tobacco Products - 25-MAY-2011 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to online retailers for illegally marketing tobacco products with misleading or unsubstantiated claims or descriptors indicating that they can be used to reduce harm or the risk of tobacco-related disease.

CDC Identifies 10 Public Health Achievements of First Decade of 21st Century - 25-MAY-2011 The CDC has identified 10 major public health achievements of the first 10 years of the 21st century that include improvements in vaccine preventable and infectious diseases, reductions in deaths from certain chronic diseases, declines in deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes, and more.

NLM Releases Medicine in the Americas - Featuring Digitized Versions of American Medical Books Dating Back to 1610 - 25-MAY-2011 The National Library of Medicine announces the release of "Medicine in the Americas," a free digital resource encompassing over 300 early American printed books from 1610 to 1865. The historical materials can help expand knowledge of medical and public health history.

NACCHO Warns that Recent Cuts to Preparedness Funding Put Americans at Greater Risk - 25-MAY-2011 The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) thinks that recent cuts of $107 million in federal public health preparedness funding erodes capacity to protect people in communities nationwide.

ASTHO, CDC and CMS Announce Public Health-Medicaid Collaboration Award - 25-MAY-2011 The Public Health-Medicaid Collaboration Award will recognize succesful collaborations between state and territorial public health agencies and Medicaid agencies in health IT. The application deadline is June 17th.

I'm Your Community Guide Contest Deadline Extended - (Public Health Foundation (PHF)) - 17-MAY-2011 The Public Health Foundation (PHF) announced that the deadline to enter the I'm Your Community Guide Contest has been extended to June 10, 2011. This contest provides an opportunity for organizations using evidence-based recommendations from the Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide) to share how they are doing so for a chance to win a $1,000 public health conference scholarship.

CDC Finds Annual Estimated Cost of U.S. Crash-Related Deaths is $41 Billion - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 17-MAY-2011

$100 million in Affordable Care Act grants to help create healthier U.S. communities - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S.) - 17-MAY-2011 Prevention grants to focus on improving health, which can lower costs

HHS Unveils New Interactive Video to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S.) - 17-MAY-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health released Partnering to Heal: Teaming Up Against Healthcare-Associated Infections, an interactive computer-based video-simulation training program. This training program helps support the goals of the Partnership for Patients, a new public-private partnership that will help improve the quality, safety and affordability of health care for all Americans.

Updated CDC Travel Health Book Released - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 17-MAY-2011 CDC's 2012 edition Yellow Book, features new sections on traveling to mass gatherings, preparing for study abroad, military deployments, and six new popular travel itineraries.

Accreditation of health departments on its way: Fall launch set - 11-MAY-2011 A national program to accredit the nation's health departments, which is expected to transform the delivery of community health services, is on target to launch this fall.

CDC: New Vital Signs Issue on Asthma Prevalence, Disease Characteristics and Self-Management Education - 11-MAY-2011 A new CDC Vital Signs Report shows more people are living with asthma.

HHS Announces Winners of the myHealthyPeople App Challenge - 11-MAY-2011

PHF's "I'm Your Community Guide" Contest - (Public Health Foundation (PHF)) - 05-MAY-2011

Interagency working group seeks input on proposed voluntary principles for marketing food to children - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S.) - 04-MAY-2011

APHA and CDC Release Guidebook on Public Health's Role in Addressing Climate Change - (American Public Health Association (APHA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 04-MAY-2011 The American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new practical guidebook that helps public health practitioners address climate change

USDA Introduces Online Tool for Locating 'Food Deserts' - (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)) - 04-MAY-2011 An Internet-based mapping tool that pinpoints the location of food deserts around the country and provides data on population characteristics of census tracts where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious foods

Free Book on Creating and Sustaining Healthy Teams Now Available - (Public Health Foundation (PHF)) - 04-MAY-2011 Published on the PHF website in April 2011, Applications and Tools for Creating and Sustaining Healthy Teams is designed as a guide to help organizations optimize the use of teams

U.S. Asthma Rates Continue to Rise - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 04-MAY-2011 CDC and partners reinforce World Asthma Day's message take control of your asthma

April 2011

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New WHO Report: Deaths from Noncommunicable Diseases on the Rise - 28-APR-2011 The first WHO Global status report on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) confirms that NCDs such as heart disease, stroke, chronic lung diseases, cancers, and diabetes are the leading killers and are on the increase.

CDC Report Highlights Lack of Healthy Food Environments for Children - 28-APR-2011 States can do more to improve food access, regulations, and policies to promote healthy eating and fight childhood obesity, according to the 2011 Children's Food Environment State Indicator Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

AMIA Offering Stipends to Attend PHI 2011 Conference - 25-APR-2011 With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AMIA is offering financial aid to PHI attendees who are full-time public health professionals and require assistance in order to attend the upcoming Public Health Informatics (PHI) Conference, May 25-27, 2011 in Orlando, FL. The conference will deliver a consensus on the next informatics agenda for public health.

First MCHES Exam Scheduled - 25-APR-2011 The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing is scheduling the first Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) on October 15, 2011.

Global Wildlife Being Monitored for Disease Threats to Humans: New System Tracks Emerging Infections - 25-APR-2011

CDC Malaria Exhibit: Blood Sweat, and Tears - 25-APR-2011 A public health exhibit with photographs by Adam Nadel who traveled to malaria-endemic countries, showed from January 31, 2011 through May 20, 2011 at the Global Health Odyssey Museum on CDC's Roybal campus in Atlanta, GA.

CDC Reports Half of All States Have Smoke-Free Worksites, Restaurants and Bars - 21-APR-2011 The CDC projects that by 2020 the entire nation could have laws banning smoking in all indoor areas of private sector worksites, restaurants and bars.

NACCHO Announces Funding Opportunity for Accreditation Preparation - 21-APR-2011 NACCHO is seeking applications for local health department (LHD) demonstration sites to engage in a robust community health improvement process. Applications due May 23, 2011.

ASPH Invites Public Health Alumni to Submit Career Information - 21-APR-2011 ASPH are inviting public health alumni to submit information about their profession to help ASPH and an advisory group from Schools of Public Health develop a web-based tool that will help current and prospective students see the diverse world of public health careers.

NLM Launches Software Development Challenge - 21-APR-2011 The National Library of Medicine (NLM), NIH, is challenging people to create innovative software applications that use the Library's vast collection of biomedical data, including downloadable data sets, application programming interfaces (APIs), or software tools-all of which are free and available for public use.

Funding Opportunity with the Health Impact Project - 20-APR-2011 The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Pew Charitable Trusts, is accepting brief proposals through June 1 for grants to conduct health impact assessments.

National Environmental Health Promotion Network (NEHPN) Application - 20-APR-2011 The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is now accepting applications for the inaugural National Environmental Health Promotion Network (NEHPN). Applications are due May 6, 2011.

PHF Launches "I'm Your Community Guide" Contest - (Public Health Foundation (PHF)) - 14-APR-2011

HHS Announces Plan to Reduce Health Disparities - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S.) - 14-APR-2011

CDC Study Finds Suicide Rates Rise and Fall with Economy - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 14-APR-2011

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Calls for Action on Public Health Quality - 14-APR-2011

Antimicrobial Resistance Posing Growing Health Threat - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 14-APR-2011 CDC and Partners Celebrate World Health Day 2011 to Draw Attention to the Issue

Long-term care is newest topic on NIH SeniorHealth site - (National Institute on Aging (NIA)) - 07-APR-2011 Older adults and their loved ones can find easy-to-understand answers to these and other questions by visiting "Long-Term Care," the newest topic on NIHSeniorHealth, the health and wellness website for older adults from the National Institutes of Health.

National Commission Calls on Governors to Improve Disaster Plans for Children - 07-APR-2011 The National Commission on Children and Disasters is calling on governors to lead state efforts to improve disaster plans for children. The commission developed recommendations for states based upon its 2010 Report to the President and Congress.

School-based health centers improving access for youth: School settings a boon to student health - (American Public Health Association (APHA)) - 07-APR-2011

Health IT Tools Help with Care and Costs - (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)) - 07-APR-2011

CDC and NIH Update Guidelines to Protect Patients from Bloodstream Infections - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH)) - 07-APR-2011 Health care providers offered new recommendations for preventing the most deadly and costly healthcare-associated infections

FDA launches consumer-friendly Web search for consumers during recalls - (Food and Drug Administration (FDA) U.S.) - 07-APR-2011

March 2011

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2011 County Health Rankings Released: Healthiest and Least Healthy Counties in Every State - 31-MAR-2011 The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have released the 2011 County Health Rankings, the second annual set of reports that ranks the overall health of counties in all 50 states.

New Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research Seeks to Curb Epidemic - 31-MAR-2011 To combat the obesity epidemic, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging diverse scientific investigations through a new Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research.

HHS Launches New Consumer-Focused Immunization Website - 31-MAR-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a new website, Vaccines.gov, to help parents and other consumers learn about the most effective way to protect themselves and their children from infectious diseases and learn about immunization.

IOM Releases Report on LGBT Health Research Gaps and Needs - 31-MAR-2011 A new IOM report, The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Understanding, recommends steps to ensure that researchers identify and address the needs of LGBT populations.

New Accreditation Opportunity for State, Local, Tribal Health Departments - 31-MAR-2011 Public health departments can now strive for national accreditation more typical of universities and hospital systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is supporting a national voluntary accreditation program for public health agencies.

APHA Honors One-Year Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act - 23-MAR-2011 The American Public Health Association (APHA) marks the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, a groundbreaking law that is ushering in a fundamental shift in the nation's health system to emphasize disease prevention, health promotion and wellness.

TFAH Report Released on Public Health Funding And Key Health Facts - 23-MAR-2011 Trust for America's Health (TFAH) has released a new report, Investing in America's Health: A State-By-State Look At Public Health Funding And Key Health Facts.

FDA Works to Ensure Safety of Products Imported from Japan - 23-MAR-2011 FDA is closely monitoring the situation in Japan and is working with the Japanese government and other U.S. agencies to continue to ensure that imported food remains safe.

HHS Releases National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care - 23-MAR-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care that provides national aims and priorities to guide local, state, and national efforts to improve the quality of health care in the United States.

Public Health without Borders: Crises in Japan and Schools of Public Health - 23-MAR-2011 ASPH and Schools of Public Health respond to the environmental and public health threat in Japan.

NIH Announces New Strategic Plan to Combat Diabetes - 23-MAR-2011 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a new strategic plan to guide diabetes-related research over the next decade.

NLM Launches Environmental Health Student Portal - 23-MAR-2011 The National Library of Medicine (NLM) announces the launch of the Environmental Health Student Portal that introduces middle school students to environmental health science.

US Death Rate Falls for 10th Straight Year - 17-MAR-2011 The age-adjusted death rate for the U.S. population fell to an all-time low of 741 deaths per 100,000 people in 2009 - 2.3 percent lower than the 2008 rate, according to preliminary 2009 death statistics released by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.

IOM Report Offers 12 Key Indicators and 24 Objectives to Help Focus Healthy People 2020 Efforts to Improve Americans' Health - 17-MAR-2011 A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) singles out 12 indicators as immediate, major health concerns that should be monitored and 24 objectives that warrant priority attention in the implementation of Healthy People 2020.

Older Adults Not Getting Recommended Preventive Services - 17-MAR-2011 Critical gaps exist between older Americans who receive potentially lifesaving preventive services and those who do not, according to a new report from agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

New Topic Page from NLM - Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Event - 16-MAR-2011 The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has created a new webpage of links to information on the Japan earthquake, tsunami, and radiation event that provides resources to help understand the health issues related to the devastating Japan earthquake, tsunami, and possible nuclear power plant disruptions.

Clinicians from Pediatrics, Family Medicine and Geriatrics Appointed To Lead the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force - 16-MAR-2011 New members have been appointed to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) which is an independent, volunteer panel of private-sector experts in prevention and primary care that makes recommendations to primary care clinicians about preventive services.

SOPHE: Health Action in Response to Japanese Crisis - 16-MAR-2011 The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is providing a selection of websites and media resources that provide information on the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

ASPH Releases Milestones in Public Health Course - 16-MAR-2011 The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) has released an online course, Milestone in Public Health, developed by a project team led by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

Collaborative care program reduces depression, anxiety in heart disease patients - (American Heart Association) - 10-MAR-2011

Drug takebacks aim to prevent abuse, protect environment: Disposing of medications the right way - 10-MAR-2011

NIH urges - Be kind to your kidneys! - (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH (NIDDK)) - 10-MAR-2011 Programs recognize World Kidney Day, National Kidney Month

NCI Launches Interactive Cancer Control Community of Practice - (National Cancer Institute, NIH (NCI)) - 10-MAR-2011 The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has launched Research to Reality (R2R), an online community of practice that links cancer control practitioners and researchers. R2R extends the work of Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. by providing opportunities for discussion, learning and enhanced collaboration

Infections in ICUs Plummeting, Too Many Remain in Hospitals and Dialysis Clinics - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 10-MAR-2011 ICUs show that preventing infections is possible; other health care settings must adopt prevention practices

NIH Launches Largest Oil Spill Health Study - 01-MAR-2011 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a new study that will look at possible health effects of the Gulf of Mexico's Deepwater Horizon oil spill on 55,000 cleanup workers and volunteers.

Health Care Quality Still Improving Slowly, but Disparities and Gaps in Access to Care Persist - 01-MAR-2011 Improvements in health care quality continue to progress at a slow rate-about 2.3 percent a year; however, disparities based on race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other factors persist, according to the 2010 National Healthcare Quality Report and National Healthcare Disparities Report issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Community Guide Recommends Ignition Interlocks to Prevent Impaired Driving Re-Arrests - 01-MAR-2011 The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends the use of ignition interlocks for people convicted of alcohol-impaired driving on the basis of strong evidence of their effectiveness in reducing re-arrest rates while the interlocks are installed.

Report: U.S. Life Expectancy Lagging Because of Smoking: Obesity also Cited as Contributing Factor - 01-MAR-2011 Life expectancies in the United States lag behind some other high-income countries because of smoking (The Nation's Health).

NLM Releases "The Public Health Film Goes to War" - 01-MAR-2011 The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has created a new online resource, "The Public Health Film Goes to War" that features 18 rare films on public health in wartime.

February 2011

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Iowa's Mueller Discusses the Future of Rural Health Care in Webinar - 24-FEB-2011 Dr. Keith Mueller, the Gerhard Hartman Professor and head of the department of health management and policy in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, presented "Health Care Reform and the Future of Health Care in Rural America" as part of an AgriSafe Network webinar series on February 9, 2011. The session is now available as an archived recording on the network's training page.

Rates of Pneumonia Dramatically Reduced in Patients on Ventilators in Michigan Intensive Care Units - (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)) - 24-FEB-2011

APHA Strongly Urges U.S. House to Oppose Deep Cuts to Core Public Health Initiatives - (American Public Health Association (APHA)) - 24-FEB-2011

New law will empower FDA to improve safety of U.S. food: Act requires inspections, improves recalls - 24-FEB-2011

Latest Report on the Nation's Health Released - 17-FEB-2011 Health, United States, 2010, the 34th annual report prepared by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics is now available and includes a compilation of health data from state and federal health agencies as well as an in-depth feature section on death and dying.

Healthy People Funding Resources - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S.) - 17-FEB-2011 Awards are available for states, territories, and tribes to integrate Healthy People 2020 into their health improvement planning activities with an emphasis on multi-sector collaboration. Proposal due by April 1, 2011.

CDC Releases Estimates of Rates of Leisure-Time Physical Inactivity for all U.S. Counties - 17-FEB-2011 Estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that Americans who live in parts of Appalachia and the South are the least likely to be physically active in their leisure time, and residents who are most likely to be active in their free time are from the West Coast, Colorado, Minnesota and parts of the Northeast.

HHS Releases New Strategic Plan to Advance Vaccine and Immunization Science and Policy for the Next Decade - 17-FEB-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a new National Vaccine Plan to enhance coordination of all aspects of federal vaccine and immunization activities. Its goal is to ensure that all Americans can access the preventive benefits of vaccines.

HHS Launches Health Indicators Warehouse to Support Innovation - 16-FEB-2011 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a new web portal, the Health Indicators Warehouse, that provides important health and health care indicator data to support innovations in information technology.

New NIH Cookbook Encourages Families to Eat Healthfully - 16-FEB-2011 The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, has created a free online cookbook with recipes that reflect the principles of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and provide guidance for preparing meals that are low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars.

APHA: President's Budget Shows Mixed Results for Advancing Public Health Initiatives - 16-FEB-2011

RWJF Releases Report: Communities Sharing Public Health Resources - 15-FEB-2011 A new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) explores collaborative relationships between local health departments.

IOM Report: Better measurement can improve U.S. health outcomes - (Institute of Medicine (IOM)) - 10-FEB-2011 Despite medical care expenditures that are the highest of any industrialized nation, deficiencies in the way health information is collected and a lack of agreement on the best indicators by which to measure progress are hindering efforts to improve Americans' health, according to a new national report.

NIH encourages women to take charge of their heart health - (National Institutes of Health (NIH)) - 10-FEB-2011 The Heart Truth campaign's activities inspire heart health action during Heart Month

CDC: New Vital Signs Issue on High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) - 10-FEB-2011

HHS Announces $750 Million Investment in Prevention - (Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) U.S.) - 10-FEB-2011 New health care law provides new funding to reduce tobacco use, obesity and heart disease, and build healthier communities

2011 Fight The Bite Contest - 10-FEB-2011 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the DEET Education Program have set April 18, 2011 as the deadline for this year's Fight the Bite Poster Contest. The contest is open to all U.S. fifth and sixth graders and encourages students to illustrate ways to protect themselves and their families from disease spread by mosquitoes and ticks.

ONC Announces Launch of Direct Project Pilots - 03-FEB-2011 The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) has announced that providers and public health agencies in Minnesota and Rhode Island began this month exchanging health information using specifications developed by the Direct Project, an ‘open government' initiative that calls on cooperative efforts by organizations in the health care and information technology sectors.

NACCHO Requesting Input on How Health Reform Affects Local Health Departments - 03-FEB-2011 NACCHO's Health Reform Workgroup wants comments, ideas, and questions about the implications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for local public health departments and their communities .

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