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Register Now for the WVSBHA Annual Meeting Please join us for the WV School-Based Health Assembly’s Annual Meeting, "Healthy Students - Better Students: Celebrating 15 Years of School-Based Health Center Success" on Thursday, April 23, 1:00-3:00 at Coonskin Park Clubhouse in Charleston. The agenda will include an historical overview of school-based health center movement in WV with special guests, Tom Heywood, former Chief of Staff under Governor Gaston Caperton, and First Lady Gayle Manchin (invited), and celebration and recognition of all SBHC sponsors and supporters. Election of the WVSBHA Executive Team and approval of the annual budget will also take place. Registration, which includes materials and refreshments, is free. To register, please go to: www.wvsbha.org. Advocacy Update With the legislative session ending at midnight on April 11, few health care reform measures have completed legislative action. Dr. Ken Thorpe, West Virginia: Roadmap to Health author, released a report this week indicating West Virginia could save up to $2.7 billion in health care spending over the next ten years if the state enacts health reform measurers currently being considered by lawmakers. Thorpe estimates that absent significant health care reforms, total health care spending in West Virginia will double from $11.5 billion to 22.5 billion over the next ten years. For the most recent status on bills being considered, visit: www.legis.state.wv.us. Governor Manchin has announced the launch of a new web page on West Virginia’s Stimulus Information at www.wvgov.org. This page will give constituents up-to-date information about the stimulus dollars that the State of West Virginia receives from the federal government through passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. News To Use and Share West Virginia has been chosen by the National Assembly on School Based Health Care as the pilot state for its School Mental Health Capacity Building Training Initiative. The project will provide training and ongoing technical assistance to provide and expand quality school mental health services statewide. West Virginia was chosen from among 10 states because of its capacity and potential for advancing school mental health efforts. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is the lead on the project along with the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities, the Bureau for Public Health, The School Health Technical Assistance Center at Marshall University, the WV School Based Health Assembly, and Legal Aid of West Virginia’s Family Advocacy, Support and Training (FAST) program.
The National Center for Health Statistics has released preliminary 2007 birth data. According to this report, the teen birth rate increased 1% between 2006 and 2007. This is the second year in a row that the teen birth rate has increased. The increase follows 14 years of continuous decline in the teen birth rate. An analysis of the report can be found at: A great resource on enrolling children in Medicaid and SCHIP has been released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report, Maximizing Kids' Enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP can be found at this link: http://www.rwjf.org/coverage/product.jsp?id=38348&c=EMC-ADVFYI Asthma Friendly School Awards to be presented. The WV Asthma Coalition’s School & Pediatric Committee encourages every school to be asthma friendly. Soon schools will be able to be recognized for their efforts. Paula Fields and Mary Grandon Co-Chair the WV Asthma Coalition’s School & Pediatric Committee. Please stay tuned for more information! Hats Off to SBHA Members! Sharon Carte, Director, WV Children’s’ Health Insurance Program for being awarded the 2009 Champion for Children Award at the Annual Children’s Policy Forum. Brian Crist and his staff at Lincoln Primary Care for their adolescent immunization work and winning the WV Immunization Network Buckshot Award. Students at Riverside High School for their participation in Primary Care Association Day at the Legislature and for submitting winning entries for the Legislative Youth YouTube forum at Children’s Day at the Legislature. Eric Ruf and his staff at the Belington Community Medical Services Association for attaining the status of Federally Qualified Health Center. Linda Juszczak, on being named the Executive Director of the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care (NASBHC). Linda served as one of NASBHC's founding members and also served as Board President. Mary Grandon, CPA, Riverside High Wellness Center and her husband, Eric Grandon, PTA at CAMC for their recent mission work in Fort Liberte, Haiti. Mary and Eric have participated in medical mission strips to the area for the past 11 years as part of the Friends of Fort Liberte, a nonprofit group based in Elkins. During their week-long stay, they treated up to 300 patients a day for a wide range of medical conditions. National Assembly on School-Based Health Care Seeking Leaders NASBHC is currently accepting recommendations for members of the Board of Directors to help guide the organization's mission and strategic direction, and ensure the organization's vitality. NASBHC 2009 Leadership Positions to be filled: Members at Large for a three-year term and Secretary (duties as assigned by President or Executive Committee). Please forward recommendations by April 3rd to Laura Hurwitz at LHurwitz@nasbhc.org. Annual Health Care Heroes Awards The State Journal is still accepting nominations for their annual Health Care Heroes Awards. These awards recognize a variety of individuals and businesses that are working and inspiring others to keep West Virginia healthy. Please visit http://www.statejournal.com/formHCH.cfm for a list of nomination categories (which include support staff, community service, and volunteerism). Nominations must be received by May 1, 2009. Registration is Now Open for These Learning Opportunities The Wellness Council of West Virginia Spring Conference will be held on April 6, 2009 at the Bridgeport Conference Center. This program provides information on diabetes, smoking and health fairs. www.wcwv.org The State Health Education Council of West Virginia (SHEC) is holding its 30th Annual Conference April 19-21 at the Ramada Inn in South Charleston. Keynote addresses are "Fostering an Optimal Self for West Virginia's Future" by Dr. Carol Mitchell Smith from Marshall University and "Building Community Capacity for Health Initiatives" by Dr. Robert Goodman, the Dean of Indiana University at Bloomington School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. For more information, visit www.healtheducation.com. School-Based Health Center Productivity Template Webinar: April 29, 2009 3:00 - 4:00 pm (ET) .To register, please contact Tiffany Clarke at tclarke@nasbhc.org. 2009 WV Licensed Professional Counselor Association Spring Conference: May 7-8 at the Charleston Civic Center. Go to www.wvlpca.net for conference updates. 2009 National School-Based Health Care Convention: June 25-27, Hollywood Florida. Registration is now open for NASBHC's 14th annual. NASBHC is going green and is not mailing out preliminary programs. Visit www.nasbhc.org/convention to find workshop information and links to additional information. Save The Date for Upcoming Learning Opportunities!April 30, 2009: Adolescent HIV/STD & Unintended Pregnancies in the 21st Century, Tamarack in Beckley, WV. This opportunity is free of charge and is sponsored by the WVDE Office of Healthy Schools, Marshall University Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center and Raleigh County Health Services. Registration brochure coming soon! June 9-10, 2009: School Health Service Conference, Charleston Civic Center. The West Virginia Primary Care Association will be holding three regional Clinical Summits: Parkersburg: July 25, 2009; Martinsburg: September 26, 2009; and Lewisburg December 12, 2009. Topics include a general session on Motivational Interviewing and Breakout Sessions: Front Office - Medical manners, Clinical-Pain Management in Primary Care, and School-based Health - Free CME/CEU's will be offered. The WVPCA Annual Conference will be held August 5-9 at Ogelbay Resort. For additional information, please call (304) 346-0032. August 19, 2009: Annual Back-to-School Workshop, Flatwoods Days Inn. The 2009 Growing Healthy Children Conference on Maternal, Child, and Family Health will be held November 12-13 at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University/Charleston Division. Summer Camp Opportunities Camp New You @ WVU is an innovative program designed to help youth ages 11-14 and their parents identify and practice lifestyle changes that will assist in reducing unhealthy body weight through increased physical activity and good nutrition. The camp will be held in Morgantown July 19-August. To obtain a registration form, physician referral form, or for any questions, call (304) 293-0859 or visit www.campnewyou.org. Camp Catch Your Breath: The American Lung Association in West Virginia and United Hospital Center announce the Nineteenth Annual “Camp Catch Your Breath” for children living with asthma. The 2009 asthma camp will be held at Jackson’s Mill 4-H Camp in Jane Lew, WV July 26-31, 2009. For more information contact Chantal Centofanti-Fields at 304-342-6600 or visit http://asthmacamp.uhcwv.org/camper.htm. Camp Oasis: CCFA Camp Oasis is a co-ed residential camp program for children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Camp Oasis will be at Camp Tall Timbers in High View, WV August 21 - 25, 2009. The camp is open to children between the ages of 7-16. For more information, visit http://www.ccfa.org/kidsteens/camp. Operation Purple Camp: The National Military Family Association’s Operation Purple camp is a time for having fun, making friends, and reminding military kids that they are the Nation’s youngest heroes. These free, week-long, overnight camps are open to all military children ages 7-17. For additional information, please contact: Susan Izzo, susan.izzo@us.army.mil or Richard Switzer, richard.switzer4@us.army.mil. |