• October 16, 2007 Please join First Lady Gayle C. Manchin and WVU President Mike Garrison at Riverside High School Health Center in Kanawha County to kick off the Campaign from 1:00-4:00.
• October 19, 2007 Please join the Honorable Harold Michael at Pendleton County High School-Based Health Clinic - 2:00 – 3:30.
• October 25, 2007 Please join the Honorable Mary Poling, House Education Chair, at Brandon Wellness Center in Barbour County - 4:00 – 5:30.
• October 26, 2007 Please join us at Mount View Wellness Center in McDowell County 1:00 – 2:30.
• October 31, 2007 Please join Dr. Steven L. Paine, Superintendent of Schools, at Collins Middle School Wellness Center in Fayette County - 3:00-4:30
• November 1, 2007 Please join us at the Panther Center for Health in Lincoln County - 1:00 – 2:30. DHHR Secretary Martha Walker is the invited host.
• November 5, 2007 Please join us at East Fairmont High School Wellness Center - 1:00-2:30. Phil Pfister, the World’s Strongest Man, is the invited host.
• November 6, 2007 Please join us at Jackson County Schools Wellness Center - 6:00-7:30. Phil Pfister, the World’s Strongest Man, is the invited host.
• To Be Confirmed: Gilmer County High School Wellness Center

• President Bush vetoed the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) expansion that passed with strong bipartisan support in Congress. With about 25,000 children currently enrolled in West Virginia’s program, a Continuing Resolution will temporarily extend $5.1 billion, the same appropriated level as last year, to be divided among the states for the next 47 days until the resolution expires Nov. 16, 2007. Funding for the WVCHIP is stable, with about $23 million in federal dollars to be carried forward. A portion of the fiscal year 2008 funds also will be available under the resolution. All of WV’s congressional delegation voted in support of SCHIP expansion.
• The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Rule Change: released a proposed rule changes that would eliminate payment to schools and school districts for performing Medicaid administrative functions.  CMS is accepting public feedback until close of business on November 6, 2007. Many national, state and local education organizations are fighting this proposed rule because federal Medicaid matching funds supports core public health staff in the schools. www.nasbhc.org
• WVSBHA Speaks before Health and Education Committees: As a follow-up to the school health study resolution adopted during the legislative session, Brian Crist, President, WVSBHA and Teri Harlan, Past-President, provided an overview of the school-based health model, along with future directions. The presentation was well received among a packed House Chamber during the October interim session!

Call for Abstracts - 2008 National School-Based Health Care Convention: Share your expertise, best practices, resources, and tools with school-based health care professionals. June 25-28, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA! Priority will be given to pre-conferences, workshops, guided discussions, and posters that focus on school-based health care’s role in reducing health disparities. The deadline for Abstract Submission is October 20, 2007. For more details, visit: www.nasbhc.org.

Congrats to School Nurse of the Year! Connie Harper. RN, BSN, MSN has been selected as the 2007 WV School Nurse of the Year. A highly respected leader, Connie has been instrumental in leading the establishment of school-based health centers in Clay County, and has initiated the Pathways to Wellness Program. Thank you Connie for your dedication and hard work on behalf of WV’s children!

Toolkits Now Available On-Line! The Marshall University School-Based Health Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center has developed new toolkits in the areas of obesity, immunizations, asthma and comprehensive physical exams. The toolkits can be found at www.wvsbha.org under technical assistance and evaluation.

Take Your Best Shot Campaign Underway! First Lady Gayle C. Manchin launched the Take Your Best Shot: WV Adolescent Immunization Project in 7 counties this month. The campaign seeks to unite the community under the shared vision of increasing adolescent immunization rates to improve the well being of 11-21 year old West Virginians. For more information on this project, and the WV Immunization Network, go to: http://www.immunizenow.net.

Mark Your Calendar!

• WV School Nurse Fall Conference: November 7-9, Bridgeport Holiday Inn.
• State of Tobacco Issues in WV: Unifying for the Future – December 4-5, Embassy Suites, visit www.ctfwv.com for more information.

Grant Opportunity: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- Improving Health and Educational Opportunities of Young People Grants: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accepting applications forits Improving Health and Educational Opportunities of Young People grant program. The purpose of the program is to support development of healthyadults by promoting the health of young people through projects concerning: 1) the Youth Risk Behavior Survey; 2) HIV Prevention; 3) Coordinated School Health Programs and Promotion of Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco-Use Prevention; 4) Asthma Management; and 5) National Professional Development. For more information: http://www.healthinschools.org