Dedication of the Wildcat Wellness Center - Please join us! You are invited to attend the open house and dedication of the Wildcat Wellness Center on April 2, 1:00-4. The center serves Meadow Bridge Elementary and High School and is located at 2725 Main Street, Meadow Bridge, WV. For additional information, please contact Judy Koehler at 438-6188, ext. 1020.

Register Now! WVSBHA Annual Meeting - “Healthy Students – Better Students” Tuesday, April 29, 2008 1:00-3:00 Coonskin Park Clubhouse Hearth Room in Charleston. Please join us as we celebrate, network, and learn from each other! The Executive Team of the Assembly will also be elected. Registration, which includes refreshments and materials, is free. Please register on-line by April 15 at www.wvsbha.org or by phone at 757-5280 or 342-1330.

Advocacy News: The 2008 legislative session included several measures impacting school health/behavioral health. Among the bills passed were HB 4588 - changes to the school-aid formula which includes ratios for school nurses and school counselors, HB 4124 requiring CPR and First Aid training be added to health education curriculum in any of the grades 6-12; HB 4023 denying driving privileges for teen drivers who are not meeting satisfactory attendance/behavior standards; HB 4368 establishing procedures for disruptive students, including a bill of rights for students/school personnel; HB 4406 establishing new limits on school bus travel times; HB 4357 extending the Neighborhood Tax Incentive Program.

SB 9 will allow hunter safety courses to be taught in middle school if requested by 20% of students; SB 13 allowing the scope of practice for dental hygienists to be expanded under the direct supervision of dentists as determined by rules; and SB 297 providing additional revenue bonds to support improvements to existing schools and new school construction. The primary care support line for community health centers was also increased over $1 million dollars. Legislation to eliminate soft drinks in schools, and creation of a state oral health office/full-time director did not pass. For more information, visit: www.legis.state.wv.us.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities & Resources:

UniCare is sponsoring the CME Lecture series entitled "Off the Charts: The Epidemic of Pediatric and Adolescent Overweight". This series is CME accredited and will feature Adolescent Medicine Specialist Stephen Sondike, MD from West Virginia University - Charleston Division. Also offered at the same time will be a Body Mass Index (BMI) workshop for clinical staff. This opportunity will be offered in various locations, April 7-April 22. Please call (304) 347-1961 or 888-611-9958 for additional information and registration.

New Oral Health Web-Site - If you are interested in learning more about resources and activities regarding oral health in West Virginia, check out: www.oralhealthwv.org.

The School Nurse – School-Based Health Center Summer Conference will be held June 11- 12 at the Charleston Civic Center. The conference will be sponsored by the Department of Education, Office of Healthy Schools and the Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance and Evaluation Office.

The 2008 National School-Based Health Care Convention will be held June 25-28 in Los Angeles California. For more information, visit: www.nasbhc.org.

The Back- to- School Workshop will be held August 13 at the Days Hotel in Sutton. The workshop will be sponsored by the Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance and Evaluation Office.