Register Now for the National School-Based Health Care Convention!

• The National Assembly on School-Based Health Care will hold its annual convention, Healthy Students – Healthy Nation, on June 27-30 in Washington, DC.  The program includes over 60 workshops, networking opportunities, a Capitol Hill Rally and site visits with congressional representatives. Conference fees are discounted for early registrations before May 24.    If you are interested in sharing transportation, contact Eileen Barker at ewbarker@suddenlink.net and Becky King at bk517@attglobal.net.  For registration information visit:  www.nasbhc.org.

Advocacy Update

• A special thank you to Senator Jay Rockefeller for being a co-sponsor of S. 600, the School-Based Health Clinic Act of 2007.  This first-time legislation will authorize new federal funds for school-based health centers.   We appreciate Senator Rockefeller’s continued leadership on increasing children’s access to health care!  A companion bill will be introduced in the House soon.
• Post Card Campaign - Help WV meet the goal of sending 100,000 postcards to Washington, DC in support for the School-Based Health Clinic Act of 2007 which will provide new federal funding for school-based health centers!  Post cards will be hand-delivered to WV’s congressional delegation in June.  For more information about the postcard campaign, please contact Becky King at bk517@attglobal.net.
• School Health Selected for Legislative Study!  House Concurrent Resolution 53, a study resolution on school health services and healthy lifestyles, was selected as a study area by WV’s Legislature, and has been assigned to Select Committee D on Health during the 2007 interim process.  Stay tuned for future updates!

WVSBHA Executive Team News

• Congratulations to Brian Crist, Director of Lincoln County Primary Care Center, who was elected to serve as President of the WVSBHA at the annual meeting held in April.  We are also excited to welcome two new executive members:  Mary Grandon, Riverside Health Center, and Alicia Tyler, WV Higher Education Policy Commission, to the team.  Congratulations are also in order for Jim Cook, Special Assistant to the Commissioner on School Health, on his retirement!  Jim has been a tireless leader and voice for advancing school health services in WV, and we appreciate his dedication and compassion.  Good luck Jim!

• The WVSBHA is completing a new strategic plan and welcomes your thoughts and ideas.  Members are invited to join us for a planning session to be held May 22, 1:00-4:00 at John XXIII Pastoral Center in Charleston.   

Upcoming Learning Opportunities

• Web Conferences on Immunizations:  Wednesday, May 9, 12-1:30 - Part I: Immunization update for school-aged children and adolescents, and Wednesday, May 16, 12:-1:30 - Part II: Preventable disease outbreaks, emerging immunization research, and new promising vaccines. Presented by:  Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. CE: 1.0 hour of CNE, CHES, CME.  Web Conferences are FREE to NASBHC members.  If you are not a NASBHC member, you can join for as low as $25. To register or check your membership status, please check www.nasbhc.org.

• Managing Asthma Triggers: West Virginia is pleased to offer the National Association of School Nurses, Managing Asthma Triggers and the WV-American Lung Association (ALA)-Open Airways for Schools asthma training in each RESA throughout the state on:  June 13 - Charleston; May 14 - Wheeling; May 24 -  Summersville; and in August (location to be announced).  Training will be conducted by school based health center nurse practitioners, public school nurses and WV-ALA staff.  Registration is free, and includes nursing contact hours and lunch, along with options for all or partial day training.  To register, visit:  http://wvde.state.wv.us/osshp/main/    and click on registration under the title "West Virginia's Asthma Training for School Nurses/SBHCs at RESAs".   

•  School Health Services Summer Conference will be held June 11-12 at the Charleston Marriot.  Presentations will feature Dr. Pat Cooper, Executive Director of the National School Health Education Coalition, and tracks on leadership, physiological, mental health and asthma. This training is being sponsored by the WVDE, Office of Healthy Schools and the Marshall University Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center, and will offer 15 contact hours, or 3 graduate credit hours in professional development.  For more information, visit: http://wvde.state.wv.us/osshp/main/.

• Save the Date!  Growing Healthy Children Conference – October 15- 16, 2007, Charleston Marriot.  Plenary sessions will focus on oral health, perinatal health, child development/mental health and school health.  Registration information will be available in August at www.wvhealthykids.org.

  
Diabetes Camp of WV
A camp for diabetic children ages 7-15 will be held July 18-14 at Camp Virgil Tate.  For more information, visit: www.campknokona.com