Advocacy Update

• The state budget adopted by the Legislature includes an increase of over $1 million dollars to the Primary Care Support line for community health centers, and also an improvement package allocation of $120,000 for school-based health centers.
• Senate Concurrent Resolution 3, 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 the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. Stay tuned for future updates!
• West Virginia’s Campaign for a Healthy Future is a broad alliance formed to address health care reform issues. Comprised of diverse organizations, the mission is to enact state legislation that significantly reduces the growth in health care costs and guarantees affordable access to high quality health care. To join the campaign, visit: www.wvhealthyfuture.com.

WVSBHA Annual Meeting Highlights

• The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito attended the WVSBHA Annual Meeting on April 29th in Charleston. In addition to discussing SCHIP and the importance of providing health insurance for low-income children in West Virginia, Congresswoman Capito stressed the importance of school-based health care. As one of the original, lead co-sponsors of the School-Based Health Care Clinic Act in the House, Capito noted that school-based health centers provide an incredible opportunity for West Virginia children to get quality access to health care. Following Capito’s remarks, state leaders shared their ideas about the future of school health. Senator Dan Foster, Phil Pfiester, Sister Helen Skormisley, Louise Reese, and Chris Curtis participated in a very informative panel discussion.
• Congratulations are in order to the newly elected Executive Team of the Assembly. Brian Crist, Director of Lincoln County Primary Care Center, was re-elected as President, and four new members were elected: Mary Huntley, MPH, Director, Research and Grants Administration, CAMC, Keri Kennedy, Director, Manager, Office of Healthy Lifestyles and Interim School Health Coordinator, Bureau of Public Health; Ashley Logan, RDH, Oral Health Coordinator, New River Health Association; and Eric Ruf, CEO, Belington Medical Center. Additional members include Vice President Mary Grandon, Recorder/Treasurer Jennifer Cox, Cassandra Judge, Michelle Linville, Patty Parris, and Louise Reese. Bill Snider will continue to represent WV on the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care Government Affairs Committee.

Meadow Bridge School-Based Health Center Gets a New Home: Congratulations to the staff and community at Rainelle Medical Center for the dedication and opening of the new Wildcat Wellness Center on April 2. Serving Meadow Bridge Elementary and High Schools, the original center opened in October 1997, but spacing issues led to the need for a new stand-alone facility. The new center was funded in part by the Sisters of Saint Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation and the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, along with strong community support from the Fayette Board of Education, and volunteers who did everything from holding fundraisers to building steps! The open house, part of the Healthy Students-Better Students Campaign, also served as an opportunity to pay tribute to former Meadow Bridge Coach Joe Bennett who passed away last year. The wellness center was dedicated in honor of Coach Bennett, a strong supporter and champion of school health.

Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition: Sign Up for We-Can Today! HRSA is promoting participation in an initiative being sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The Childhood Overweight Prevention Program from NIH, We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) offers material to help reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by enabling primary care providers and other health care professionals to better prevent, identify, and treat childhood obesity. The We Can Program is evidence-based and researched to be culturally sensitive as well as at an appropriate health literacy level for both parents and children. When you sign-up, NIH will send a free Starter Kit with sample materials, and sites and partners will also receive technical assistance, program updates, and national recognition. For additional information, and to sign up on-line visit: http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov.

Support World Asthma Day! The West Virginia Asthma Coalition will be recognizing World Asthma Day at the Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, WV on Thursday, June 12, 2008. WVAC will have a booth to distribute asthma information and CAMC will also be performing pulmonary function testing. For more information, please contact Laura Tate at: lauratate@wvdhhr.org.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities

• The School Nurse – School-Based Health Center Summer Conference will be held June 11- 12 at the Charleston Civic Center. This two-day conference will bring together school nurses, school-based health center staff, and others to interact and hear presentations on topics of mutual interest. For the agenda and on-line registration, please go to http://wvde.state.wv.us/osshp/main.
• The WV Suicide Prevention Conference will be held June 11-12 at the Charleston Civic Center. For the past three years the WV Suicide Prevention Council has hosted this large and successful conference that raises awareness and offers clinical tools and measures to identify signs and symptoms as well as treatment modalities for dealing with someone contemplating suicide. For additional information, contact Lora Lowdermilk at (304) 296-1731 ext. 4269.
• NASBHC and the California School Health Centers Association are co-hosting the 2008 National School-Based Health Care Convention in Los Angeles, California June 25-28, 2008. With over 60 workshops, a site visit to an innovative California SBHC, and networking sessions, the 2008 Convention will be the best yet! For registration information visit: www.nasbhc.org.
• The WV Primary Care Association’s 23rd Annual Conference will be held August 5 - August 8 at Ogelbay Resort and conference Center in Wheeling WV. Call 346-0032 for additional registration information.
• The Back-to-School Workshop will be held August 13 at the Days Hotel in Sutton. The workshop is sponsored by the Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance and Evaluation Office. For more information, contact Paula Fields: pfields4@yahoo.com.
• Please mark your calendar and plan to join attend the 2008 CASA Conference to learn more about the issues surrounding foster care and drug endangered children. The conference will be held on October 2 at the Bridgeport Conference Center, and registration materials will be available soon.

Renew Your WVSBHA Membership Today! WVSBHA is now accepting new and renewing membership. Annual dues are $50 for organizations and $30 for individuals. Student memberships are free. Membership forms are available at www.wvsbha.org.