October 16, 2009

News From The Commonwealth

Health Department Announces First Doses of H1N1 Vaccine Arrive in Pennsylvania

Pre-registered and certified providers in the southwest, southeast, and north-central regions of the state have begun to receive the first doses of the live attenuated pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine, also known by the brand name FluMist.

Pennsylvania’s Senate Resolution Proclaiming Health Literacy Month

Read the State of Pennsylvania’s Senate Resolution proclaiming October 2009 Health Literacy Month.

Events and Trainings

Teleconference Audio and Transcript Available on Community & Faith-Based Response to H1N1

The call regarding community & faith-based response to H1N1 with Secretary Sebelius & Assistant Surgeon General Anne Schuchat is available on the HHS website. The links are at the bottom of the webpage.

Kids’ Health Day
National Kids’ Health Day was Monday, October 5. Find out numerous steps you can take to help keep kids safe and healthy.

How to Find Good Information Online

AHRQ Director Dr. Carolyn Clancy explains how to find reliable health information on the Internet.

Texas! Bringing Healthy Back Presents: Growing Community Video Series

This video series is broken down into six obesity prevention topic areas that correspond with the six evidence-based target areas recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as having the greatest evidence to support their use in combating obesity in communities and organizations. The videos are available in English and Spanish.

Resources and Tools

HHS Unveils New Features on Flu.gov

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius unveiled several new resources on the federal government’s one-stop resource for flu information. The website now features a new H1N1 Flu Self-Evaluation guide for adults 18 and older along with a new Flu Myths and Facts section, which provides the public with the latest and most accurate information about the flu.

H1N1 Challenges Ahead
Examines capacities and challenges in preparing for and responding to an H1N1 flu pandemic, including vaccine issues, confusion with seasonal flu, strain on the medical system, and the erosion of public health infrastructure. Makes recommendations.

Health Literacy Stories

Visit daily to read, watch, and listen to the latest health literacy stories. Feel free to share these stories with colleagues, friends, and all who are interested in improving health understanding.

Free Online Multicultural Health Care Improvement Guide
NCQA is pleased to announce the release of a free, web-based version of Multicultural Health Care: A Quality Improvement Guide. The guide, developed by NCQA in collaboration with Lilly USA, LLC, serves as a resource for those wanting to undertake quality improvement initiatives to improve culturally and linguistically appropriate services and to reduce disparities in care.

Staying Healthy Everyday with Sesame Street

Get tips from the Sesame Street gang on healthy behaviors to stay germ free.

CDC Health-e-Cards
Send an electronic greeting card to friends, family, and others to show you care about their health and safety. New e-cards are added frequently.

Data and Statistics

Majority of Americans Not Meeting Recommendations for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
No U.S. state is meeting national objectives for consumption of fruits and vegetables, according to the first report to provide state–by–state data about fruit and vegetable consumption and policies that may help Americans eat more fruits and vegetables.

A Success Story in American Health Care: Using Health Information Technology to Improve Patient Care in a Community Health Center in Washington
Reports on how health information technology can improve health care for Americans living in rural communities.

Funding Opportunities

                Deadline: December 15, 2009   

The Community Networks Program (CNP) is designed to address the cancer burden in racial/ethnic minorities and other underserved populations by using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits applications for CNP Centers that will utilize the CBPR approach to reduce specific cancer disparities through a combination of outreach, research and training.

General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Grant Program
Deadline: January 15, 2010
Grants for programs to encourage communities to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement--Ethnic Community Self-Help Grant

Deadline: February 24, 2010

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is seeking applications to connect newcomer refugees and their communities with community resources. Additionally, ORR looks to support initiatives that ensure ongoing support to services to refugees after initial resettlement.

Safety-net Enhancement Initiative
Deadline: Ongoing
Funding designed to reduce health disparities within vulnerable communities by enhancing collaboration and coordination among agencies and institutions providing health and social supports to these communities.

Please contact the funder directly for the most complete and current information, including eligibility criteria.

SHIP Partnership Spotlight

Tell us about your partnership accomplishments

We would like to use this section of our weekly bulletin to highlight your accomplishments and allow you to share them with other SHIP Partners. If you have news, successful programs, new plans, or other important milestones that you would like to share please send a condensed, print-ready article to the SHIP Coordinator.

Comments? Suggestions?

Please send any comments or suggestions for this and future Bulletins to the SHIP Coordinator. Your input is valued and appreciated.

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this bulletin is intended to be of general information to the Pennsylvania's SHIP-affiliated partnerships.  It is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any specific process, service, product, company or funding source outside of the Department of Health auspices.  Further examination and research of information is recommended.