May is National Foster Care Month!
Join the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in honoring May as National Foster Care Month by downloading this flyer and including it in your newsletters, listserv announcements, and any other place that you think would be helpful to spread the word. The flyer includes information about the AAP Healthy Foster Care America Web site as well as a Health Information Form sample on the reverse side that can be copied and used immediately.

May 3rd was National Children's Mental Health Day
The AAP was one of the co-sponsors of National Children's Mental Health Day, which took place on May 3. This year, the national theme focused on building resilience in young children dealing with trauma. For additional information, click here.

AAP Policy Statement—Health Information Technology and the Medical Home
Patients’ electronic health records (EHRs) should be portable and secure, and they should also be conducive to sharing information within the setting of a medical home. According to a new AAP policy statement, Health Information Technology (HIT) and the Medical Home , published in the May 2011 issue of Pediatrics, HIT is the tool that can help support important pediatric information functions within the medical home—the place where each patient’s medical care is coordinated. Not only should EHR systems house the patient’s data completely, safely, accessibly and for a lifetime; they also should allow pediatricians to share information easily with patients and improve the quality of care. Using HIT as the tool for portability and accessibility between and among health care providers should help to enhance the role of the primary care practice as the patient’s medical home.

AAP Technical Report—Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Health Emergencies in the Emergency Medical Services System
The new AAP technical report, Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Health Emergencies in the Emergency Medical Services System, addresses the roles that hospital emercency departments (ED) and ED health care professionals play in emergency mental health care of children and adolescents in the United States, which includes the stabilization and management of patients in mental health crisis, the discovery of mental illnesses and suicidal ideation in ED patients, and approaches to advocating for improved recognition and treatment of mental illnesses in children. The report also addresses special issues related to mental illness in the ED, such as minority populations, children with special health care needs, and children's mental health during and after disasters and trauma.

AAP Culturally Effective Care Webinar Recording Available Now
The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program, a cooperative agreement program of the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and the AAP, hosted a webinar focused on the AAP new online resource, the Culturally Effective Care Toolkit. The webinar also highlighted a Healthy Tomorrows grantee's experiences of creating culturally responsive health education materials and training providers how to manage diverse health literacy levels. Audio recording, PowerPoint presentation, and transcripts are now available on the Community Pediatrics Web site. Browse the Healthy Equity page for additional resources on this topic.

Parent Advocacy Training Program Now Available in Spanish!
AG Bell has announced that its Parent Advocacy Training (P.A.T.) program is now available in Spanish. P.A.T. is designed to help parents build the knowledge and confidence needed to advocate for educational services and support on behalf of their child with hearing loss with his or her school district. This 90-minute course helps parents understand the legal framework for special education, and assists parents in understanding their rights and responsibilities. The program includes an interactive glossary of terms and sample videos demonstrating to parents how to work with school administrators and instructors in developing an appropriate educational program. 
This program has been approved for 1.5 CEUs by the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language.

New Tools from the National Center for Children in Poverty
The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) has announced the release of a new online tool, The Young Child Risk Calculator. This interactive tool shows users how many children under age six in each state are experiencing serious risks to their development. The tool allows users to select from three age groups: 0-3, 3-5, and 0-6 as well as three economic and various other risk factors known to affect children’s development. NCCP has also released the Early Childhood State Policy Profiles, a comprehensive view of state policies in the areas of health, early care and education, and parenting and economic supports, which affect the health and well-being of young children in low-income families.

Health Indicators Warehouse
The Health Indicators Warehouse (HIW) is a resource serving as the data hub for the HHS Community Health Data Initiative, a flagship HHS open government initiative to release data; encourage innovative application development; and catalyze change to improve community health. The purpose of the HIW is to:

• Provide a single, user-friendly, source for national, state, and community health indicators
• Meet needs of multiple population health initiatives
• Facilitate harmonization of indicators across initiatives
• Link indicators with evidence-based interventions
• Serve as the data hub for the HHS Community Health Data Initiative

Administration on Aging Funding for Lifespan Respite Care Program
Deadline: May 20
Grant funding is available for the development and enhancement of lifespan respite care at the state and local levels; the provision of respite care services for family caregivers caring for children or adults; training and recruiting of respite care workers and volunteers; the provision of information to caregivers about available respite and support services; and assistance to caregivers in gaining access to such services.

HRSA Funding for Public Health Training Center
Deadline: May 23
The purpose of the Public Health Training Centers Program is to improve the nation's public health system by strengthening the technical, scientific, managerial, and leadership competence of the current and future public health workforce. A public health training center plans, develops, operates, and evaluates projects that are in furtherance of the goals established by the Secretary in the areas of preventive medicine, health promotion and disease prevention, or improving access to and quality of health services in medically underserved communities.

SAMHSA Planning Grants for Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families
Deadline: June 2
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year 2011 for Planning Grants for Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families (System of Care Expansion Planning Grants). The purpose of these grants is to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for improving and expanding services provided by systems of care (SOC) for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families.

HRSA Funding for Area Health Education Centers Infrastructure Development and Point of Service Maintenance and Enhancement
Deadline: June 10
The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) programs consist of interdisciplinary, community-based, primary care training programs wherein academic and community-based leaders work to improve the distribution, diversity, supply, and quality of health care personnel, particularly primary care personnel in the health care services delivery system and more specifically in delivery sites in rural and other underserved areas. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits applications for a one-year project period for AHEC Infrastructure Development awards and AHEC Point of Service Maintenance and Enhancement awards; successful applicants will be awarded cooperative agreements to establish and advance statewide or multi-county AHEC programs.

Administration for Children and Families Grants to Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Migrant Programs for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Programs
Deadline: July 5
The primary purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to provide financial support to selected Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Migrant Programs for child abuse prevention programs and activities that are consistent with the goals outlined by Title II of Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The funds must support more effective and comprehensive child abuse prevention activities and family support services, including an emphasis on strengthening family life and reaching out to include fathers, that will enhance the lives and ensure the safety and well-being of Migrant and Native American children and their families.

Now Accepting Entries for the 2011 AAP Art Contest
Deadline: August 1
The AAP invites children to enter its international art contest with the theme My Healthy Lifestyle. In the US, the contest is open to boys and girls in three groups. Group winners and their parents/guardians will be invited to a presentation ceremony at the 2011 AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Boston on Saturday, October 15. Each first-place winner will receive a $500 cash prize and up to $1,000 for travel-related expenses. The three second-place winners will each receive $250. The six winners' schools will be awarded matching cash amounts. Entries are also welcome from children from countries other than the US. For the single international award, the contest is open to children ages 13-18. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize with a matching amount for the school or home school.

AAP Community Pediatrics Monthly Funding Alert
The AAP Community Pediatrics Monthly Funding Alert provides information on funding opportunities from the AAP and other organizations, as well as links to key programs and agencies.

For a more detailed listing of funding opportunities, click here.

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FREE CME Webinar—The Role of the Medical Home in Chronic Care Management
May 10—12 to 1pm (CT) (Registration Open)
The objectives of this free continuing medical education (CME) webinar, hosted by the AAP and the NCMHI, include:

• Describe selected essential clinical and procedural elements needed in medical home practices to deliver chronic care for patients and their families
• Explain the importance and application of patient population management in the delivery of care for children with a chronic health condition
• Explore the delivery of effective chronic care through a case study on asthma care in the medical home

Following the Webinar, you will receive an e-mail containing a link where you may complete an online evaluation. Completion of the evaluation is required by each person wishing to obtain CME credit. To register for this event, click here. For more information contact e-mail Corrie Pierce at cpierce@aap.org, view the promotional flyer , or Medical Home Implementation CME Series page.

Health Frontier for Intellectual Disabilities Conference
May 23-24—Bethesda, MD
Registration Deadline: May 16, 2011
This conference, hosted by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), boasts the theme of Improving Surveillance, Professional Education, Services, and Research. Participants are welcome to attend one, two, or all three complementary meetings offered through the conference that focus on the health needs of persons with intellectual disabilities. For additional information, click here or review the conference’s updated agenda .

Webinar—Partnering to Promote Health Equity for Adolescents
May 25—1pm to 2:30pm (EDT)
Adolescents in the US are an increasingly diverse population and, as a result, are facing significant health care inequities. Given the economic burden of health disparities and premature death - over $1.24 trillion in direct and indirect costs between 2003 and 20061 - adolescence is a critical time period to arm youth with appropriate health information and ensure they have an opportunity to grow up in healthy and safe communities. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act lays a foundation for the US to eliminate health disparities by expanding access to coverage and improving community prevention programs, as well as through specific provisions targeting racial and ethnic health disparities. To explore these and other opportunities to achieve health equity for adolescents, National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation is convening stakeholders to discuss how health plans and health plan foundations can provide the education, tools and resources necessary for adolescents to lead long and healthy lives. Electronic registration and a draft agenda are available on NIHCM Foundation's Web site.

FREE CME Webinar—The Role of the Medical Home in Care of Children and Youth with Complex Chronic Conditions
June 2—12 to 1pm (CT) (Registration Open)
The objectives of this free continuing medical education (CME) webinar, hosted by the AAP and the NCMHI, include:

• Illustrate the importance of building and maintaining multi-specialty teams in the provision of care for children and youth with complex chronic conditions
• Explore strategies for enhancing complex co-management working partnerships between specialty and primary care clinicians
• Explain how to effectively work with clinical teams and patients/families for successful and appropriate care transition planning from pediatric to adult care

Following the Webinar, you will receive an e-mail containing a link where you may complete an online evaluation. Completion of the evaluation is required by each person wishing to obtain CME credit. To register for this event, click here. For more information contact e-mail Corrie Pierce at cpierce@aap.org, view the promotional flyer , or Medical Home Implementation CME Series page.

How to Code When the Kid Isn't There—AAP Pediatric Coding Webinar
June 7—12 to 1pm (Central)
As educated parents want more informed participation in all their children’s medical decision-making, there is a demand for convenient and timely access to non–face-to-face services including advice, consultation, and treatment by e-mail and telephone. This webinar highlights codes for non–face-to-face care. This webinar will provide guidelines for appealing for payment for non–face-to-face services and provide AAP resources to help you do so.

FREE CME Webinar—Patient- and Family-Centered Care in the Medical Home
June 28—12 to 1pm (CT) (Registration Coming Soon)
The objectives of this free continuing medical education (CME) webinar, hosted by the AAP and the NCMHI, include:

• State the importance of patient-and family-centeredness in the delivery of preventive, acute, and chronic care for all children and youth
• Describe the impact of provider/parent partnerships on positive child health outcomes, particularly for diverse patient populations
• Explore strategies, tools, and resources available to assess practices cultural and linguistic competency and its impact on health disparities 

Registration will be available approximately one month before the webinar. Following the Webinar, you will receive an e-mail containing a link where you may complete an online evaluation. Completion of the evaluation is required by each person wishing to obtain CME credit. For more information contact e-mail Corrie Pierce at cpierce@aap.org, view the promotional flyer , or Medical Home Implementation CME Series page.

AAP Future of Pediatrics Conference
July 29-31—Chicago, IL
With the overall goal of improving child and adolescent health, the AAP Future of Pediatrics conference blends cutting-edge updates on clinical and practice management topics, with strategies for advancing medical homes and building partnerships within communities. Learners will apply principles of team-based care, change management, and co-management between pediatric specialists and primary care, to achieve a goal of improving the health of all children. A variety of educational formats will be utilized, including interactive, roundtable, and networking sessions, to provide learners with opportunities to develop innovative, enduring partnerships and transform their practices.

Mental Health Preconference: Embracing Mental Health Care: Lessons Learned for Success
July 28 from 10am to 5:15pm
Plan to arrive early and participate in this opportunity designed to empower pediatricians with innovative best practice models for addressing mental health concerns and practical tools for clinical care.  Advance registration is required and space is limited.  A limited number of travel stipends are available.  For more information, visit www.aap.org/mentalhealth.

This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

This preconference is supported by the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch (CAFB), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The content of this preconference does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or policies of CAFB, CMHS, SAMHSA or the Department of Health and Human Services.

NASHP 24th Annual State Health Policy Conference
October 3-5—Kansas City, MO
The National Academy for State Health Policy will be hosting their annual state health policy conference in fall 2011. For additional information, visit the NASHP Web site.

2011 Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Conference
November 6-9—Crystal City, VA
2011 marks the 40th anniversary of AUCD. The conference boasts the theme The Journey Continues—40 Years Advancing Equity and Excellence through Research, Education and Service. The 2011 AUCD Conference provides an opportunity to celebrate the great strengths and capacity of our network, and to share those strategies in research, education, and service that continue the journey towards equity and excellence.

17th Annual MCH Epidemiology Conference
December 14-16—New Orleans, LA
The Annual Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (MCH EPI) Conference attracts over 500 national and international MCH professionals working on issues related to improving the health of women, children, and families. This forum provides attendees the opportunity to present research findings, share experiences, enhance knowledge, and discuss emerging MCH topics. The results are improved MCH research activities in the field, data use, networking, increased mentoring opportunities, and informed policymaking.

For a full listing of Upcoming Conferences and Webinars, click here

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Resources Available at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Information Center

• HRSA in Your State Online Feature
  HRSA has launched a new HRSA in Your State interactive Web site that provides up-to-the-minute, localized information on HRSA funded programs. The online feature offers the ability to drill-down to the county level and provides state-specific information about awarded grants, health centers, National Health Service Corps members serving in your community, and the number of participating providers through the 340B program.
• Child Health USA 2010
  This report is the 17th edition of the annual statistical report that highlights the health status and service needs of America's children. It provides data to child health practitioners to assist them in planning, developing, and implementing effective programs to meet public health challenges related specifically to children. The report contains easy-to-access graphs and charts summarizing significant indicators of children's health status, statistics, figures, and references.
• America's Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2010
  This report, a summary version of the America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being report to be published in 2011, provides an easily accessible compilation of selected well-being indicators drawn from the most reliable official statistics produced by 22 federal government agencies. It organizes background measures and well-being indicators into seven sections: family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health.

NIH Launches Web Resource on Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health have launched a new online resource, designed to give health care providers easy access to evidence-based information on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). With this new resource, providers will have the tools necessary to learn about the various CAM practices and products and be better able to discuss the safety and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine with their patients. The portal on the NCCAM Web site is tailored to fit the needs of all health care providers, including physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and CAM providers. It includes information on the safety and efficacy of a range of common health practices that lie outside of mainstream medicine—natural products, such as dietary supplements, herbs, and probiotics, as well as mind-body practices such as meditation, chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage.

New CDC Study-Maternal Smoking and Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital heart defects are conditions present at birth that can affect the way the heart works. They can cause lifelong disability or death. They are the most common type of birth defect, affecting nearly 40,000 births in the United States each year. They are also a leading cause of infant death. Pediatrics has published a new article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) titled Maternal Smoking and Congenital Heart Defects in the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study. For this study, researchers used data from the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study (BWIS) to see if maternal cigarette smoking during the first trimester increased the risk of a baby being born with a congenital heart defect. To learn more about birth defects, please visit the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Web site. To learn more about smoking during pregnancy, please visit the CDC Web site—Pregnant? Don't Smoke!

Spotlight on State Initiatives—Indiana University Podcasts
The Courier-Journal reports that the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis began a monthly, 30-minute podcast called Kids Healthcast that offers information on pediatric health issues, such as childhood obesity, to families. Project supervisor Dr Deanna R Reinoso said that the podcasts are designed to provide general health information and that parents should still consult pediatricians for specific health concerns.

For additional information on National Initiatives, click here

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CHADD National Resource Center Chat Series
The National Resource Center, a project of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), hosts monthly chats which provide the opportunity to ask questions of leading experts on ADHD.  The next chat on When Traditional College is Not the Answer: Other Avenues for Young Adults will be Thursday, May 26th (3:30 to 5pm EST) with Arlyn Roffman, PhD. The transcript for the recent chat, Parenting When the Parent has ADHD with Patricia Quinn, MD is available now, along with transcripts from all previous chats. For information on future chats, see the chat schedule.

New Birth Defects Web site from the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched a new Birth Defects Web site. The new Web site is research-based and provides user-friendly, up-to-date, and appealing information. Some of the new features of the site include:

• Easy-to-read information on prevention, causes and risk factors, and diagnosis.
• Information about specific birth defects.
• A compilation of important data and scientific publications.
• Individualized pages for different visitors—families, health professionals, and researchers.
• A video about the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) and podcasts on several important birth defects topics.
• An overview of the work CDC is doing in the area of birth defects.
• A box on the homepage dedicated to data and statistics. The box is "syndicated," which means users can put it on their Web sites, and whenever the CDC updates it with new data, it will automatically be updated on other’s sites as well.

AHRQ Video Series Profiles Innovators Making a Difference by Providing Patient-Centered Care
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Health Care Innovations Exchange has released a video series, Frontline Innovators on Changing Care, Improving Health, featuring stories about the value of implementing innovations to improve patient-centered care. The featured innovations include a program that reduces school absences and unnecessary emergency department for inner city children using telemedicine, and an initiative to train members of predominantly African American churches to provide health screenings and education to improve the lives and health status of their fellow congregants. 

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Spotlight on the National Partnership for Women and Families
Founded as the Women’s Legal Defense Fund (WLDF), the National Partnership for Women and Families has been taking action since 1971 to change the world in ways that make life better for women and families, such as writing the historical Family & Medical Leave Act in 1985. Today, the National Partnership continues its advocacy and provision of technical assistance on issues related to health care, work and family, workplace fairness, Supreme Court cases and reproductive health. The National Partnership strongly supports the patient-centered medical home model and offers downloadable tools and resources for patients and consumer advocates. To learn more and sign up for e-mail updates, visit the National Partnership for Women and Families Web site.

New from the NCMHI—Child Health Issues and Medical Home
As specific new child health topics emerge at the forefront of national discussion, it is important to understand them through the medical home model. The Child Health Issues and Medical Home page of the NCMHI Web site houses timely information and resources related to those prevalent child health issues within the medical home framework. The NCMHI has developed two new articles on Disaster Preparedness and Child Care Programs that are now available on this Web page.

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