News and Events Postings

March 26, 2008

Doctor of the Day! [more]

Psychiatry Disorders in Pregnant and Postpartum Women: May 16 [more]

 AAP's Promoting the Value of Pediatrics Campaign

From: Gina Steiner, Director, Division of Public Information, AAP

As noted in recent editions of Chapter Connections, AAP News and AAP News OnCall, the AAP is undertaking a public relations campaign enlisting members in promoting the value of pediatric care.

Messages about the importance of preventive care, as well as information about the value of choosing a pediatric specialist for children’s health care, need to be heard by the public, by payers, and by others who play a role in children’s health care.

I am writing to ask for your active participation in this campaign at the community level.

Campaign materials, including ready-to-use articles, sample letters to the editor, and speaking points are located on the Member Center of the AAP Web site, in the Private Payer Advocacy area at http://www.aap.org/moc/ppa/promotingpeds.htm (Or just log on to the Member Center and go to “What’s New.”)

To participate, please choose at least one activity; for example, submitting a letter or Op Ed piece to your local newspaper. (AAP Communications staff can help you to find newspaper editorial contacts in your area.) In addition, please look at the “Action Item” at the bottom of the campaign’s home page, and, if possible, contact us with your anecdotes.

The materials on this site, as well as the action items, will be updated periodically to keep the campaign dynamic. We ask that you return to the site occasionally to see what is new.

Once you have seen results of your efforts, we would be interested in hearing (and sharing) your success story with other AAP members who are participating in the campaign.

Please feel free to call me at 847-434-7945 with any questions you may have regarding this request, or to get assistance in participating.

Thank you in advance for your help!

  Doctor of the Day!

The Legislative Session isn't over yet! Sign-up to be a Doctor of the Day! Click here for more information.

Eating Disorders Learning Collaborative--11 response teams available!

Eleven Maine communities now have in place teams trained to provide coordinated health care treatment for those with eating disorders. Teams consisting of at least one medical practitioner, therapist, and registered dietitian are in Augusta, Belfast, Blue Hill, Calais, Camden, Farmington, Lewiston, South Portland, and Waterville, and at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, and the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.

Click here for more information.

Knowledge Path: Oral Health and Pregnant Women, Infants, Children, and
Adolescents

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center, in partnership with the MCH Library, has updated the oral health knowledge path.

This electronic resource guide points to resources that analyze data, describe programs, and report on policy and research aimed at improving access to and the quality of oral health care. Separate sections identify resources on specific aspects of oral health including child care and Head Start, dental sealants, early childhood caries, fluoride varnish, K-12 education, pregnancy, and school-based care. A separate
section lists oral health resources for consumers.

Visit the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center online at http://www.mchoralhealth.org.

Visit the MCH Library online at http://www.mchlibrary.info

 AAP Looking for Parent Spokespersons on Vaccines and Autism

As part of our ongoing response to media stories regarding autism and vaccines, the AAP communications department is compiling a list of parents who support the AAP and are available for interviews. We are looking for two types of parents who could serve as spokespersons:

1) Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders who support immunization and who do not believe there is any link between their child’s vaccines and his or her autism.

2)Parents of children who suffered a vaccine-preventable illness. This could be a parent who declined immunization, whose child became ill before a vaccine was available, or whose child was ineligible for immunization.

We are asking for your help identifying parents who would be good spokespersons. They do not need to be expert public speakers. They just need to be open with their story and interested in speaking out on the issue. We will contact candidates in advance to conduct pre-interviews, to offer guidance on talking to reporters and to obtain a signed waiver giving us permission to release their name. If a parent were placed on our list, we would offer their name and contact information to select media. We hope to build a list of parents from a wide range of geographical areas.

As the Jenny McCarthy and “Eli Stone” stories illustrate, this issue is likely to recur in the national and local media. The AAP is committed to doing all we can to counter such erroneous reports with factual information supported by scientific evidence and AAP recommendations. The anti-vaccine groups often have emotional family stories on their side. The ability to offer a reporter an interview with a similarly compelling parent who is sympathetic to the AAP’s goals is a powerful tool for our media relations program.

Please contact me if you have any questions or to suggest a parent to interview.

Thank you,
Susan Stevens Martin
Director, Division of Media Relations
American Academy of Pediatrics
ssmartin@aap.org
847.434.7131

 HIB Schedule Change Information

Please see the links below for a memo from the Maine Immunization Program and the CDC's MMWR regarding the changes to the HIB Schedule

MIP Memo
MMWR

 AAP COCP Funding Opportunity for Community Pediatrics Mentorship

February 29, 2008

To: AAP Chapter Presidents
AAP Chapter Vice Presidents
AAP Chapter Executive Directors

From: Regina Shaefer, MPH
Manager, Council on Community Pediatrics

cc: Betsey Siska, Manager, Chapter Relations
Jean Davis, Director, Division of Community-based Initiatives

re: AAP COCP Funding Opportunity for Mentorship Activities

The Council on Community Pediatrics (COCP) is pleased to announce that we are issuing a special call for applications for Mentorship and Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) grants to COCP members. Eight MTAP grants will be awarded for obesity programs (3 funded by the COCP, 5 funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with a preference given to those that are working with minority health and underserved populations). An additional 3 grants funded by the COCP will be awarded to resident members of the COCP.

The MTAP grant program provides up to $2,000 to COCP members to improve their community pediatrics skills and/or develop innovative programs within their community. The MTAP allows financial support for members to bring an expert to the community, serve as mentors to colleagues in rural and isolated areas, and visit model academic, clinical, or community sites. Past MTAP grants include:
Overcoming Barriers and Challenges to Providing Medical Homes for Foster Children in the Community
Developing a Research and Program Evaluation Agenda to Measure Access to and Quality of Health Care for Underserved Populations
Parenting Education for Parents of Day Care Children
Collaboration in the Community: Child Care and Pediatric Residency Education
Early Childhood Advocacy: Partnering with Parents and Child Care Providers
FOCUS: Foster Care United Services
Scott County School Health Initiative
Initiative to Enhance Pediatrics Residents' Involvement in the Health Needs of Inner City Children
Kimball House School Based Center
***The deadline for applications is 5:00pm CT Monday, March 31, 2008****

Obesity Grants: The goal is to improve community pediatrics skills to provide better ways to addressing obesity and/or develop innovative community programs with an obesity focus. Eligible activities include bringing an expert into the community or visiting model academic, clinical, or community sites. Projects should be completed within one year of receiving the approval.

Resident Grants: The goal is to assist resident members of the COCP improve their community pediatrics skills in order to provide better community pediatrics care or develop innovative programs by bringing an expert into the community or visiting model academic, clinical, or community sites. Projects need to be completed within one year of funding.

To apply for funding please see the attached call for proposals and funding application. Please note that applications for the obesity or resident grants will only be considered using the attached application and process. Recipients of MTAP grants are required to be COCP members. To join the COCP, please visit www.aap.org/sections/socp for more information

If you have any questions about the COCP, the MTAP program, or these calls for proposals, please contact Regina Shaefer, Manager of the Council on Community Pediatrics.

Have a great day,

Regina

Regina M. Shaefer, MPH
Manager, Council on Community Pediatrics
Division of Community-Based Initiatives
Department of Chapter and State Affairs
American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: 847-434-4787
800-433-9016 x4787
Fax: 847-434-8000
E-mail: rshaefer@aap.org

Obesity Application
Obesity Call

Resident Application
Resident Call

 Midwifery Licensing Bill Update

After a 7 to 6 vote in the BRED committee, the Midwifery Licensing Bill will be going to a full floor vote where all 186 legislators will vote. Every grassroots contact is going to be important to defeat this bill. The floor votes will begin early during the week of March 31.

Download the flyer from MMA updating members on the lay midwifery issue and containing the latest set of talking points.

Sixth Annual Perinatal Conference, Contemporary Issues in Safe Patient & Family-Centered Care: Perinatal Mood/Anxiety Disorders: May 1

This conference is sponsored by Maine Medical Center and will be held on May 1 at the Abromson Center in Portland. Click here for the brochure.

Child Psychiatry Conference for the Primary Care Clinician: June 5-6

Child Psychiatry Conference for the Primary Care Clinician
June 5-6, 2008
Wyndham Airport Hotel, South Portland

For more information or to register: Phone: 802-656-2292
On Line: http://cme.uvm.edu

Click here for brochure.

  Medical Evaluation of Sexual Abuse: April 17-18 OR July 17-18

The Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Child Protection Center will offer two basic and one advanced course on the medical evaluation of suspected sexual abuse victims in 2008. These two-day trainings are for licensed physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants only. Courses will be held on the following dates: February 28-29, April 17-18, and July 17-18.

Participants from 15 states came to this training in 2007. Here are some of their comments:
"This was phenomenal! The course director combined expertise with extremely effective teaching skills and put in passion and positive attitude to make for a perfect experience."
"This is the best sexual abuse program I have attended. I will definitely recommend this program to other health care professionals."

For more information visit www.choa.org/cme. To download a brochure or registration form, click here.

  Psychiatry Disorders in Pregnant and Postpartum Women: May 16

Maine Association of Psychiatry Physicians' 2008 Psychiatry Update

CLINICAL TRACK: Psychiatric Disorders in Pregnant & Postpartum Women

PSYCHOTHERAPY TRACK: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

May 16, 2008, Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport, ME

Click here for brochure.

This is a bi-monthly posting of relevant pediatric news and events, including CMEs.  If you have news or events you would like added to the next posting, please email Aubrie at agridleyentwood@aap.net.