What's New

Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems

The U.S. Department of Education is accepted applications for its Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems. The purpose of this program is to increase student access to high quality mental health care through innovative approaches linking school systems with the local mental health system. Approximately 18 grants ranging from $150,000 to $350,000 will be made to state education agencies, local education agencies, and Indian tribes. To learn more, go to http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/
pdf/07-1465.pdf

Safe Schools-Healthy Students Program

The U.S. Department of Education anticipates making 20 grants this summer under its Safe Schools-Healthy Students program. The purpose of this program is to create safe and drug-free schools and to promote healthy development of children. The provision of prevention, early intervention and treatment of mental health problems may be addressed within this grant program. An announcement about the upcoming grant competition is be published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2007 with proposals due on June 11, 2007.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpsafeschools/index.html

Asthma Awareness Month May is Asthma Awareness Month.

You can find resources and materials about asthma-the leading cause of lost school days-at http://www.epa.gov/asthma/awm.html. The National Institutes of Health are expected to issue new guidelines for doctors this summer that encourage day-to-day management of the disease, rather than waiting for a bad attack. Find out more at http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/7228/538336.html.

Food for Thought: Television Food Advertising for Children

is a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Described as the largest study ever conducted of food-related television commercials targeted to children and adolescents, the study found that the products most frequently advertised to kids were candy (34%), cereal (29%), beverages (10%) and fast food (10%). There was nary a fruit nor vegetable in the mix.
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia032807pkg.cfm

National Healthy Schools Day

April 30-May 4, 2007 is School Building Week. National Healthy Schools Day, designed to promote healthy school buildings, is celebrated on April 30 as part of School Building Week. National Healthy Schools Day is a good opportunity to call attention to issues around your school building that need improvement or to promote facilities that encourage healthy living. Check out Healthy Schools for ideas on how to celebrate this health observance.
http://www.healthyschools.org/CHS-_NHS-Day_slides.pdf