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                 Friday Notes

Friday Notes is intended to share current information, resources and notices.

If you have information or announcements that you would like to have included in an upcoming issue, please forward them to MCMCH.

                      September 16, 2011
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In this issue
Governor Lays Out Health and Wellness Agenda
MCH Library Provides Updated School Health Resources

Governor's Health Address Lays out Aggressive Agenda

Governor Rick Snyder delivered his special message on the topic of health and wellness this week. The message included a variety of plans and themes intended to build a strong Michigan by promoting healthier lifestyles. Like the Governor's other initiatives, an online Michigan Health Dashboard was created to track the progress in these areas. You can read the full text of the address here. 

 

The message generated much reaction from various stakeholder groups. MCMCH Executive Director Amy Zaagman was quoted in Gongwer News Service after the address, on the topic of infant mortality.

 

"We continue to be grateful for Governor Snyder's focus on infant mortality in Michigan," Zaagman said. "If we plan to reduce our infant mortality rate, we must stop disinvesting in prevention efforts and acknowledge the huge racial disparities that exist. We must be willing as a state and as communities to invest the time, resources and energy into proven ways of supporting women with their preconception health, access to care and services that result in a healthy pregnancy and support families throughout the pregnancy, birth and first years of life."


The Governor's address identified 10 key health care issues facing the state and offered recommendations on how to improve performance in these areas. On infant mortality, he noted that Michigan's rate has increased over the past three years and discussed MDCH's upcoming summit on October 17. The governor has asked participants to develop practical and sustainable policy recommendations that will help lower infant mortality statewide.

 

"Infant mortality is a critical indicator of the overall health and welfare of Michigan and the quality and accessibility of prenatal care for women," Governor Snyder said. 

 

The governor also highlighted home visitation programs using the Nurse Family Partnership as an example.  He urged MDCH to capture our share of the $1.5 billion in federal funds available to states over the next five years for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (although theh state has already secured our first round of this funding).

 

Proving to be a controversial part of the address, Governor Snyder called for collection of body mass index data in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).  The important move was actually adopted into administrative rules on Monday.  Many other themes that have been central to the Healthy Kids Healthy Michigan agenda also got mentions in the address including school nutrition standards and additional farm-to-school fresh food efforts.  Falling short of calling for mandated health education and physical education in school, the Governor did say, "I will be encouraging the Michigan Department of Education to work with schools to facilitate participation in physical activity and health education throughout all grade levels."

 

Another controversial piece of the speech was the Governor's call for mandated insurance coverage for autism.  The usual opponents of insurance mandates including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Association of Michigan and others have been opposing the suggestion outright while others, including Partners for Parity are advocating to use this opportunity to end discrimination against all brain disorders. 

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MCH Library Releases School Resource Briefs 

The Maternal and Child Health Library has released a new set of resource briefs to help promote child and adolescent health in schools. The resource briefs point to key websites and materials for developing and evaluating school health programs and for educating students and their families, teachers, and school staff about important health topics ranging from asthma management to social and emotional development. School resource briefs are available on the MCH Library website, as follows:

Asthma Management
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
Diabetes
Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Challenges
Nutrition Education and School Meals
Oral Health
Overweight and Obesity
Physical Activity and Physical EducationSchool-Based and School-Linked Health Care
School Violence Prevention
Sexuality Education
Social and Emotional Development

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Contributors to this Issue
AHIP HI-Wire
Gongwer News Service
Wiener Associates
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Quick Links . . .

 

Tomorrow's Child 2011 Baby Walks 

Register now for one of Tomorrow's Child's 2011 Baby Walks. These are fun community events with entertainment, children's games, refreshments and awards. Enjoy a day at the park and walk with others to raise funds to keep our Michigan babies safe and alive. Tomorrow's Child provides grief support for families and anyone affected by an infant death, as well as coordinating and training grief providers; conducts educational and outreach support to families, parents, caregivers, and health organizations; and provide ongoing research and support throughout Michigan.  

Click here for details on each walk and to register.

2011 Baby Walks:

September 17, Dodge Park in Sterling Heights

September 18, Nankin Mills Pavilion in Hines Park in Westland

September 25, Celery Flats Interpretive Center in Portage

October 2, Hawk Island County Park in Lansing

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Community Conversations on Healthcare 

A series of six community conversations will be held throughout the state to respond to Governor Rick Snyder's initiatives on health care and discuss how healthcare reform will be implemented in Michigan. The community conversations are cosponsored by the Michigan Consumers for Healthcare and Detroit Public Television
Dates and locations:
September 21, 7-9pm at the Peoples United Methodist Church, 19370 Greenfield Road, Detroit
September 22, 7-9pm at Jewish Family Services, 6555 West Maple, West Bloomfield
September 28, 7-9pm at the Dominican Center at Marywood, 2025 Fulton Street East, Grand Rapids
October 4, 7pm-9pm at the Peter White Public Library, 217 North Front Street, Marquette
October 5, 7pm-9pm on the Northwest Michigan campus in the Great Lakes Campus Room C, 1701 North Front Street, Traverse City
October 17, 7-9pm, at the Isabella County Commission on Aging, 220 South Lincoln Road, Mt. Pleasant

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Michigan Bullying Prevention Summit: September 30 

Michigan's Children; along with 25 local, regional, and state level organizations; have partnered with the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association to form a coalition to address school safety.  The coalition is hosting the  

Michigan Bullying Prevention Summit on September 30, 2011. The Summit will feature nationally recognized speakers sharing what works in bullying prevention and will conclude with a town hall meeting aimed at identifying next steps.  All concerned citizens are encouraged to participate. For more information about bullying policies, read Michigan's Children's Issues publication Bullying and School Safety: Encouraging a Model Policy Through Comprehensive Legislation.
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Relatively Speaking 2011: October 7-9, Grand Rapids  

 The Relatively Speaking 2011 conference--an event for siblings and other family members of children with special needs--will be held October 7-9 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. Siblings age six through teens share their unique
concerns in fun, recreational groups led by specially trained adults. Family scholarships are available. Learn more here.          

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Tuuri Day Conference: October 19 

Mott Children's Health Center's 39th Annual Tuuri Day Conference will be held from 8am to 4pm on October 19 at the Holiday Inn Gateway Centre in Flint. The conference will examine the topic "The Pediatric Medical Home Model: A Systems Approach." Learn more and register here.  

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Register Online for PAM Conferences: October 19 and November 18
Online registration for the 19th Annual Parenting Awareness Michigan Conferences is now available:
http://www.preventionnetwork.org/parenting-awareness.aspx
The annual PAM Conferences--October 19 in Marquette and November 18 in East Lansing--are geared for professionals and volunteers who work with parents and families, parent leaders, and parents. You can register online, download and print a registration brochure, or contact us for a copy of the brochure. Attend one or both conferences.  

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The Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Healthblur image MCMCH is made up of
member organizations who share a commitment to the health of
Michigan's women, children and families.
To learn more go to http://www.mcmch.org or email info@mcmch.org.

             Amy Zaagman - Executive Director - azaagman@mcmch.org
     Jennifer Gorchow - Communications Manager - jgorchow@mcmch.org 
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