August 2011
     
NACCHO MCAH Newsletter
News, Resources, Updates and Events for Local Health Departments
In This Issue
Speak Up: What You Need to Know About Breastfeeding
Resources to Keep Teens Drug Free
The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction
Guide to Sodium Reduction in the School Environment
Webinar: Safe Places to Play and Be Active
RFA: Health Impact Assessment Mentorship Project
MCAH Toolkit
NACCHO Dispatch
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Speak Up: What You Need to Know About Breastfeeding
The Joint Commission's online library of resources features brochures and posters designed answer mothers' questions about breastfeeding before the birth of their child, and while in the hospital. Having information and support helps mothers continue to breastfeed when returning home.
Resources to Keep Teens Drug Free 

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) presents new resources to help parents, caregivers, and professionals protect teenagers from drug abuse. One of the new resources provides factual information about a variety of drugs, while the other focuses solely on prescription drugs. To learn more about these resources and download the files, visit the DEA's website.  

The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction

This brochure, from the National Institute of Mental Health, explores the development of the human brain during the teenage years. Changes to the brain that occur during this time frame may provide clues as to why some teens engage in risky behavior, which can have implications for health outcomes. Read more about the brochure.

Guide to Sodium Reduction in the School Environment 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a guide, Under Pressure: Sodium Reduction in the School Environment. This guide provides a list of strategies to reduce sodium consumption in the school setting, including promotion of healthy menu items through incentives, implementation of nutrition standards for school meals, and modification of the built environment.

Webinar: Safe Places to Play and Be Active
"Enhancing Physical Activity Environments Through Data and Walkability Assessments," the first of a three-part  webinar series sponsored by the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, will be held on Tuesday, August 23 at 1:30 PM ET. Participants will learn how advocates are transforming neighborhoods into safe and healthy communities by increasing access to parks and open space and investing in physical activity infrastructure.  
RFA: Health Impact Assessment Mentorship Project
The Health Impact Project and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) have announced a request for applications for local health departments to participate in a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Mentorship Project. Designed to support local health departments wishing to implement this important approach to building healthy communities, this program will match four agencies that are new to HIA with those that have experience in the field, giving them peer-to-peer assistance and technical support. More information, including eligibility requirements, the full Request for Applications and accompanying application form, is available on NACCHO's website. 
NACCHO's Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Toolkit
NACCHO's Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Toolkit offers downloadable tools and resources for local health departments. This toolkit aims to connect local health departments with publications, tools, and other resources related to maternal, child, and adolescent health.
NACCHO welcomes any tools or resources you would like to share with local health departments. To submit a tool to the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Toolkit, contact [email protected].

Conferences and Trainings  

For information on upcoming MCH-related conferences and trainings, visit NACCHO's event calendar.

Excerpts from NACCHO Public Health Dispatch

MCH- Related Tools and Resources

 

DispatchThis monthly newsletter is sent to all active NACCHO members and contains brief updates, events, resources, job postings, funding opportunities, member highlights, and other information of relevance to LHDs. For downloads of past issues and other NACCHO publications, visit http://www.naccho.org/publications/journals/.