The U.S. Department of Education has published its intentions to invite a new round of applications for the Investing in Innovation grants. This year's announcement includes priorities for projects that improve school climate and reduce discipline disparities, and for those that influence the development of non-cognitive skills. Child Trends has expertise in these areas (see our work on soft skills, school discipline, and school climate), and in conducting program and school-based evaluations. We're interested in partnering with organizations applying to the I3 grant under either of these priorities. Contact Child Trends' education program area director, Deborah Temkin, at dtemkin@childtrends.org for more information.

The 2016 Rural Health at the Crossroads: Building Bridges to Care conference is currently accepting abstracts for poster presentations. Posters may focus on original descriptive or analytic studies or explore policy issues in rural and community health. Poster presentations must reflect at least one of the following conference tracks: telehealth; community health workers. Click here for more information.

Call for Nominations
Deadline: May 15, 2016
Influencing Social Policy announces the creation of the "Research on Teaching Effectiveness in Policy" Award, aimed at recognizing outstanding social work research on the scholarship of teaching and learning in the social work policy sequence. Click here for more information.

Special Issue of Journal of Gerontological Social Work - Communities and Neighborhoods
Deadline: May 31, 2016
This section will focus on understanding the role that communities, neighborhoods and regions play in supporting positive outcomes for older adults. Click here for more information.

Abstracts are invited for poster and oral presentations related to all health issues affecting the African Diaspora, especially as they are influenced by their culture, integration processes and challenges. Researchers, clinicians, graduate students, legislators, academics, policy makers, community service organizations and community members are especially encouraged to submit abstracts, and participate in the conference. Click here for more information.

HHS - New Medicaid Guidance Improves Access to Health Care for Justice-Involved Americans Reentering their Communities
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) strengthened access to health care for individuals transitioning from incarceration back to their communities. New Medicaid guidance released today updates decades-old policy and clarifies that individuals who are currently on probation, parole or in home confinement are not considered inmates of a public institution. It also extends coverage to Medicaid-eligible individuals living in community halfway houses where they have freedom of movement, improving access to care for as many as 96,000 individuals in Medicaid expansion states over the course of the year. Click here for more information.

HHS Press Release - HHS Awards $5 Million to Puerto Rico Health Centers to Fight the Spread of Zika Virus
HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced $5 million in funding to 20 health centers in Puerto Rico to further combat the Zika virus disease. Health centers will use this funding to expand voluntary family planning services, including contraceptive services, outreach and education, and to hire more staff. Click here for more information.