Academy of General Dentistry Foundation Grant Program
Application deadline: Oct 31, 2011
Supports general dentists and dental personnel in their efforts to improve oral health and oral health literacy, especially among those members of our most underserved and vulnerable populations, through access to care projects.

Share What Works: NACCHO’s Model Practices Awards Program and Database
Application deadline: Nov 11, 2011
NACCHO is soliciting model and promising practices used by local public health agencies (LPHAs) to facilitate effective and innovative public health practice. Winners receive paid registration to the NACCHO Annual 2012 in Los Angeles, CA and up to two-nights hotel stay.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Grant Program
Application deadline: Nov 13, 2011
Grants focus on sustainable, replicable projects that include a train-the-trainer component in their pursuit of addressing the most pressing issues relating to children’s health and well being.

CMMI – Innovation Advisors Program
Application deadline: Nov 15, 2011
Support from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Center for individuals who can test and refine new models to drive delivery system reform.

Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Award Program
Application deadline: Nov 28, 2011
Awards to outstanding and otherwise unrecognized individuals who overcome daunting odds to improve health and health care, especially to underserved populations in communities across the United States.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing (Round 5)
Application deadline: Jan 11, 2012
A scholarship program to help alleviate the nursing shortage and increase the diversity of nursing professionals.

http://bit.ly/ueuag5 [Rural Assistance Center]

The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Office of Diversion Control  has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. to provide a venue for persons who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

Check the website to find a collection site near you. http://1.usa.gov/emZVTu [DEA]

Could taking vitamin and mineral supplements do more harm than good? http://1.usa.gov/nWvDW7
Vitamin and mineral supplements are popular in the United States. In fact, more than half of U.S. adults now take them on a daily basis. But experts are still trying to figure out if they are truly valuable to your health. [MedlinePlus]

Nutrition Facts labels have been used for decades on many food products. Are these labels read in detail by consumers when making purchases? Do people read only certain portions of the labels? According to a new study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, consumers’ self-reported viewing of Nutrition Facts label components was higher than objectively measured viewing using an eye-tracking device. Researchers also determined that centrally located Nutrition Facts labels are viewed more frequently and for longer than those located peripherally.

“The results of this study suggest that consumers have a finite attention span for Nutrition Facts labels: although most consumers did view labels, very few consumers viewed every component on any label,” according to investigators Dan J. Graham, PhD, and Robert W. Jeffrey, PhD, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. http://bit.ly/vDcEWE [American Dietetic Association]

New Teen Alcohol Risk Screening Guide From NIAAA

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has just released a guide for health care professionals to help identify children and teenagers age 9 to 18 who are at risk for alcohol-related problems, provide brief counseling, and refer them to treatment resources if that is indicated.

The evidence-based guide, “Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner’s Guide,” includes a two-question risk assessment as well as links to resources for motivational interviewing. NIAAA developed the guide and supporting pocket guide in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/YouthGuide [SAMHSA]

Soft Drinks Linked to Violent Tendencies in Teens: Study

Teens who drink lots of soda seem to be prone to violence, new research suggests.

But the study authors concede that sodas are probably not the direct cause of the aggression.

While there’s a chance that the sugar and caffeine from carbonated drinks contributes to violent behavior, the study shows an association, not a cause-and-effect. Soda consumption, for example, may be a marker of heightened violent tendencies already present in the teen, or of poor parenting, the researchers said.

“Soda [could be] a red flag that is indicating something else is wrong,” said study co-author Sara Solnick, an associate professor of economics at the University of Vermont in Burlington.

The study is published in the Oct. 24 online issue of Injury Prevention. http://1.usa.gov/ry4qsX [MedlinePlus]

The National Medicare Training Program is pleased to announce the Medicare training webinar schedule. The next session will take place on November 1 and 2, 2011.

These training sessions provide current, accurate, consistent Medicare information and materials for people who are new to Medicare and those people wanting a refresher. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is authorized by The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to offer 0.4 Continuing Education Units (CEU) for this program.

More information can be found at:http://ow.ly/79vfi . Follow the link  http://ow.ly/79teU to register for the November 1 and 2 session. [Note: The pre-assessment must be completed prior to the start of the webinar.] [From Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]

The Kaiser Family Foundation is accepting applications for the 2012 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program. This intensive summer program provides college students with an opportunity to work on policy issues in a congressional office and to engage in health policy research and analysis under the guidance of Foundation research staff. The application deadline is Friday, December 16, 2011.

See http://bjordanscholars.kff.org/ for more information. [Kaiser Family Foundation New & Noteworthy]

Did you know that reptiles and amphibians like turtles, lizards, and frogs can carry a harmful germ called Salmonella? If there are young children in your home, reptiles and amphibians might not be safe pets for your family.

Learn more at http://ow.ly/78JJ1 . [CDC Current Features]

The Office of Adolescent Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new information-rich website on adolescent health issues, including physical, mental and reproductive health, substance abuse and healthy relationships.

Check it out at  http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah .

CDC has a fun new way of teaching the importance of emergency preparedness. The newly released graphic novel, “Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic” demonstrates the importance of being prepared in an entertaining way that people of all ages will enjoy. Readers follow Todd, Julie, and their dog Max as a strange new disease begins spreading, turning ordinary people into zombies.

See http://ow.ly/77fZA  for more information. [CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response]