Public health institutes (PHIs) are nonprofit organizations that work to improve the public’s health by fostering innovation, leveraging resources, and building partnerships across sectors. PHIs address current and emerging health issues by providing expertise in areas such as: Fiscal/Administrative Management; Population-Based Health Program Delivery; Health Policy Development, Implementation, and Evaluation; Training and Technical Assistance; Research and Evaluation; Health Information Services; Health Communications and Social Marketing and Convening/Partnering.

In August 2011, National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) embarked on a new set of projects that are designed to amplify PHI’s roles and impact on public health performance, policy, and evidence, as well as strengthen NNPHI’s own infrastructure and partnerships. This Call for Proposals seeks to enhance the performance of the public health system by supporting additional states with finding ways to use the PHI model to help address their pressing health challenges. This project will fund up to two states to advance efforts to establish a PHI that meets NNPHI’s definition, with an ultimate goal of improving these states’ public health systems.

Important dates:

• May 30, 2012 (1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT): Dialogue4Health Webinar, “What can a Public Health Institute do for my Public Health Department?” More information at: http://ow.ly/aKljD
• June 6, 2012: Letters of intent due
• June 25, 2012: Deadline for full receipt of proposals
• Late July 2012: Project recipients announced

For complete information, see: http://ow.ly/aKklj

County Health Rankings 2012 was released on April 3, 2012. The County Health Rankings measures the health of nearly all counties in the nation and ranks them within states. The Rankings are compiled using county-level measures from a variety of national and state data sources. These measures are standardized and combined using scientifically-informed weights.

This year’s edition includes the addition of the County Health Roadmaps to show what can be done to create healthier places to live, learn, work, and play.

The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program is intended to help communities create solutions that make it easier for people to be healthy in their own communities, focusing on specific factors that we know affect health, such as education and income.  The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation collaborates with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute to provide this program to cities, counties and states across the nation.

Visit the website and see how your county ranks: http://www.countyhealthrankings.org.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) solicits resource grant applications for projects that will bring useful, usable health information to health disparity populations and the health care providers who care for those populations. Proposed projects should exploit the capabilities of computer and information technology and health sciences libraries to bring health-related information to consumers and their health care providers. Preference will be given to applications that show strong involvement of health science libraries.

Because this FOA (Funding Opportunity Announcement) focuses on providing health information to health disparity populations, institutions with demonstrated commitment to the needs of health disparity communities (including Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) and other institutions in rural and socially disadvantaged areas) are encouraged to apply.

Letter of Intent Due: April 22, 2012

Application Due Date: May 22, 2012 by 5:00 p.m. local time of applicant or organization.

Complete information may be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-LM-12-001.html.

Since 1995, when the first full week of April was declared National Public Health Week (NPHW), communities across the United States have observed NPHW as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving the public’s health. This year’s theme, “A Healthier America Begins Today. Join the Movement!” will address the issue of prevention and wellnes to ensure that all is being done to ensure our nation’s health.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) serves as the organizer of NPHW and develops a national campaign to educate the public, policymakers and practitioners about issues related to that year’s theme. APHA creates comprehensive planning, organizing and outreach materials that can be used during and after the week to raise awareness.

But APHA cannot do it alone. The success of National Public Health Week lies with each and every organization and individual who takes up the cause of public health and seeks to improve health in their communities.

For more information on National Public Health Week, including ideas for planning and promotion, see: http://www.nphw.org. The NPHW toolkit includes fact sheets, outreach materials, suggested community events, and more.

Cheryl Rowan, the NN/LM SCR Public Health Coordinator, has been named a “Mover and Shaker” in the library industry by the national publication, Library Journal.

In its March 15, 2012 issue, Library Journal named 53 outstanding professionals committed to providing excellent service to meet the needs of the people they serve.  Cheryl  was selected because of  her commitment to the profession and to the public health workforce.  “Being recognized as a ‘Mover & Shaker’ indicates that, as a professional, one has the passion, dedication and desire to serve the public,” said Francine Fialkoff, Library Journal Editor-in-Chief.

The 2012 Movers & Shakers were selected by the editors of Library Journal, the profession’s leading trade magazine. Each of the Movers & Shakers will be prominently featured in the March 15th issue of Library Journal and celebrated at a special luncheon in June during the American Library Association’s annual conference in Anaheim, CA.

Read more about Cheryl’s accomplishments in her Library Journal profile.

The Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) recently launched a new web page titled “Disaster Apps and Mobile Optimized Web Page”: http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/disasterapps.html .

This page includes links to various mobile tools and apps that have been selected based upon utility in a disaster or emergency context and which adhere to the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) Selection Guidelines for non-NLM resources. The page is organized into three sections based on the type of information provided by the app or web site:

1.  Disaster Medicine Tools – tools which provide medical or health information that might be useful in preparing for, responding to, or recovering from a disaster or emergency.
2. Disaster Resources: tools that provide information on resources that may be needed in a disaster (i.e., missing person connections, shelters, safety information).
3. Hazardous Events: tools providing information on large scale events, including weather events, that might be followed before or during a disaster.

Although NLM cannot link directly to other interesting and potentially useful apps that were developed by individuals and other organizations that do not fall within the NLM Selection Guide, if another library or organization created an external web page containing links to such apps, NLM could link to this summary page. Additionally, more suggestions for tools and apps are welcome.

The Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) was established in 2010 to coordinate adolescent health promotion and disease prevention programs and initiatives across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The OAH website http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/ includes information on adolescent health from organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Office on Women’s Health.

The website provides statistics and evidence-based information and resources about adolescent health for the public and for health professionals.  Five health topics are highlighted on this website:

• Reproductive Health
• Mental Health
• Physical Health & Nutrition
• Substance Abuse
• Healthy Relationships

Each health topic has statistical information organized by state.  For example, this map is found under Healthy Relationships:

On choosing a state, statistics on a variety of measures of adolescent relationships can be found, including bullying, violence in schools, sexual relationships, and supportive neighborhoods.

Additional information can be found on the site, including specific information on each health topic and helpful tips for parents when talking to their adolescent children.

The Government of the Philippines is leading a major emergency rescue, evacuation and response operation in southern Philippines following the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Washi, known locally as Sendong.

Read the initial Report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (covering the period of December 16 – 18, 2011):
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/fullreport_171.pdf

Several resources are available from the National Library of Medicine Disaster Information Management Resource Center about the health impacts of flooding, including disease risks and worker and responder safety information:
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/floods.html .

The National Library of Medicine has also activated a People Locator: https://pl.nlm.nih.gov/sendong .

Google has created a Person Finder, available in English and Filipino:

Person Finder, English: http://www.google.org/personfinder/sendong?lang=en
Person Finder, Filipino: http://www.google.org/personfinder/sendong?lang=fil

[Photo credit: washingtonpost.com]

The NN/LM SCR is pleased to announce the recipient of the Year 1 Mobile Applications Project (MAP) Award.

The purpose of the MAP award is to provide an opportunity for Network members to provide access to health information utilizing mobile technologies.

Yan Hong, Ph.D.
School of Rural Public Health, Texas A & M Health Science Center, College Station, TX
Project: Disseminate ICANFIT A mobile application to promote physical activity and access to health

Description: This project will be built upon an ongoing effort to develop ICANFIT, a web and mobile application designed specifically for seniors with the following features: 1) the ability to search local physical activity resources with preset personal preferences, 2) individual goal-setting and physical activity progress tracking, 3) offering social support through virtual networking, 4) sending senior-friendly regular (daily/weekly) healthy tips, and 5) providing easy access to health information. The goal of the project is to disseminate ICANFIT to seniors in rural central Texas.

For a full list of funded projects from the NN/LM SCR please visit: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/scrfunded.html

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Hong and the School of Rural Public Health, Texas A & M Health Science Center!

World AIDS Day on December 1 brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic. The day is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in high prevalence countries and around the world.

In advance of World AIDS Day 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke about her goal for an “AIDS Free Generation” – a goal which aligns with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Visit PEPFAR [http://www.pepfar.gov ] to view the November 8 speech.

AIDSinfo joins people and organizations worldwide in observing World AIDS Day. In keeping with this year’s theme—Leading with Science, Uniting for Action—AIDSinfo is pleased to release the redesigned AIDSinfo and infoSIDA (Spanish version) Web sites. These sites (services of the US Department of Health and Human Services and managed by the National Library of Medicine) offer federally-approved information on HIV research and treatment, including medical practice guidelines and treatment and prevention research studies, to health care providers, researchers, people affected by HIV/AIDS, and the general public.

Looking for more ways  take action around World AIDS Day? Here are a few simple, powerful, and engaging ways:

• Join the Facing AIDS Initiative: http://facing.aids.gov/
• Locate HIV Testing and Other HIV Services: http://aids.gov/locator/
• Posters and Tools: http://1.usa.gov/eibPZG
• Tweet Official hashtag #WAD2011