CDC - Partnership Matters Newsletter: July 25, 2008

A Message from the Editor

July 25, 2008

July is UV Safety Month. Not only can UV rays damage your skin, but they can also hurt or damage your eyes.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a part of sunlight that is an invisible form of radiation. UV rays can change the structure of skin cells. UV rays can still reach you on cloudy and hazy days as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays will also reflect off any surface like water, cement, sand, and snow. Thus, UV rays can cause skin damage regardless of the season or temperature. Approximately 65 to 90 percent of melanomas are caused by exposure to UV light or sunlight.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. In 2004, 50,039 people were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin. In that same year, 7,952 people died from melanomas of the skin. Melanomas are the third most common skin cancer but are more dangerous, particularly among young people.

It will soon be time for children to go back to school. With skin cancer on the rise, especially among young people, it is important to remember UV safety and skin protection in making preparations for the new school year. CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC) offers resources for sun safety at schools and suggestions that everyone can use. The division has also created partnerships within and outside of CDC to continue getting the message out about skin cancer.

DCPC and the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) are working together to implement school-based skin cancer prevention efforts in three states based on the Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer. Examples of activities include

Mini-grants to schools to install shade structures onto their playgrounds;
Development and distribution of sun safety lessons;
Integration of sun safety into state standard course of study for middle grades and aligning with science objectives;
Partnership with PTA; and
Development of a Web site with resources for schools, workplace, and home.

A CDC partner on the National Council For Skin Cancer Prevention, the EPA manages the SunWise Program, which is an environmental and health education program that aims to teach the public how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun through the use of classroom-, school-, and community-based components.

Another partner is NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCI has a comprehensive Web site, Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T., which provides links to cancer control resources for public health professionals. The mission of the program is to increase the adoption and adaption of evidence-based programs. Skin cancer prevention resources are included.
For more information on CDC’s work in preventing cancer, visit DCPC online.

In addition, be sure to stop by the CDC Partners' Web site and see what's new. As always, feel free to send any feedback, questions or concerns regarding CDC Partnership Matters or the Partners' Web site to CDC Partnerships.

Warm Regards,

Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

CDC Headlines

Chlamydia Breeds Serious Consequences
Chlamydia remains the most commonly reported infectious disease in the United States. In 2006, 1,030,911 Chlamydia diagnoses were reported, up from 976,445 in 2005. This is the highest number of cases of any notifiable disease ever reported in the United States. Even so, because this sexually transmitted disease (STD) is often asymptomatic, most cases go undiagnosed. CDC and the Partnership for Prevention recently launched the new National Chlamydia Coalition to address this issue. >> read the full text

Handwashing: Hand Hygiene Saves Lives
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness. CDC announces the availability of two new resources to promote hand hygiene. >> read the full text

CDC Joins EPA in WaterSense Campaign
CDC recently became the first federal agency to join the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense campaign. The campaigns mission is to protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services. >> read the full text

Events and Seminars

All events and seminars listed are open to CDC's partners. For more information, contact the POC listed. >> read the full text

June 2008
The Complexity of Emergencies: Responding Through Art
June 16 – September 12
Hosted by the Global Healthy Odyssey/National Center for Health Marketing, the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Coordinating Center for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response

August 2008

Second Annual Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media
August 12 – 14
Hosted by CDC’s National Center for Health Marketing and the Office of Enterprise Communication. Co-sponsors for the event include the National Cancer Institute and the National Public Health Information Coalition.

PHIN Conference 2008
August 24 – 28
Hosted by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and CDC's National Center for Public Health Informatics

Birth Defects Monitoring and Prevention in Georgia: Partners' Meeting
August 25
Hosted by CDC's Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program, the Georgia Birth Defects Reporting and Information System, March of Dimes, and the Cleft Palate Foundation

CDC Personnel

Retirements
Theresa J. Folsom, management analyst, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, NCHHSTP, will retire July 31.

Personnel Changes
Christine Branche, PhD, has been assigned as acting director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, effective July 15.

John Howard, MD, MPH, transitioned from role as director for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, effective July 14. Howard will serve as a short-term senior advisor to CDC Director Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH.

Deaths
Rosemary C. Bakes-Martin, health scientist, Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, NCHM, died July 8.

CDC History

July 20, 1990: The MMWR published the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials’ findings that 47 states had coalitions addressing the prevention and control of tobacco use. The most frequently reported coalition activity was providing public education and information. CDC.gov publishes information on smoking and tobacco use.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Progress in chronic disease prevention state coalitions for prevention and control of tobacco use. MMWR. 1990;39(28):476, 483, 485.

Source: CDC smoking and tobacco use Web site.

Get Informed

CDC's 'Health-e-Cards' spread medical, health information

CDC Releases Reports on Formaldehyde Tests of Trailers

The Missing Link in Health Reform—Introduction

CDC Partnership Matters: Reader's Feedback
The bi-weekly update is prepared by CDC's Division of Partnership and Strategic Alliances. Readers are welcome to comment by e-mail to cdcpartnerships@cdc.gov.


IN THIS ISSUE A Message from the Editor Promoting UV Safety Through Partnerships CDC Headlines Chlamydia Breeds Serious Consequences Handwashing: Hand Hygiene Saves Lives CDC Joins EPA in WaterSense Campaign Events and Seminars June 2008 The Complexity of Emergencies: Responding Through Art August 2008 Second Annual Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media PHIN Conference 2008 Birth Defects Monitoring and Prevention Meeting in Georgia: Partners’ Meeting CDC Personnel Retirements Personnel Changes Deaths CDC History The MMWR published the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials' findings that 47 states had coalitions addressing the prevention and control of tobacco use.. Get Informed CDC's 'Health-e-Cards' spread medical, health information CDC Releases Reports on Formaldehyde Tests of Trailers The Missing Link in Health Reform—Introduction	A Message from the Editor July 25, 2008 July is UV Safety Month. Not only can UV rays damage your skin, but they can also hurt or damage your eyes. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a part of sunlight that is an invisible form of radiation. UV rays can change the structure of skin cells. UV rays can still reach you on cloudy and hazy days as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays will also reflect off any surface like water, cement, sand, and snow. Thus, UV rays can cause skin damage regardless of the season or temperature. Approximately 65 to 90 percent of melanomas are caused by exposure to UV light or sunlight. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. In 2004, 50,039 people were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin. In that same year, 7,952 people died from melanomas of the skin. Melanomas are the third most common skin cancer but are more dangerous, particularly among young people. It will soon be time for children to go back to school. With skin cancer on the rise, especially among young people, it is important to remember UV safety and skin protection in making preparations for the new school year. CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC) offers resources for sun safety at schools and suggestions that everyone can use. The division has also created partnerships within and outside of CDC to continue getting the message out about skin cancer. DCPC and the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) are working together to implement school-based skin cancer prevention efforts in three states based on the Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer. Examples of activities include Mini-grants to schools to install shade structures onto their playgrounds; Development and distribution of sun safety lessons; Integration of sun safety into state standard course of study for middle grades and aligning with science objectives; Partnership with PTA; and Development of a Web site with resources for schools, workplace, and home. A CDC partner on the National Council For Skin Cancer Prevention, the EPA manages the SunWise Program, which is an environmental and health education program that aims to teach the public how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun through the use of classroom-, school-, and community-based components. Another partner is NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCI has a comprehensive Web site, Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T., which provides links to cancer control resources for public health professionals. The mission of the program is to increase the adoption and adaption of evidence-based programs. Skin cancer prevention resources are included. For more information on CDC’s work in preventing cancer, visit DCPC online. In addition, be sure to stop by the CDC Partners' Web site and see what's new. As always, feel free to send any feedback, questions or concerns regarding CDC Partnership Matters or the Partners' Web site to CDC Partnerships. Warm Regards, Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances CDC Headlines Chlamydia Breeds Serious Consequences Chlamydia remains the most commonly reported infectious disease in the United States. In 2006, 1,030,911 Chlamydia diagnoses were reported, up from 976,445 in 2005. This is the highest number of cases of any notifiable disease ever reported in the United States. Even so, because this sexually transmitted disease (STD) is often asymptomatic, most cases go undiagnosed. CDC and the Partnership for Prevention recently launched the new National Chlamydia Coalition to address this issue. >> read the full text Handwashing: Hand Hygiene Saves Lives Keeping hands clean is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness. CDC announces the availability of two new resources to promote hand hygiene. >> read the full text CDC Joins EPA in WaterSense Campaign CDC recently became the first federal agency to join the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense campaign. The campaigns mission is to protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services. >> read the full text Events and Seminars All events and seminars listed are open to CDC's partners. For more information, contact the POC listed. >> read the full text June 2008 The Complexity of Emergencies: Responding Through Art June 16 – September 12 Hosted by the Global Healthy Odyssey/National Center for Health Marketing, the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Coordinating Center for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response August 2008 Second Annual Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media August 12 – 14 Hosted by CDC’s National Center for Health Marketing and the Office of Enterprise Communication. Co-sponsors for the event include the National Cancer Institute and the National Public Health Information Coalition. PHIN Conference 2008 August 24 – 28 Hosted by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and CDC's National Center for Public Health Informatics Birth Defects Monitoring and Prevention in Georgia: Partners' Meeting August 25 Hosted by CDC's Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program, the Georgia Birth Defects Reporting and Information System, March of Dimes, and the Cleft Palate Foundation CDC Personnel Retirements Theresa J. Folsom, management analyst, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, NCHHSTP, will retire July 31. Personnel Changes Christine Branche, PhD, has been assigned as acting director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, effective July 15. John Howard, MD, MPH, transitioned from role as director for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, effective July 14. Howard will serve as a short-term senior advisor to CDC Director Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH. Deaths Rosemary C. Bakes-Martin, health scientist, Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, NCHM, died July 8. CDC History July 20, 1990: The MMWR published the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials’ findings that 47 states had coalitions addressing the prevention and control of tobacco use. The most frequently reported coalition activity was providing public education and information. CDC.gov publishes information on smoking and tobacco use. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Progress in chronic disease prevention state coalitions for prevention and control of tobacco use. MMWR. 1990;39(28):476, 483, 485. Source: CDC smoking and tobacco use Web site. Get Informed CDC's 'Health-e-Cards' spread medical, health information CDC Releases Reports on Formaldehyde Tests of Trailers The Missing Link in Health Reform—Introduction CDC Partnership Matters: Reader's Feedback The bi-weekly update is prepared by CDC's Division of Partnership and Strategic Alliances. Readers are welcome to comment by e-mail to cdcpartnerships@cdc.gov.