The U.S. EPA Region Three has selected the Migrant Clinicians Network to be a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2008 Children's Environmental Health Champion. The Regional Children's Environmental Health Champion Awards recognize ongoing and sustainable dedication to and notable leadership in, protecting children from environmental health risks at the regional level. We received our official recognition at the Children's Environmental Health Awards Ceremony on the evening of October 22nd, 2008 in Washington, D.C. 

Three cheers for the tremendous work of the MCN staff to protect children from environmental harm! 

On October 23-24, 2008 hundreds of clinicians dedicated to serving the underserved gathered to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to healthcare justice. Photos and other news from this event will be forthcoming this week. We are also privileged to show you one of the standout events of this conference, the Surgeons General's Symposium in which Dr. David Satcher was joined by six former and current Surgeons General and three State Surgeons General for the opening two hour plenary session focused on “Confronting Childhood Obesity in America: Implications for Health Policy and Health Justice”. This seminal event can be viewed in this archive. We encourage you to view the symposium and check back here for more information from the National Summit.

Most of all we encourage you to keep up the fight against health injustice!

Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN) Immunization Initiative would like to announce the availability of three modules for which you can receive FREE CNE, CME or, CHES. The modules are the following:

• Overview of Migrant Population
• Importance of Vaccinations
• Cultural Competency & Best Practices.

To register, go to MCN's Clinical Education Portal

Shelley Davis, Deputy Director of Farmworker Justice, and a tireless and widely admired advocate for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, passed away on Friday, December 12, 2008, after a long and valiant battle against breast cancer.

MCN and our colleagues across the country grieve the loss of our friend and sister in the fight for justice.

"She inspired all who had the honor and privilege of working with her."

You can read more about her extraordinary work at http://www.farmworkerjustice.org.

As the year is coming to a rapid close the Migrant Clinicians Network is trying desperately to help as many patients under treatment for illnesses such as TB and cancer to get home in time for the holidays. It’s not too late for you to support these essential services. Please give and give generously at http://www.migrantclinician.org/donate.html.

Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN) wishes to thank you for standing with us as a force for justice in healthcare for the mobile poor. Your help provides a network of solidarity that stretches across borders and is woven with the strength of thousands of clinicians and advocates who know the faces and names of the disenfranchised living in our midst as neighbors in need.

Your support helps MCN to nurture and support clinicians through the much needed patient navigation and tracking programs of Health Network and specialized trainings and programs on topics such as cultural competency, human rights, immigration, environmental and occupational health, family violence and immunizations.

Support from you allows us to continue offering educational programs that develop excellence in practice, clinical leadership and models of best practices. Add your donation, in any amount, to keep the momentum going. Together we can remain a force for healthcare justice for the mobile poor!

Wishing all of you health and justice for 2009 and beyond,

CDC Issues Interim Recommendations for the Use of Influenza Antiviral Medications in the Setting of Oseltamivir Resistance among Circulating Influenza A (H1N1) Viruses, 2008-09 Influenza Season

Although influenza activity is low in the United States to date, preliminary data from a limited number of states indicate that the prevalence of influenza A (H1N1) virus strains resistant to the antiviral medication oseltamivir is high. Therefore, CDC is issuing interim recommendations for antiviral treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza during the 2008-09 influenza season. [Learn More]

Every year, the ACNM Annual Meeting & Exposition serves as the premiere continuing education, networking, and business meeting for the approximately 10,000-strong certified nurse-midwife and certified midwife community nationwide. In 2009, we're planning to bring you the leading experts in midwifery and women's health at more than 100 education sessions and offer many networking opportunities for to make the most of your time in Seattle. You will learn about exceptional best practices, discover the latest in midwifery and women's health care, and have the chance to share your experiences with your colleagues.

NACHC’s Annual CHI & Expo provides an opportunity for people involved in every aspect of health center policy and operations to meet, learn and share information with each other. The NACHC House of Delegates also meets to elect its national leaders at this meeting.

Community Voices envisions the 2009 Community Voices Freedom’s Voice Conference and Soledad O’Brien Freedom’s Voice Awards Gala as a reconvening that will ensure that the momentum from last year’s conference and gala is carried forward. The second annual conference will focus on “Supporting Family Cohesion for the Currently and Formerly Incarcerated and Their Children,” and will once again bring together many of the local, state, and national level experts and advocates working to reform failed policies and improve services and outcomes for all those impacted by the criminal justice system.

For more information, please contact Community Voices of Morehouse School of Medicine at 404-756-8914

OEM is the medical specialty devoted to the prevention and manage-ment of occupational and environmental injury, illness, and disability, and the promotion of health and productivity of workers, their families, and communities. AOHC is designed to provide learner-centered education in the most current issues relevant to the practice of OEM. Upon completion of AOHC 2009, the learner should be able to:

• anticipate changing or expanding OEM competencies;
• evaluate current research; and
• analyze emerging issues in OEM.

"Achieving Global Goals Through Innovation"

The goals of the Conference are to provide information that will help participants provide comprehensive immunization coverage for all age groups and explore innovative strategies for developing programs, policy, and research to promote immunization coverage for all age groups. The Conference Education Program Objective is: To bring together a wide variety of local, state, federal, and private-sector immunization partners to explore science, policy, education, and planning issues related to immunization in general and vaccine-preventable disease. During three and a half days of plenary sessions and workshops, many topics will be discussed, including: Adolescent Immunization * Adult Immunization * Assessment Barriers to Vaccination * Community and Partnerships Childhood Immunization * Cultural Diversity * Global Immunization Surveillance * Health Communications * Health Education Policy and Legislation * New Vaccines and Vaccine Development Vaccine-Preventable Diseases * Vaccine Safety * Immunization Registries

The 2009 Summit is a continuation of our efforts to develop a national strategy and to move toward common language, from health disparities to health equity. Results of the Summit will become part of the National Blueprint for Action, which will guide OMH and its public and private partners. Together, experts, practitioners, leaders, stakeholders, and partners from both private and public sectors will begin to construct strategies and actions, shape policies, and foster the next generation of leaders to continue our mission.

This conference offers a variety of workshops and sessions designed to meet the needs of clinicians, administrators, educators, advocates, researchers, and students dedicated to serving migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Join us as we learn about current issues, policy, and programs related to the health of this population.

Speakers: Researcher/Principal Trainer: Emiliano Diaz de Leon, TAASA and MCN, TX. Practitioners: Jerry Tello, National Compadres Network, CA, and Judge Ramona Gonzalez, WI; hosted by Barbara Hart, Muskie School Article: Hombres Unidos. A review of the education project developed by the Migrant Clinician Network to prevent sexual and intimate partner violence by working with migrant Latino men at migrant health centers serving men living in migrant camps in FL, PA and IL, The education strategy included a course facilitated by two male promotores that engages groups of 9-15 men for five sessions of two hours. Pre- and post- testing was conducted related to the knowledge and attitudes of participants regarding women and abuse/violence against them. The prevention education work is expanding and modify to deliver the curriculum to two community sites on the borders of TX and AZ.For more information contact: Vicky Lynes at 612-824-8768 ext. 100 or vlynes@bwjp.org

TIME SHOWN IS EST 

The United States Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. During January, you may wish to highlight issues related to cervical cancer, HPV disease and the importance of early detection. Some of the issues you may wish to highlight are personal stories of women and family members/caregivers battling issues related to their persistent HPV/precancer and/or cervical cancer.

For information specific to the migrant and underserved populations, visit the MCN Cancer page.