The Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) is now accepting applications for the 11th Annual Patty Iron Cloud National Native American Youth Initiative which will be held in Washington D.C., June 21 - 29, 2008. American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) high school students, ages 16- 18, who have an interest in the health careers and/or biomedical research are encouraged to apply. The NNAYI scholarship pays for travel, lodging, and most meals during the program. NNAYI’s curriculum is strategically designed to prepare students for admission to college and professional schools, as well as for careers in health and biomedical research.

To accompany the students, AAIP is accepting applications for counselors, age 21 and older, to serve as role models during the nine-day program. AI/AN college students and health professionls are encouraged to apply.

Feel free to share this information with other interested parties. Deadline for student application is April 18, 2008 and for counselor application is March 21, 2008. Please visit the NNAYI website: http://www.aaip.org/programs/nnayi/nnayi.htm to obtain detail information and to access the on-line application.

For many of us, the health care system is confusing and difficult to understand. To help make it easier to make health care choices and decisions, the U. S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed a series of bylined advice columns that address questions many people have. The columns are written by AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy, MD. She is one of the country�s top experts on research about consumer health issues. Dr. Clancy is a general internist, researcher, and an authority on involving consumers in their health care. http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/cc.htm

As a result of a Department of Labor and Office of Refugee Resettlement collaboration, three new fact sheets on recertification/re-licensing of refugee professionals are now available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resources/ref_emp_collaboration.htm [posted on the HMONGHEALTH listserv]

Families USA has released a new report, Too Great a Burden: America�s Families at Risk. This report reveals the numbers of Americans who are in families that will spend more than 10 percent, and more than 25 percent, of their pre-tax income on health care costs in 2008. http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/publications/reports/too-great-a-burden.html [Fmailies USA Minority Health Initiatives]

Several funding opportunities from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health are now available to fund conferences/events. These opportunities are available only in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. These opportunities will fund programs related to:

- Heart Truth (Wear Red Day)
- Mental Health Domestic Violence
- Diabetes/Obesity Prevention

Funds will be distributed on a competitive basis until exhausted. Also, please note that the Period of Performance listed is Feb 2007- September 2008. However, the correct dates are February 2008 - September 30, 2008. http://tinyurl.com/2a8cjq [posted on Kansas Rural Health Information Service (KRHIS)]

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force http://www.heritagepreservation.org/programs/TASKFER.htm is a partnership of 41 national service organizations and federal agencies created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies. With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Heritage Preservation has developed the Field Guide to Emergency Response. The compact handbook is designed for immediate use when disaster strikes. Simple, clear instructions help staff organize essential disaster response functions and tackle common threats to collections. The Guide provides handy checklists and features an instructional DVD on salvage techniques that can be viewed on-site with a laptop computer.You can see the guide and other resources for cultural institutions at http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFHurricaneRes.HTM There are also resources for the general public to learn how to save their family treasures. http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFHurricanePub.htm

Significant Progress in Nation’s Public Health Preparedness, But Critical Gaps Persist
Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Disease, Disasters and Bioterrorism
The fifth annual “Ready or Not?” report�produced by Trust for America’s Health with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation�finds that important progress has been made, but critical areas of the nation’s emergency health preparedness effort still require immediate attention. In addition, the continuing trend of annual cuts in federal funding for state and local preparedness activities threatens the nation’s safety.
Read the news release at http://tinyurl.com/25f7yf
Download full text of the report http://tinyurl.com/yt9g5h
View webcast http://tinyurl.com/yq93br [posted on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation email update]

CDC now has a website that is linked to the NOAA Weather page. This page includes links to information on frostbite, hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other health issued related to extreme cold under the “Stay Safe and Healthy” Section. This site was just redesigned and updated on Dec 14. To view the website please go to: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/ [posted on Kansas Rural Health Information Service (KRHIS)]

Rural health research findings from eight national research centers, supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), are now featured at one convenient location, the Rural Health Research Gateway Listserv. This initiative is designed to help move the most up-to-date findings of the Rural Health Research Centers to policy makers, health care providers and others as quickly and efficiently as possible.

New information is launched on the listserv and its corresponding web site
(http://www.ruralhealthresearch.org) to provide easy and timely access to projects, research, and findings of these national research centers. The web site has abstracts of both current and completed research projects addressing issues such as rural health quality and behavioral health, related publications, and information about the researchers and research centers.

If you would like to receive the Rural Health Research Gateway postings, please sign-up at http://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/listserv/subscribe.php [posted on Kansas Rural Health Information Service (KRHIS)]

The Medical College of Wisconsin is pleased to announce the launch of a new doctoral program in Public and Community Health. They are currently recruiting educators, public servants, public health undergraduates and graduates, and those interested in leadership roles of CBPR in their professional, research, teaching and civic lives. The Medical College of Wisconsin will provide students in good academic standing with a complete tuition scholarship, a generous stipend for living expenses, and health insurance. It will be a competitive program, accepting only 2 - 3 students annually, with the first cohort matriculating in Fall 2008. The program expects to draw students from majors in psychology, sociology, human biology, health sciences, public service, social work, nursing, behavioral sciences, and public health (students with an undergraduate degree in public health will automatically meet the course requirements for admission). Applications are currently being accepted at http://www.mcw.edu/gradschool [posted on CBPR listserv]