On the Digital Divide Network Website at http://www.digitaldivide.net/community/disaster-relief
Developed in collaboration with:
EDC Center for Media & Community | LearningTimes

This community has been created in response to the devastating December 2004 tsunami that killed tens of thousands of people across Asia. The space can be used for discussing the role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play in averting natural disasters and assisting relief efforts. Participants may also use it to share resources on relief work during times of crisis, as well as ICTs and emergency preparedness.

Thanks to Andy Carvin of DDN and the collaboration of the DDN members.

Also, go to MedlinePlus’s Homepage “In the Spotlight” to see links to Health Information on Disaster Preparedness. http://medlineplus.gov/

http://www.aafp.org/x31159.xml

Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care
Washington, DC
http://www.graham-center.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2004

WASHINGTON � Lives saved by reducing the mortality rate of African-Americans to the rate of whites are five times those that could be saved by improvements in medical technology. So said the authors of �The Health Impact of Resolving Racial Disparities: An Analysis of US Mortality Data,� published in the December edition of the American Journal of Public Health.

Using data from 1991 to 2000, the authors estimated that 886,202 deaths could have been averted had the death rate of African Americans and whites been comparable during this time period. The authors calculated that technological advances during those years averted 176,633 deaths.

See more information on African American Health on MedlinePlus at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/africanamericanhealth.html

Locating Affected Peoples
The State Department on Monday established a toll-free telephone number
for inquiries about U.S. citizens affected by the Asian earthquake and
tsunamis.

The public may call toll free at 888-407-4747. Overseas, people may call
317-472-2328.

Those seeking information also can contact the department’s Office of
American Citizens Services and Crisis Management, 202-647-5225. General
information about disaster relief, preparation and emergency services to
U.S. citizens abroad can be found at the State Department Web page
http://travel.state.gov/travel/crisismg.html.

College Horizons Program
Students will learn about a broad variety of colleges and universities and establish personal relationships with admission representatives and college counselors that will continue long after the program is over. Participants will be limited to 56 at each site and will be Native American (enrolled members only), Native Alaskan or Native Hawaiian current sophomores and juniors from throughout the U.S. Students will be selected by application: a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. First round, priority receipt deadline is February 10. Second round receipt deadline is March 1. Applications will be accepted on a space-available basis to June 1 (after March 1, please contact us to see which sites may still have spaces). Complete program cost is $100 (includes tuition, room, board and all materials). Substantial funds are available for travel and tuition assistance (each year we award travel assistance to over 50% of our students). Students may indicate preference for a site.

June 11-15, 2005 at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA

June 18-22, 2005 at Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH

June 25-29, 2005 at Harvard College, Cambridge, MA

http://www.whitneylaughlin.com/horizons.html

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine - MidContinental Region wishes you all Happy Holidays and a safe and wonderful New Year. http://nnlm.gov/mcr/xmas/holidaycard04.jpg

I will be out of the office through January 4th, spending time with family. I hope you all have a chance to relax with loved ones and come back in 2005 energized!

From the Foundation Center http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/ RFP-Bulletin:

Green Communities Initiative Announces Grant Guidelines
Deadline: Rolling
The Green Communities Initiative is a five-year, $550 million initiative to build more than 8,500 homes across the United States that provide significant health, economic, and environmental benefits to low-income fami- lies and communities. The effort is a partnership of the Enterprise Foundation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects, the American Planning Association, and leading corporate, financial, and philanthropic organizations.

The initiative will offer financing, grants, and technical assistance to developers to build affordable housing that promotes health, conserves energy and natural resources, and provides easy access to jobs, schools, and services.

Grants will help cover the costs of planning and imple- menting green components of affordable housing projects, as well as tracking their costs and benefits.

A minimum of $1 million in grant funds is available to participants. Individual grants are expected to range between $15,000 and $50,000.

The grant competition is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public housing authorities and tribally designated housing entities. For-profit entities may participate though joint ventures with qualified organizations.

For more information, grant and application guidelines, and an FAQ, see the Enterprise Foundation Web site.
RFP Link:
http://enterprisefoundation.org/resources/green/

Cable Positive’s Tony Cox Community Fund to Support HIV/AIDS Programming

Deadline: February 9, 2005 (2005 Cycle 1)

Cable Positive’s Tony Cox Community Fund is a national grant program that exists to encourage community-based AIDS organizations and cable outlets to partner in joint community outreach efforts, or to produce and distribute new, locally focused HIV/AIDS-related programs and public service announcements (PSAs).

Eligible local community outreach projects include, but are not limited to, World AIDS Day (December 1) and National HIV Testing Day (June 27) events, AIDS Rides/ Walks, other joint efforts between AIDS organizations and local cable operators, etc. Funding is also avail- able for production costs of HIV/AIDS-related programs and PSAs.

Grants are available up to $5,000 for 501(c)(3) organi- zations, with special consideration given to AIDS service organizations (ASOs) and cable systems and producers partnering with ASOs.

For more information about the program, types of projects funded, and eligibility requirements, see the Cable Positive Web site.

RFP Link: http://cablepositive.org/programs-tonycox.html

From the Washington DC Funding Alert http://opgd.dc.gov/opgd/lib/opgd/services/grant/funding_alerts/currentnewsletter.pdf

The Aetna Foundation helps build healthy communities by encouraging volunteerism and funding initiatives that improve the quality of life where its employees and customers work and live. Funding areas include: quality of care, diversity, regional community health grants, and other grants. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations. To join the Foundation�s mailing list regarding news and updates about current funding opportunities and programs, go to: https://www.grantrequest.com/SID_264/Default.asp?CT=CT&SA=SNA&FID=35035. For further information on the Foundation, go to: http://www.aetna.com/foundation/index.htm.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations committed to increasing the functional literacy of adults or families that provide direct literacy services within their community. Eligible applicants include nonprofits within the Dollar General market area. The deadline for applicants is April 8, 2005. Request for Proposals (RFPs) packages will be available online January 7, 2005. For further information, go to: http://www.dollargeneral.com/community/dgliteracy.aspx.

Doctors writing in a prominent medical journal on Friday recommended that physicians stop prescribing Pfizer Inc.’s Bextra painkiller, just as a large study found the drugmaker’s sister drug, Celebrex, doubled risk of heart attacks.

Both drugs are members of the so-called COX-2 inhibitor class of painkillers, which recently gained notoriety when Merck Inc. withdrew Vioxx in September after a study found it doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke.

A letter by doctors published in The New England Journal of Medicine’s Dec. 23 edition said in light of Vioxx and negative signs on Bextra, Bextra should be avoided.

“To protect the safety of the public, we write to recommend that clinicians stop prescribing valdecoxib (Bextra), except in extraordinary circumstances,” editorial writers at The New England Journal of Medicine wrote in an issue dated Dec. 23 but released early.

See the full news release on MedlinePlus News at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_21919.html
Other related News stories:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_d.html#DrugandMedicalDeviceSafety

MedlinePlus Related Health Topics:
Drug and Medical Device Safety
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugandmedicaldevicesafety.html
Rheumatoid Arthritis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rheumatoidarthritis.html

The Tribal Leaders Diabetes Conference, the Indian Health Service (IHS) Native American Cardiology Program, the IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention, and the Joslin Diabetes Center, in conjunction with federal, professional, and private voluntary organization partners are holding “Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Among American Indians and Alaska Natives 2005” in Denver, CO from May 16-19, 2005. This national conference is aimed at health care providers, tribal leaders, urban and community health leaders, community health professionals and paraprofessionals, and tribal community members focused on the prevention, clinical recognition, and optimal treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other cardiovascular risk factors among American Indians and Alaska Natives. For more information, see http://www.professionalEd.joslin.org. [posted on Black Young Professionals' Public Health Network, Inc List]

From the Rural Assistance Center
The Rural Assistance Center is a collaborative effort of the University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health, and the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI); and is funded by a grant through HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy. All listings contained in this e-mail can also be accessed from the Rural Assistance Center Web site, http://www.raconline.org.

Family Planning Service Grants
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Grants to establish and operate voluntary family planning services projects.
http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=581

James A. Johnson Fellowships Program
Application deadline: Dec 31, 2004
Fellowships to recognize and rewards urban and rural affordable housing and community development professionals for their years of service to the field.
http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=718

2005 STOP Violence Against Indian Women Discretionary Grant Program
Application deadline: Jan 26, 2005
Addresses violence against American Indian and Alaska native women.
http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=334

Targeted Grants to Reduce Childhood Lead Poisoning
Application deadline: Jan 31, 2005
Grants to conduct activities to reduce incidences of childhood lead poisoning in vulnerable populations.
http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=716

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grant
Application deadline: Feb 1, 2005
Grants designed to provide access to education, training and health care resources for people in rural America.
http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=397

General Mills Champions Youth Nutrition and Fitness Grants
Application deadline: Feb 1, 2005
Grants for programs to encourage communities to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people.
http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=327

Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program
Application deadline: Feb 3, 2005
Funding to enhance the safety of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and child abuse by supporting projects uniquely designed to address and prevent these crimes in rural America.
http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=329

Price Fellowships for HIV Prevention Leadership
Application deadline: Apr 22, 2005
Fellowships to learn about HIV prevention at the national level.
http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=717

The National Association of County and City Health Officials is pleased to present the eleventh issue of our online Foundation Funding Guide. In response to requests from NACCHO membership, NACCHO is working with The Foundation Center to identify funding resources at the national and state level from private foundations. Each month, the guide will focus on one area of public health. This month, the guide features foundations that have listed HIV/AIDS as a focus area. http://www.naccho.org/general927.cfm For those states that do not have specific state funding listed, make sure and check out the national foundations link http://archive.naccho.org/Funding-Guide/December-2004/National.pdf [posted on the RAC Health Listserv]