The NN/LM servers will be down May 1 and 2, which means no posts to the blog those two days. Just wanted to let you know!

Philip Blumenshine,*1 Arthur Reingold,† Susan Egerter,‡ Robin Mockenhaupt,§ Paula Braveman,‡
and James Marks§
*Weill/Cornell Medical College, Ithaca, New York, USA; †University of California, Berkeley, California, USA; ‡University of California,
San Francisco, California, USA; and §Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Emerging Infection Diseases - Volume 14, Number 5 –May 2008
Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/5/709.htm
“…..We explored how different socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups in the United States might fare in an influenza pandemic on the basis of social factors that shape exposure, vulnerability to influenza virus, and timeliness and adequacy of treatment.
We discuss policies that might differentially affect social groups’ risk for illness or death. Our purpose is not to establish the precise magnitude of disparities likely to occur; rather, it is to call attention to avoidable disparities that can be expected in the absence of systematic attention to differential social risks in pandemic preparedness plans. Policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels should consider potential sources of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities during a pandemic and formulate specific plans to minimize these disparities….” [posted on PAHO/WHO Equity list]

Americans who get health insurance for their families through their jobs have seen their premiums increase 10 times faster than their income in recent years, according to a new analysis of government data. The study was released during Cover the Uninsured Week and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Read the report Squeezed: How Costs for Insuring Families are Outpacing Income: A State-By-State Analysis at http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/resources/product.jsp?id=28711&pid=1132&c=EMC-ADV
[ posted on RWJF Advances e-Newsletter]

Identifying and Evaluating Equity Provisions in State Health Care Reform
Commonwealth Fund
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=679040
The report by Brian Smedley and researchers from the Opportunity Agenda and Families USA identifies state policies that promote equitable health care access and quality — particularly among racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and people who lack a proficiency in English — by expanding health coverage and access to care, improving quality, empowering patients, upgrading health system infrastructure and addressing social and community-level determinants of health. The report also provides an evaluation of current laws, regulations and proposals in five states — California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington state — and identifies additional steps states can take to increase equity in health care (Commonwealth Fund release, 4/24).

Mattel Announces Continuation of Grant Program to Benefit Children
Deadline: July 15, 2008
Mattel ( http://www.mattel.com ) and the Mattel Children’s Foundation (http://www.mattel.com/about_us/philanthropy/ci_mcf_philanthropy_mattelFoundation.asp ) have announced they will continue the Mattel Domestic Grantmaking Program, which provides funding for organizations benefiting children in the United States. Mattel’s funding priorities include: programs that directly and effectively impact children with demonstrated needs (physical, financial, emotional, and health-related); preferences to programs with demonstrated results; and organizations that use creative and innovative methods to address a locally defined need directly impacting children. Preference will be given to organizations or programs that align with Mattel’s philanthropic priorities: Learning — Increasing access to education for underserved children and, in particular, innovative strategies to promote and address literacy; Health — Supporting the health and well-being of children, with particular emphasis on promoting healthy, active lifestyles; and Girl Empowerment — Promoting self-esteem in young girls, up to age 12. http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15012639/mattel

Western Union Foundation Funds Efforts to Help Empower Migrant Families and Alleviate Poverty
Deadline: September 1, 2008 (Letters of Inquiry)
The Western Union Foundation ( http://corporate.westernunion.com/wu_foundation.html ), the charitable organization of Western Union ( http://corporate.westernunion.com ), supports philanthropic initiatives worldwide. Nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations working to serve migrant and immigrant populations, and NGOs operating in the developing world that help alleviate poverty and provide economic development programs are eligible to apply for funding. Grants are available to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations and nongovernmental organizations outside the United States. http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15012643/westernunion

Medical Schools Invited to Apply for Mental Health Service Project Grants
Deadline: May 15, 2008
The Helping Hands Grant Program was established by the American Psychiatric Foundation ( http://www.psychfoundation.org ) to encourage medical students to participate in community mental health service activities, particularly those focused on underserved populations. Grants of up to $5,000 each will be provided to medical schools for community mental health service projects that are initiated and managed by medical students. These projects can be new initiatives conducted in partnership with community agencies or in conjunction with ongoing medical school outreach activities. http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15012647/helpinghands

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students
Deadline: July 15, 2008 (Fall 2008 Program)
The Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy Program
( http://www.aspeninstitute.org/nspp ) of the Aspen Institute ( http://www.aspeninstitute.org/ ) in Washington, D.C., offers the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship three times annually. The fellowship, which is based on academic excellence and need, is open to both undergraduate and graduate students of color. The Hearst Fellow serves as an intern with NSPP. Through this fellowship, NSPP seeks to introduce a diverse group of students to issues relating to philanthropy, volunteerism, and nonprofit organizations. Recipients may arrange with their colleges or universities to receive academic credit for this experience. http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15012651/nonprofitsearch

Copyright (c) 2000-2008, the Foundation Center. All rights reserved. Permission to use, copy, and/or distribute this document in whole or in part for non-commercial purposes without fee is hereby granted provided that this notice and appropriate credit to the Foundation Center is included in all copies. RFP Bulletin (April 25, 2008)

Questions Are the Answers: Get More Involved with Your Healthcare
http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/
From AHRQ, this resource provides patients with tools to use to take a more active role in their health care by asking questions.

Building Capacity to Eliminate Health Disparities: The Founding Meeting of the Academy for Health Equity
http://www.academyforhealthequity.org/conference.asp
June 26-27, 2008, Denver, CO

National AHEC Organization (NAO) 2008 Conference
https://www.nationalahec.org/Conference2008/default.asp
June 28 - July 1, 2008, Denver, CO

National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media 2008
http://www.cdc.gov/HealthMarketing/conference2008.htm
August 12-14, 2008, Atlanta, GA

Summer Institute for Public Health Practice 2008
http://www.nwcphp.org/si
August 11-15, 2008, Seattle, WA

[posted on PHPartners http://phpartners.org/ - New Links for the week of Apr 25, 2008]

http://covertheuninsured.org/
April 27- May 3, 2008
Cover the Uninsured, a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation’s leaders. On this website, find out whats happening near you, see facts and research, learn more about the campaign. From the overview section: “Recent Census Bureau data demonstrate that the problem of the uninsured continued in 2006. According to figures released in August 2007, 47 million people — 15.8 percent of the total U.S. population — were uninsured in 2006, up slightly from 15.3 percent in the previous year.”

Cascade AIDS, Inc.Grant
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=17553
The primary purpose of this program is to provide support services for men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS and to conduct HIV/AIDS awareness prevention programs.

Building A Healthy Nation-Strategic Alliance for Health Grant
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=17562
The purpose of the program is to create healthier communities through sustainable innovative, evidence and practice-based community health promotion and chronic disease prevention programs that promote policy, systems, and environmental change.

HIV Prevention Projects Grant
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=17563
These funds are being made available to support state health departments HIV prevention projects in accordance with Section 2625 of the Public Health Service Act.

Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) Grant
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=17541
The MSEIP is designed to effect long-range improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions and to increase the flow of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into scientific and technological careers.

Using Traditional Foods and Sustainable Ecological Approaches for Health Promotion and Diabetes Prevention in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Communities Modification 1
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=17548
The purpose of the program is to 1) support community use of traditional foods and sustainable ecological approaches for diabetes prevention and health promotion in American Indian and Alaska Native communities; and 2) engage communities in identifying and sharing the stories of healthy traditional ways of eating, being active, and communicating health information and support for diabetes prevention and wellness.

National Organization Activities for Cancer Control in Underserved Populations Grant
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=17549
This program will assist national organizations to develop, enhance and coordinate cancer prevention and control activities for individuals who may be underserved, uninsured or underinsured, at risk, or of racial/ethnic minorities.

National Organizations’ Support for Oral Health Programs Modification 1
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=17550
The purpose of the program is to enhance the effectiveness of state and local health department programs to prevent and control oral diseases and conditions. This is to be accomplished by supporting the coordination of efforts to identify state oral health program needs and by facilitating the development of systems and procedures that ensure the inclusion of essential and scientifically sound practices in oral health program components.

[posted on Grants.gov Opportunities Posting Update]

Keeping the Fire Burning: Ensuring Postsecondary Access and Excellence for Native American Students
May 20 - 21, 2008
Diné College
Tsaile, Arizona
http://www.collegeboard.com/nasai/
The College Board and Diné College will host a national institute on May 20 - 21, 2008 to celebrate individual triumphs over educational inequities, and provide opportunities for future successful partnerships that will ensure postsecondary access and excellence for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Students.

Who Should Attend:

• Counselors: High school, tribal education, not-for-profit organizations
• College Personnel: Admissions, financial aid, advising, student services
• High School Teachers
• Administrators: College administrators, superintendents, principals, tribal leaders
• Policy makers