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May 30, 2008Thunderbird Kicks Off Innovation Summit and $20,000 ChallengeFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: Thunderbird School of Global Management is preparing for its third annual Global Sustainable Innovation Summit that draws the brightest graduate-level students from top universities around the world. The event includes a global competition to develop sustainable and innovative business solutions to real-world challenges presented by sponsoring companies. Last year, the challenge attracted 118 teams from 59 universities and 15 countries. "The companies value their fresh perspective about how innovation and sustainability can be integrated in ways that simultaneously create social, environmental and business value." The competition begins Oct. 6 with an online round of questions from sponsoring companies with a global focus seeking innovative solutions to their every-day business challenges. This year's sponsors and summit partners include Johnson & Johnson, APS, BillMatrix, Xerox, and Net Impact. Opportunities to participate as a sponsor and/or judge are still available in all three categories of silver, gold and platinum. Silver sponsorships of $8,500 provide keynote speakers, panel discussions and networking events. Each will receive more than 30 innovative concept plans pertaining directly to their business challenges and receive access to about 1,000 student-participant resumes. Platinum sponsorships of $50,000 allow companies to pose questions during both the online and final rounds of the challenge. AScribe provides direct, immediate access to mainstream national media for 600 colleges, universities, medical centers, public-policy groups and other leading nonprofit organizations. Posted by Michael at 11:09 PM | TrackBack FOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS EARN HUD SECRETARY'S HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DESIGN AWARDFrom HUD Press Releases: Four affordable housing developments are the recipient of the HUD Secretary's Housing and Community Design Award for excellence in residential housing design. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the American Institute of Architects selected Greenbridge of White Center, Washington; K Lofts of San Diego, California; Valencia Gardens, of San Francisco, California; and Patrolia Loft of Boston, Massachusetts for redefining affordable housing and its place within the community. The awards were presented during the 2008 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Boston. "Each of these innovative designs produced homes that are breaking the affordable housing mold," said HUD Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi. Greenbridge of White Center, Washington is a hundred-acre, mixed-income, "green community" of a thousand low-income...workforce...rental...and for-sale homes. This new HOPE SIX development replaces a 568-unit World War II-era low-income public housing project and promises to become an engine for change in the surrounding community. Greenbridge transforms the social failure of mid-20th Century planning into a new mixed-come neighborhood that provides affordable housing at multiple income levels, and replaces a project known for its high-crime rate with a neighborhood built around parks and open spaces. K Lofts of San Diego is a development that was created through a design process that included residents, community stakeholders, local government, and civic groups. Valencia Gardens of San Francisco, California is a HUD-funded HOPE SIX development produced a mixed-use, affordable, public housing community located on a five-acre site in San Francisco's Mission District. Patrolia Loft of Boston, Massachusetts is an interior fit-out of an existing concrete-shell apartment for a resident who requires a wheelchair. Posted by Michael at 10:52 PM | TrackBack Sad Children Outperform Happy Children in Attention-to-Detail TasksFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: Psychologists at the University of Virginia and the University of Plymouth (United Kingdom) have conducted experimental research that contrasts with the belief that happy children are the best learners. The findings, which currently appear online in the journal Developmental Science, and will be printed in the June issue, show that where attention to detail is required, happy children may be at a disadvantage. The researchers conducted a series of experiments with different child age groups who had happy or sad moods induced with the aid of music (Mozart and Mahler) and selected video clips ("Jungle Book" and "The Lion King"). The findings in each experiment with both music and video clips were conclusive, with the children induced to feel a sad or neutral mood performing the task better than those induced to feel a happy state of mind. Lead researcher Simone Schnall of the University of Plymouth describes the psychology behind the findings: "Happiness indicates that things are going well, which leads to a global, top-down style of information processing. We provide direct, immediate access to mainstream national media for 600 colleges, universities, medical centers, public-policy groups and other leading nonprofit organizations. AScribe transmits news releases directly to newsroom computer systems and desktops of major media organizations via a supremely trusted channel - The Associated Press. We also feed news to major news retrieval database services, online publications and to developers of web sites and Intranets. And AScribe does it at a cost all organizations, large and small, can afford, a fraction of what corporate newswires charge. Posted by Michael at 10:43 PM | TrackBack Why Middle School Creates the Pathway to College and the WorkforceUnited Way of Greater Los Angeles: This report examines the state of middle schools in L.A. County and the importance of middle grades on higher education, youth development, and eventual workforce readiness. This report contains a discussion on the importance middle grades play in young adulthood, the state of our middle schools (demographics, school capacities and academic achievement), the relationship between middle grades and higher education (high school graduation and college attendance), and more. Policy recommendations to improve schools and advance a nurturing learning environment for middle school students are also provided. There are approximately 400,000 middle school students in L.A. County, with a majority of students from minority and under-represented communities (73% are Latino or African-American, and at least 66% are in the free and reduced meal programs). For every 100 entering 9th grade students in L.A. County in 2002, only 57 actually graduated after four years. About 7 in 10 middle schools serving low income populations are failing federal education standards. Schools with 90% minority enrollment (Latino or African American) face extreme shortages of qualified teachers, employing only 45% of the qualified instructors that they need in math and science. Almost half of all students do not feel safe at school; 48% of 7th graders report being harassed, pushed or shoved at least one time. Posted by Michael at 5:44 PM | TrackBack May 29, 2008The Condition of Education 2008From Ascribe Newsfeed: A team of experts for the American Institutes for Research (AIR) played a key role in producing "The Condition of Education 2008," an annual report on the state of education in the United States that has been released by the federal government's National Center on Education Statistics (NCES). The congressionally mandated report, which was released Thursday, May 29, 2008, offers a detailed account of all aspects of U.S. education, from early childhood education and student achievement to post secondary education and school environment. A large number of AIR staff participated in various aspects of the project. AIR authors include Grace Kena, Rachel Dinkes, Angelina KewalRamani, Mary Ann Fox, Jana Kemp, Kristen Darling, Kevin Bianco and Lauren Drake. The full text of "The Condition of Education 2008," along with related data tables and indicators from previous years, can be viewed at http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe. Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is an independent, nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research on important social issues and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education, and workforce productivity. We provide direct, immediate access to mainstream national media for 600 colleges, universities, medical centers, public-policy groups and other leading nonprofit organizations. AScribe transmits news releases directly to newsroom computer systems and desktops of major media organizations via a supremely trusted channel - The Associated Press. Posted by Michael at 11:57 PM | TrackBack Rite of Passage? Why Young Adults Become Uninsured and How New Policies Can Help, 2008 UpdateFrom The Commonwealth Fund: Young adults, ages 19 to 29, are one of the largest segments of the U.S. population without health insurance: 13.7 million lacked coverage in 2006. This issue brief outlines several policy changes to help uninsured young adults gain coverage and prevent others from losing it. Posted by Michael at 11:50 PM | TrackBack Young Adults at Risk: 13.7 Million Lack Health Insurance CoverageFrom The Commonwealth Fund: According to a newly updated report from The Commonwealth Fund, 38 percent of high school graduates who do not attend college and 34 percent of college graduates will spend some time uninsured in the year after graduation. Posted by Michael at 11:50 PM | TrackBack Bridging the math gender gapFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: New research published in the journal Science demonstrates that girls perform better in mathematics in more gender equal societies, in some cases besting male peers. The research, led in part by Kellogg School of Management Professor Paola Sapienza, sought to address the issue of whether social and cultural factors influence women’s success in math and science. Read more from this post. Posted by Michael at 11:43 PM | TrackBack HUD ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR GEORGIA STORM VICTIMSFrom HUD Press Releases: U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Georgia and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and tornadoes. This assistance includes foreclosure relief for families whose homes are insured through HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in Bibb, Carroll, Crawford, Douglas, Emanuel, Glynn, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, Treutlen, Twiggs, and Wilkinson Counties. President Bush's disaster declaration triggers a variety of federal assistance including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. "Whether it's foreclosure relief for FHA-insured families or helping these communities to rebuild, HUD stands ready to help in any way we can." "The last thing some of these families need to worry about is how to pay a mortgage on a home that's been severely damaged or destroyed. The President's disaster declaration also gives the State of Georgia the tools it needs to begin the rebuilding process." Offering the State of Georgia the ability to re-allocate existing federal resources toward disaster relief - HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars to address critical needs, including housing and services for tornado victims. HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. Posted by Michael at 11:42 PM | TrackBack HUD ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR IOWA STORM VICTIMSFrom HUD Press Releases: U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Iowa and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding. This assistance includes foreclosure relief for families whose homes are insured through HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA). President Bush's disaster declaration triggers a variety of federal assistance including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. "Whether it's foreclosure relief for FHA-insured families or helping these communities to rebuild, HUD stands ready to help in any way we can." "The last thing some of these families need to worry about is how to pay a mortgage on a home that's been severely damaged or destroyed. The President's disaster declaration also gives the State of Iowa the tools it needs to begin the rebuilding process." Offering the State of Iowa the ability to re-allocate existing federal resources toward disaster relief - HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars to address critical needs, including housing and services for tornado victims. HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. Posted by Michael at 11:41 PM | TrackBack Another source of growing economic insecurityFrom Economic Policy Institute: There are many dimensions to the economic insecurity facing American families today. Mid-level incomes have stagnated in real terms over the past few years, and most recently, higher gas and food prices are taking a larger bite out of paychecks. But one dimension of economic insecurity gets less attention: the increase in family income volatility, or how much families' incomes fluctuate up and down over time. Recent analysis shows that families are facing much greater income swings than they did a generation ago. An included chart plots the increase in average family income volatility, showing various peaks and valleys around an upward trend since the mid-1970s. Over the last three decades, volatility by this measure has doubled. Posted by Michael at 11:39 PM | TrackBack The rising instability of family incomesFrom Economic Policy Institute: The Great Risk Shift (Hacker 2006; revised and expanded in 2008) documented a major post-1970s rise in family income instability and argued that it was one indicator of an increasing shift of economic risk from government and employers onto workers and their families. There is an important distinction between family income (total earnings, asset income, and transfer income for all members of a family) and individual earnings. More important, all of these measures---transitory variance, the standard deviation of income changes, and the probability of large income drops---show a substantial increase in family income instability. A final note before moving to the results themselves: While the PSID is a well-regarded data source used by many of the nation's top social scientists, questions have been raised about the quality of the data in the 1990s, when the survey procedures changed. The CBO study brings together individual earnings data from the Continuous Work History Sample (CWHS), based on Social Security wage records, with longitudinal family income data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). According to those in attendance when the CBO's preliminary results were presented at the American Economic Association's annual meeting in early January, the CBO actually found an increase in family income volatility when it used the SIPP data alone. A wealth of research in psychology and economics suggest that major income fluctuations create not just financial hardship, but also anxiety and discontent. Posted by Michael at 11:38 PM | TrackBack Children's diet not the main cause of ADHDFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Food may not be the major cause of hyperactivity in children; genetics, brain function and parental actions such as smoking may be just as important. A review of scientific evidence found only a minority of children were actually affected by what they eat. A combination of food, genetics and environmental toxins are more likely to be involved, with no single factor to blame. Foods which might affect behaviour, in particular table sugar were studied. No adverse effects were seen in children who had a sugary drink versus a drink with artificial sweetener. Parents often believe their children's diet is making them hyperactive and think changes in the food provided is the answer to the problem. ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) has a strong genetic link, with half the children born of parents with diagnosed ADHD likely to develop the disorder themselves. Chemical imbalances in the brain are also involved and studies have found that children with the condition have on average 4% smaller brains. Genes may interact with environmental toxins such as alcohol in the womb, lead, and parental smoking to cause later problems with attention span. Professor David Benton, who specialises in eating behaviour and who carried out the study said 'Parents say after an hour of eating sugary foods that their child is distracted and fidgety, but studies show that this is more what the mother expects to see and not what's really going on'. He added 'the origin of the idea that sugar is responsible for hyperactivity seems to be purely based on the fact that sugar is a source of energy, as are other carbohydrates. This review which was carried out at the University of Wales, Swansea is published in the May issue of the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Posted by Michael at 11:37 PM | TrackBack Most caregivers of young children lack basic knowledge of potentially toxic household productsFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: According to a new study, knowledge of potentially toxic household substances among primary caregivers for young children is alarmingly poor. The results show that less than one-third of primary caregivers for children under the age of six could correctly estimate the toxicity of household poisons. The study is being presented at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's 2008 Annual Meeting. These include: more education, responsibility for fewer children and an age greater than twenty-three years. This paper will be presented at the 2008 SAEM Annual Meeting, May 29-June 1, 2008, Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 30, 2008, in the poster presentations that will be held from 3:30 -- 5:30 in Exhibit Hall A of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Abstracts of the papers presented are published in Vol. 15, No. 5, Supplement 1, May 2008 of the official journal of the SAEM, Academic Emergency Medicine. The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) is a national non-profit organization of over 6,000 academic emergency physicians, emergency medicine residents and medical students. SAEM's vision is to promote ready access to quality emergency care for all patients, to advance emergency medicine as an academic and clinical discipline, and to maintain the highest professional standards as clinicians, teachers, and researchers. Together, the companies have created a global publishing business with deep strength in every major academic and professional field. Posted by Michael at 11:34 PM | TrackBack American Dental Education Association Members Meet With Legislators and Staff at Advocacy DayFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: American Dental Education Association members from 25 states visited more than 90 Congressional offices to educate members of Congress and their staff about issues affecting access to oral health care and funding for dental and craniofacial research last month. These activities were part of the annual AADR-ADEA Advocacy Day, hosted jointly by the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). The event was attended by over 50 representatives from academic dental institutions, dental research, and patient advocate groups. "No dental school can do on its own what ADEA can do for us collectively through events such as Advocacy Day." Specific issues that members discussed with their representatives were the Deamonte Driver Dental Care Access Improvement Act of 2008, funding for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), and legislation to prevent the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from implementing several directives that would reduce funding and impede access to Medicaid and SCHIP. Prior to their visits with Members of Congress, participants spent a day in a legislative workshop listening to noted speakers that included Bill Press, host of The Bill Press Show, a nationally syndicated radio talk show, and Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public. We provide direct, immediate access to mainstream national media for 600 colleges, universities, medical centers, public-policy groups and other leading nonprofit organizations. AScribe transmits news releases directly to newsroom computer systems and desktops of major media organizations via a supremely trusted channel - The Associated Press. Posted by Michael at 12:42 AM | TrackBack 300 Teens in 21 California Libraries to Examine Hidden Meanings in Everyday Places in Innovative Writing, Photography Program; 10-Week Statewide Program Aims to Connect Teens to Their CommunitiesFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: The California Council for the Humanities has awarded grants to 21 California libraries to conduct an innovative Council-developed photography and writing project for teens this summer and fall. The program was inspired by the work of John Stilgoe, professor of landscape history at Harvard University, and his book "Outside Lies Magic: Regaining History and Awareness in Everyday Places." "Stilgoe sees everyday landscape as a historical record and wants to awaken people to the excitement of going outside and exploring their surroundings," said Council Executive Director Ralph Lewin. "Senior Programs Manager Felicia Kelley developed the My Place program by expanding on Stilgoe's ideas and making them accessible to kids," Lewin added. In addition to connecting young people to their communities, the My Place program aims to increase intergenerational understanding, promote civic engagement and highlight the role of libraries as centers of community cultural life. The Council's new California Stories campaign, How I See It, is helping young people to share - in their own words and through a variety of media - what their lives are like, what they care about, and what it's like to grow up in today's California. For more information, visit the Council's website at http://www.californiastories.org or contact the Council's administrative office at 415-391-1474. AScribe transmits news releases directly to newsroom computer systems and desktops of major media organizations via a supremely trusted channel - The Associated Press. Posted by Michael at 12:36 AM | TrackBack First State-by-State Health System Scorecard to Focus on Children Finds Wide Differences in Health CareFrom The Commonwealth Fund: States vary widely in the quality of health care children receive, as well as children's access to care, family insurance premiums, equity, and the potential to lead long healthy, productive lives, according to a new scorecard issued by The Commonwealth Fund. The report, U.S. Variations In Child Health System Performance: A State Scorecard, by Commonwealth Fund researchers Katherine Shea, M.P.H., Karen Davis, Ph.D., and Edward Schor, M.D., ranked states on 13 indicators for children grouped in categories that include access, quality, costs, equity, and healthy outcomes. States in the Northeast and Upper Midwest often rank high in multiple areas. In contrast, states with the lowest rankings tend to be concentrated in the South and Southwest. However, there was room for improvement in even the highest ranked states, which fell short of established standards on some indicators. Typically, states that fell in the bottom of the overall ranking lagged well behind their peers on the access to care measure and struggled with other measures. In general, scorecard authors found that children in the bottom ranked states are less likely to get the recommended health care, including vaccines, dental care, and regular check-ups. And, children in those states are at greater risk for developmental delays and infant mortality. Quality scores indicate that across the country children aren't receiving the vaccines they need, don't have access to mental health care for emotional problems and are at high risk for developmental delays, aren't getting their regular medical and dental check-ups, don't have a medical home, and are more likely to end up in the hospital if they have asthma. Posted by Michael at 12:34 AM | TrackBack U.S. Variations in Child Health System Performance: A State ScorecardFrom The Commonwealth Fund: This report examines variations among states' child health care systems, building on the State Scorecard published by The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System. Focusing on 13 performance indicators of access, quality, costs, equity, and the potential to lead healthy lives, the authors find wide variation among states, including distinct regional patterns. Top-performing states, such as Iowa and Vermont, have adopted policies to expand children's access to care and improve the quality of care. While leading states outperform lagging states on multiple indicators, all states have opportunities to improve. Twenty-eight million children are covered by Medicaid, and 6 million are covered by the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which was enacted in 1997 to expand coverage of children in low-income families. Yet, some states do better than others in promoting the health and development of their youngest residents, and in ensuring that all children are on course to lead healthy and productive lives. The analysis focuses on 13 indicators of child health system performance along the dimensions of access, quality, costs, and the "potential to lead healthy lives." Iowa and Vermont have created children's health care systems that are accessible, equitable, and deliver high-quality care, all while controlling levels of spending and family health insurance premiums. Over the last decade, both states adopted policies to expand children's access to care and improve their quality of care. Sixty-one percent of children in New Hampshire, and over half of all children in all the New England states, have a medical home, compared with only one-third in Mississippi. There are strong regional patterns in child health system performance. Posted by Michael at 12:32 AM | TrackBack New study shows sedentary high school girls are at significant risk for future osteoporosisFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Significant numbers of female high school athletes and non-athletes suffer from one or more components of the female athlete triad, a combination of three conditions that can lead to cardiovascular disease, according to a new study by Medical College of Wisconsin researchers in Milwaukee. The study results were presented today at the American College of Sports Medicine at Indianapolis, by Anne Z. Hoch, D.O., associate professor of orthopedic surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Medical College, and director of the Froedtert & Medical College Sports Medicine Program. Dr. Hoch found that 78 percent of female high school athletes and 65 percent of female high school non-athletes display one or more components of the female athlete triad. The triad is a combination of three conditions -- low energy availability, menstrual abnormalities and low bone mineral density -- that often leads to the same steroid and hormonal profiles as postmenopausal women. "We are concerned that non athletic girls have some of the same components of the female athlete triad as athletes and are in fact at greater risk for low bone density," says Dr. Hoch. In an effort to lose weight, they are restricting their caloric intake and adapting unhealthy nutrition habits." Both groups showed little difference in low energy availability, with 39 percent of non-athletes and 36 percent of athletes reporting this condition. The study was funded in part by a grant from the General Clinical Research Center, which has evolved into the Clinical and Translational Science Institute; the Medical College's Cardiovascular Center; and the Steve Cullen Run and Walk. Posted by Michael at 12:32 AM | TrackBack Child maltreatment victims lose 2 years of quality of lifeFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Child maltreatment is associated with reductions in quality of life even decades later, according to a new University of Georgia study that finds that---on average---victims lose at least two years of quality of life. UGA College of Public Health associate professor Phaedra Corso and her colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed surveys of more than 6,000 people to assess the deficits in quality of life that victims suffer. Childhood maltreatment---which includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect---has been linked to an increased risk for ailments ranging from heart disease, obesity and diabetes to depression and anxiety. Corso said few studies have examined the long-term impact of childhood maltreatment on quality of life, and, until now, none had been designed so that the measures can be used in comparative economic impact analyses. These analyses are important, Corso said, because they allow public health officials to compare the costs and benefits of two unrelated public health interventions. To assess reductions in quality of life, the team matched responses to a survey that assessed physical functioning, pain, cognitive functioning and social support with data from surveys that explicitly asked people how many years of life they would trade to be free of a given health condition. "For children and adults to live to their full potential, we must support programs that stop child maltreatment before it ever begins and work to help those who have already experienced it." The researchers also found significant differences among age groups, with the gap between the non-maltreated and maltreated group growing smaller---but never disappearing---in older age groups. Posted by Michael at 12:31 AM | TrackBack May 27, 2008More Than 1 Million People Benefit from Goodwill Programs; Historic Record Demonstrates Continued Need for Employment ServicesFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: Through its network of independent agencies in North America, the organization realized an estimated $3.2 (b) billion in revenues, also a record high. "For the first time in our 100+ years of helping people, we have passed the 1 million mark," says Jim Gibbons, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "At Goodwill, we see that in this time of economic uncertainty, people need the job training and other support we offer more than ever." Goodwill helps people who are having a hard time finding a job - either because of a disability, poverty, lack of education and work experience or another obstacle -by selling donations of clothing and household items in Goodwill stores and using the revenue to fund job training programs that benefit hundreds of thousands of people each year. "We aim to help people climb the career ladder so that they can move out of poverty and enjoy the dignity and independence that work brings." "Every 53 seconds of every business day last year, Goodwill placed someone in a good job," says Gibbons. "By donating and shopping Goodwill, you are investing in the economic strength of your community." To learn more about Goodwill programs in your community, visit http://www.goodwill.org or call 800-664-6577. AScribe Newswire distributes news from nonprofit and public sector organizations. We provide direct, immediate access to mainstream national media for 600 colleges, universities, medical centers, public-policy groups and other leading nonprofit organizations. AScribe transmits news releases directly to newsroom computer systems and desktops of major media organizations via a supremely trusted channel - The Associated Press. Posted by Michael at 9:00 PM | TrackBack Race, Ethnicity, and the Subprime Mortgage CrisisFrom Economic Policy Institute: The subprime mortgage crisis, with its links to the broader housing sector and to financial markets, is at the top of the national policy agenda. As Congress and the Federal Reserve consider proposals for reform, it is important to consider how and why this crisis came to have a disproportionate impact on communities of color. On Thursday, June 12, 2008, EPI's Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy presents a panel discussion to examine the reasons for this disparate impact and how policy reforms can be best tailored to serve the communities hardest hit by the crisis. Posted by Michael at 8:59 PM | TrackBack Prevalence of obesity among US children and teens does not increaseFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: There was no significant increase in the prevalence of obese children and teens in the U.S. between 1999 and 2006, in contrast to the increase that had been reported in prior years, according to a study in the May 28 issue of JAMA. Height and weight measurements were obtained from 8,165 children and adolescents as part of the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which are nationally representative surveys of the U.S. population. High BMI was defined based on 2000 sex-specific BMI-for-age growth charts, and was reported based on three levels: at or above the 97th percentile, at or above the 95th percentile, and at or above the 85th percentile, according to these growth charts for U.S. children by age, sex and racial/ethnic group. No statistically significant change in high BMI for age was found between 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. No statistically significant trend in high BMI was found over the time periods 1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2003-2004, and 2005-2006. Because no significant differences were found between 2003-2004 and 2005-2006, these 2 two-year survey periods were combined to make detailed population estimates for the prevalence of high BMI. For 2003-2006, 11.3 percent of children and adolescents were at or above the 97th percentile of BMI for age. For the same period, 16.3 percent of children and adolescents had a BMI for age at or above the 95th percentile of BMI for age, and 31.9 percent were at or above the 85th percentile. Prevalence estimates varied by age and by racial/ethnic group. Non-Hispanic black and Mexican American girls were more likely to have a high BMI for age than non-Hispanic white girls. Posted by Michael at 8:59 PM | TrackBack Secondhand smoke increases hospital admissions for all types of infectious diseasesFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Children exposed to second hand tobacco smoke are more likely to get severe infectious diseases and have to be admitted to hospital, finds research published online ahead of print in Tobacco Control. These children are at greater risk of a whole range of infectious illnesses, such as meningococcal disease, and not just respiratory illness, the results showed. The researchers assessed the relationship between second hand smoke exposure and first admission to hospital for any infectious illness for 7,402 children born in Hong Kong in April and May 1997. Children who lived in the household of someone who smoked within three metres of them during their first few months of life were the most at risk of being admitted to hospital with one in three admitted by the age of 12 months. The earlier the exposure to smoke the more profound the effect with exposure to second hand smoke during the first six months of life increasing the likelihood of being admitted to hospital for an infectious disease during the eight years by almost 45 per cent. More vulnerable infants were also at increased risk of hospitalisation with those born with a low birth weight being 75 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital with an infectious disease during the eight years and those who were premature being twice as likely. "An excess risk of severe morbidity from both respiratory and other infections for all infants exposed to second hand smoke suggests that such exposure, as well as acting via direct contact with the respiratory tract, may also affect the immune system," they say. They add that premature infants and those with a low birth rate might be more at risk because their respiratory and immune systems were less well developed. Posted by Michael at 8:59 PM | TrackBack Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers With Developmental Delays UnderutilizedFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: Results of a new University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine study are raising concerns regarding the nation's children suffering from developmental delays. An early intervention program run by all 50 states is available for children under age three but it is not being utilized, especially for African-American children. Part C early intervention is specified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) as an early intervention program for children age 3 and younger with developmental delays. "This study documents high rates of Part C eligibility nationally but found only a small proportion of children who are likely to be Part C eligible actually receive early intervention," said Steven Rosenberg, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry at UC Denver School of Medicine and the study's principal investigator. The School of Medicine (http://www.uchsc.edu/som/) faculty work to advance science and improve care as the physicians, educators and scientists at University of Colorado Hospital, The Children's Hospital, Denver Health, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, and the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center. For additional news and information, please visit the UC Denver newsroom (http://www.uchsc.edu/news/) online. We provide direct, immediate access to mainstream national media for 600 colleges, universities, medical centers, public-policy groups and other leading nonprofit organizations. AScribe transmits news releases directly to newsroom computer systems and desktops of major media organizations via a supremely trusted channel - The Associated Press. We also feed news to major news retrieval database services, online publications and to developers of web sites and Intranets. Posted by Michael at 8:57 PM | TrackBack Arizona's First Things First Early Childhood InitiativeFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: Governor Janet Napolitano, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Education Commission of the States (ECS) will hold a groundbreaking Forum here Friday, May 30, to discuss ways of strengthening the pathways between Arizona's First Things First early childhood initiative and its existing K-12 system. The meeting will also discuss ways to integrate early childhood programs into the work of Arizona's P-20 Council, established to improve and align the state's early childhood through postsecondary education systems and align them to the expectations of 21st century employers. The Forum is the first of five throughout the country co-sponsored by Kellogg and ECS (the others are in Colorado, Connecticut, Ohio and Pennsylvania). To participate, call 1-800-227-9428 and use pass code "Arizona." Governor Napolitano will speak at approximately 10:30 a.m., followed by remarks from Rufus Glasper, P-20 Council chair; Sterling Speirn, president of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation; and Roger Sampson, president of ECS. Posted by Michael at 8:56 PM | TrackBack May 25, 2008Fixing the education digital disconnect one video game at a timeFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: On Thursday, 22 May 2008, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) will launch Immune Attack TM, an exciting, fun and fast-moving video game that teaches the critical scientific facts of immunology. "My students were very engaged while playing Immune Attack," said Netia Elam, AP Biology Teacher at Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, VA. The game allows students to use sights, sounds, and touch to get better acquainted with the immune system. It also encourages them to interact with each other and have problem-solving discussions to enhance their game-play and ultimately learn the subject. The challenges in Immune Attack give those who might not otherwise be interested in biology the chance to learn in a fun, hands-on manner they won't find in a text book," said Michelle Lucey-Roper, director of the Learning Technologies Program at FAS. FAS is researching and developing ways to produce complex games and 3-D interactive simulations that will one day revolutionize education and how people learn. Immune Attack builds on insights from FAS's Learning Science and Technology Research and Development Roadmap, the FAS report "Harnessing the Power of Video Games for Learning", and the Digital Opportunity Investment Trust (DO IT) -- a proposal to transform learning and training for the 21st century. To schedule an interview or photo opportunity with Henry Kelly or Michelle Lucey-Roper, please contact Monica Amarelo at mamarelo@fas.org or (202) 454-4680. Also Netia Elam of Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, VA, and students from McKinley Technology High School in DC are available for interviews in advance or on-site. Posted by Michael at 10:59 PM | TrackBack Public schools as good as private schools in raising math scoresFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Students in public schools learn as much or more math between kindergarten and fifth grade as similar students in private schools, according to a new University of Illinois study of multi-year, longitudinal data on nearly 10,000 students. "These data provide strong, longitudinal evidence that public schools are at least as effective as private schools in boosting student achievement," according to the authors, education professor Christopher Lubienski, doctoral student Corinna Crane and education professor Sarah Theule Lubienski. Combined with other, yet-unpublished studies of the same data, which produced similar findings, "we think this effectively ends the debate about whether private schools are more effective than publics," said Christopher Lubienski, whose research has dealt with all aspects of alternative education. This is important, he said, because many current reforms, such as No Child Left Behind, charter schools and vouchers for private schools, are based on that assumption. Both studies were based on fourth- and eighth-grade test data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The conclusions of the husband-and-wife team seemed "crazy radical" at the time, Sarah Lubienski said, and generated significant controversy. (Unlike literacy, math is viewed as being less dependent on a student's home environment and more an indication of a school's effectiveness, Sarah Lubienski said.) After adjusting for demographics and initial kindergarten scores, they found that achievement gains between kindergarten and fifth grade were roughly equal. "It is worth noting," the researchers write in analyzing their results, "how little variation school type really accounts for in students' growth in achievement ... Posted by Michael at 10:54 PM | TrackBack National Initiative Aims to Set Record Voter Turnout at Colleges and UniversitiesFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: To help ensure that students stay engaged through the general election, the National Campus Voter Registration Project (http://www.yourvoteyourvoice.org/) has launched a nonpartisan, nationwide campaign to register college students, educate students about the issues and candidates, and motivate students to go to the polls on Election Day. The National Campus Voter Registration Project, is a joint effort of 50 national higher education associations (http://www.yourvoteyourvoice.org/sponsors.html) that provides resources to the nation's 3,700 colleges and universities to aid campus efforts for the 2008 election. Throughout the primaries, polls have shown record levels of engagement among the nation's youth, especially with college students, who have taken on active roles in the 2008 primary season. The project is co-chaired by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (http://www.naicu.edu/) (NAICU), American Association of State Colleges and Universities (http://www.aascu.org/) (AASCU), and Council of Independent Colleges (http://www.cic.org/) (CIC). "In the last two presidential elections, students saw the difference that each individual vote can make," said NAICU President David L. Warren (http://www.naicu.edu/about/id.284/default.asp). If the momentum continues through the party conventions and into the fall, the student vote will not only hit a record high but it could determine our next president." A complete list of the participating 50 national higher education associations can be found at http://www.yourvoteyourvoice.org/. With nearly 1,000 member institutions and associations, NAICU reflects the diversity of private, nonprofit higher education in the United States. We provide direct, immediate access to mainstream national media for 600 colleges, universities, medical centers, public-policy groups and other leading nonprofit organizations. Posted by Michael at 10:50 PM | TrackBack Americans believe wounded Iraq war veterans are not receiving high quality medical care in USFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: As part of the ongoing poll series, Debating Health: Election 2008, a recent survey by the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Harris Interactive® finds that a majority of Americans (62%) believe that wounded Iraq war veterans do not receive high quality care in military and Veteran's Administration (VA) hospitals once they return to the U.S. Similar majorities feel that veterans requiring rehabilitation care and mental health care do not receive high quality care (62% and 65% respectively). This survey follows a number of recent news stories on the quality of health care provided to Iraq war veterans. Americans who have a close family member who is serving or has served in the military are just as likely as Americans with no military connection to say that wounded Iraq veterans do not receive high quality care in military and VA hospitals (64% versus 59%). The quality of medical care that wounded soldiers receive on the front lines in Iraq has gotten more favorable news coverage than the care that war veterans receive in the U.S. Many reports have noted that wounded soldiers who would not have survived their injuries in previous wars are surviving today due to the high quality medical care they receive in Iraq. Compared to both remaining Democratic presidential candidates, more Americans feel that John McCain will make sure that wounded veterans returning from Iraq receive high quality health services. "Providing quality health care for our soldiers in harm's way here and abroad is an emotional issue for many Americans," said Humphrey Taylor, Chairman of The Harris Poll®. Posted by Michael at 10:38 PM | TrackBack Unemployment Insurance Extension Passes Senate, 75 to 22From Economic Policy Institute: On Thursday, the Senate passed, by a veto-proof margin, an amendment to the war supplemental appropriations bill that included emergency extensions to unemployment insurance. The provision extends unemployment benefits by 13 weeks for all workers nationwide (and an additional 13 weeks for workers in high-unemployment states), and would help ease an enormous strain for more than 4 million jobless workers and their families who are most hurt by the economic downturn. The measure now returns to the House of Representatives, where it must also pass by a two-thirds margin to override a threatened presidential veto. Read about it in EPI's latest Policy Memo. Posted by Michael at 10:34 PM | TrackBack May 22, 2008HUD Charges Pennsylvania Owners with Violating Fair Housing ActFrom HUD Press Releases: The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful for a housing provider to refuse to rent to families because they have children and to make, print or publish, in print or on-line, any statement or advertisement that states a preference for single people or couples without children. A converted warehouse, Lofts at the Mill consists of 74 residential apartment units. During 2005 and 2006, the property manager ran several ads in newspapers and on the Internet, which advertised the property as "21 and over." After viewing these advertisements, a local fair housing group contacted Danny Joyce, the property manager, to inform him that the language violated the Fair Housing Act because it prohibits families with children from living or renting at the Mill. Upon learning of the discriminatory content of the advertisements, the Department of Housing and Urban Development exercised its authority to initiate complaints when no individual came forward to file a complaint. As part of its investigation, HUD utilized undercover testers to determine whether the mangers refused to rent to families with children. Another tester was given a brochure that contained the statement, "The Mill is an apartment community catering to young professionals and all occupants must be twenty-one years or older." "Our message to all landlords is clear discriminating against families with children is against the law," said Kim Kendrick, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). The HUD charge now goes before an administrative law judge who may award damages to each complainant for actual loss as a result of the alleged discrimination, as well as damages for emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of civil rights. Posted by Michael at 7:51 PM | TrackBack Fine San Francisco Restaurants Collaborate in SummerTini, a Fun Cocktail Event Benefiting Homeless Culinary StudentsFrom Ascribe Newsfeed: For the fourth year in a row, members of San Francisco's food community have joined forces to organize SummerTini, a benefit on Friday, June 13 for the CHEFS program of Episcopal Community Services (ECS). The fourth annual SummerTini event will benefit Conquering Homelessness through Employment in Food Service (CHEFS), ECS's culinary training program that places homeless adults in gainful employment within the food industry. Today more than 85 percent of CHEFS graduates acquire jobs, which is a tremendous rate given the complex challenges associated with chronic homelessness that many face. Starting 24 years ago with the opening of the Episcopal Sanctuary Shelter, ECS has grown to 10 permanent supportive housing sites for over 1,000 formerly homeless individuals and families, two large shelters helping 500 people a night, senior services, and a skills center providing education and training. ECS's ongoing case management, access to healthcare, and employment services have all made a strategic difference in the lives of chronically homeless people. It's an event where you can do good, feel great and have lots of fun," said Pablo Wong, President of ECS's Board of Directors. Take your Friday night happy hour and support a valued program in our city. We provide direct, immediate access to mainstream national media for 600 colleges, universities, medical centers, public-policy groups and other leading nonprofit organizations. AScribe transmits news releases directly to newsroom computer systems and desktops of major media organizations via a supremely trusted channel - The Associated Press. Posted by Michael at 7:43 PM | TrackBack A trial of removing food additives should be considered for hyperactive childrenFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: A properly supervised trial eliminating colours and preservatives from the diet of hyperactive children should considered a part of the standard treatment, says an editorial in this week's BMJ. Although a substantial body of evidence shows a link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and artificial food colourings and preservatives, removing them is still considered as an alternative rather than a standard treatment for ADHD, writes Professor Andrew Kemp from the University of Sydney. In contrast, despite a lack of evidence for its effectiveness, the use of alternative medicine is widespread---up to 50% of children attending tertiary children's hospitals in the UK and Australia have used it in the past year. Of the three main treatments for ADHD in children---drugs, behavioural therapy, and dietary modification---only drugs and dietary modification are supported by data from several trials. Yet, behavioural therapy, which has no scientific evidence base, is still thought of as necessary for "adequate treatment", he says. In light of these findings, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed the evidence linking preservatives and colourings with hyperactive behaviours from 22 studies between 1975 and 1994 and two additional meta-analyses. 16 of the studies reported positive effects in at least some of the children. However, the EFSA pointed out that hyperactivity has a wide range of social and biological causes, and exclusively focusing on food additives may "detract from the provision of adequate treatment" for children with the disorder. Removing colours and preservatives is a relatively harmless intervention, so a properly supervised and evaluated trial period of eliminating them should be considered as part of the standard treatment, he concludes. Posted by Michael at 7:41 PM | TrackBack High-school girls who consider themselves attractive are more likely to be targets for bullyingFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: University of Alberta Educational Psychology PhD student Lindsey Leenaars has completed a study that assessed what types of high school students are being indirectly victimized. This includes being involved in emotionally damaging scenarios such as receiving hurtful anonymous notes, being socially excluded, or having rumours spread about them, including threats of physical harm. Leenaars analyzed data that was collected in Ontario in 2003. More than 2,300 students aged 12--18 filled out an anonymous questionnaire asking them questions, including how they rate their attractiveness, their sexual activity, their friendships and school social problems. Leenaars found the females who viewed themselves as attractive had a 35 per cent increased chance of being indirectly victimized. Conversely, for males who perceived themselves as good looking, their risk of being bullied decreased by 25 per cent. Leenaars also found older teens (aged 16--18) were at a 35 per cent increased risk of being victimized if they were sexually active. Leenaars says this information could be used to raise awareness amongst parents, teachers and counselors. She adds it would also be helpful when schools are working on a variety of anti-bullying programs to include all students, not just those who may be traditionally perceived as victims. "The findings have important implications for the development of interventions designed to reduce peer victimization, in that victims of indirect aggression may represent a broad group." This study was recently published in the journal Aggressive Behavior. Posted by Michael at 7:39 PM | TrackBack Fruit juice consumption not related to overweight in childrenFrom EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Despite studies that assert otherwise, 100% fruit juice consumption is not related to overweight in children, according to the authors of "A Review of the Relationship Between 100% Fruit Juice Consumption and Weight in Children and Adolescents" in the May/June issue of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (AJLM), published by SAGE. The statistics about overweight children are alarming. Over the past 20 years, there has been an increased prevalence of overweight and at-risk-for overweight in all ages and ethnic groups. "Health professionals and policy makers should be encouraged to objectively review the literature on all beverages and encourage consumption of healthful beverages including water, milk, and 100% fruit juice," according to the authors. The article by O'Neil and Nicklas clears up misconceptions that many healthcare professionals and parents may have about this issue." This article can be viewed for free for a limited time online at http://ajl.sagepub.com/cgi/rapidpdf/1559827608317277v1. The journal provides commentaries and research reviews on nutrition and diet, cardiovascular disease, obesity, anxiety and depression, sleep problems, metabolic disease, and more in a readable, immediately accessible, and usable format. SAGE is a leading international publisher of journals, books, and electronic media for academic, educational, and professional markets. Since 1965, SAGE has helped inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students spanning a wide range of subject areas including business, humanities, social sciences, and science, technology and medicine. A privately owned corporation, SAGE has principal offices in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, and Singapore. Posted by Michael at 7:39 PM | TrackBack May 21, 2008American Lung Association Launches Online Photo Campaign to Expose Big Tobacco in Communities NationwideFrom PR Newswire: Association has launched an online photo campaign in order to solicit the public's help in exposing the most egregious examples of tobacco advertising to children and teens in communities nationwide. The American Lung Association encourages all concerned individuals to expose Big Tobacco in their communities by using digital cameras or cell phones to snap and upload photos of inappropriate tobacco advertising to young people and other targeted populations by visiting the "Healthy Lungs" application on Facebook. Each photo submission must be accompanied by the city and state where it was taken, along with the name of the retail establishment. "Tobacco companies continue to target young people with advertising," said Bernadette Toomey, President and CEO, American Lung Association. "This pending legislation will finally give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to curb tobacco marketing to youth, to set standards for tobacco products and to require claims made about tobacco products to be truthful." Convenience stores near schools, for example, often feature tobacco advertising near candy displays -- and prom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
