Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
August 2014
Inside this issue:
1) Popsicles in the Park – Aug. 25 and Sept. 29 – Long Beach
2) Autism CARES Act Passes Senate
3) “Kidswell: Securing Coverage for Children by Advocating for the ACA”
4) Achieving Bright Futures: Prevention Initiative to Improve Public Health
_______________________________________________________________
1) Popsicles in the Park – Aug. 25 and Sept. 29 – Long Beach
Come hang out at the Eaglet Town Playground on The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus from 3 to 5 p.m. on Mon., Aug. 25, and again on Mon., Sept. 29. Cool off with a free popsicle, play, and enjoy time with other families. Be sure to tour the Technology Learning Center, and check out the extensive toy lending library. The Technology Learning Center is located on the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus at 730 East Beach Boulevard in Long Beach. Just follow the signs once you enter the campus. For more information, follow TLC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmidstechnologylearningcenter, or call 228.214.3400 or toll free 1.888.671.0051 (TTY).
2) Autism CARES Act Passes Senate
The U.S. Senate voted unanimously on July 31, to approve the Autism CARES (Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support) Act of 2014 (S. 2449). This bipartisan, bicameral bill reauthorizes the Combating Autism Act of 2006 as amended by the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 for five years. Since its enactment, the law has impacted thousands of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families. Had Congress not reauthorized the law before Sept. 30, activities authorized under the law would have expired. The House is urged to continue to work to move the bill quickly and not let the law expire. For more information about the Combating Autism Act, visit http://iacc.hhs.gov/reports/reports-to-congress/FY2010-2012/index.shtml.
3) “Kidswell: Securing Coverage for Children by Advocating for the ACA”
The Kidswell Campaign was launched by the Atlantic Philanthropies to maximize the potential of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to ensure health insurance coverage for all children and to build a lasting child advocacy infrastructure for children’s health. Because the success of states in enrolling uninsured children and their families depending on the effectiveness of state policies and systems, the Kidswell report examines how child advocates in New Mexico and New York have tried to shape state decisions on ACA implementation policies and their achievement. To view the report, visit http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/~/media/publications/pdfs/health/kidswell_grantees_nm_ny.pdf?spMailingID=9041981&spUserID=MTU0MDAwNzY3NwS2&spJobID=341410062&spReportId=MzQxNDEwMDYyS0.
4) Achieving Bright Futures: Prevention Initiative to Improve Public Health
Bright Futures, an American Academy of Pediatrics preventive health initiative works to promote health in infants, children, and adolescents. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) covers all Bright Futures services for children with no cost-sharing, highlighting the importance of preventive care to enhance population health. The Bright Futures issue brief provides the history and an overview of the initiative. To view the document, visit http://www.astho.org/Maternal-and-Child-Health/bright-futures/. For more information about Bright Futures and its role within the ACA to improve public health, visit the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91efyFNMHlM&feature=youtu.be.
***PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to access any of the links in Family Health Notes, please make sure the entire link is highlighted. If a link is not highlighted, please copy and paste the entire link into your Web browser.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Family Health Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Health Notes is sponsored by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Mississippi’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at The University of Southern Mississippi. IDS provides university training, community service activities, research and information that promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information about IDS, visit www.usm/edu/ids or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit www.usm.edu/ids/supportus.html.
The Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center (F2F) is a family-focused, family managed resource center that empowers families of Mississippi children with special health care needs to be partners in the decisions made concerning the health of their children. F2F is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#H84MC07948).
***********************************
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
***********************************
TO SUBSCRIBE
If this mailing was forwarded to you and you are not already subscribed to Family Health Notes, here’s how you can become a subscriber:
Sign up online at https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/familyhealthnotes
TO UNSUBSCRIBE
Unsubscribe online at https://mailman.usm.edu/mailman/listinfo/familyhealthnotes and login with your email address and your password. If you do not have a password (they are emailed to members at the beginning of every month), contact one of the administrators listed below.
****************************************
Please visit the IDS Calendar of Events at http://www.usm.edu/ids/calevents/.
Questions may be addressed to
OR
_______________________________________________
Family Health Notes mailing list