Society Newsletters

News from your Executive Director

1.       US Department of Education Announces Safe and Supportive Schools Pilot Grant Program

Purpose:  Safe and Supportive Schools awards grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to support statewide measurement of, and targeted programmatic interventions to improve conditions for learning in order to help schools improve safety and reduce substance use.

Eligible Applicants: SEAs, as defined by section 9101 (41) of the ESEA

The invitation is published in the Federal Register. For complete details, visit:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-16811.htm

2. SPARK Webinar

Early Childhood Physical Activity

"Scaling New Heights with Tiny Tots" 

Do you face an uphill climb trying to provide movement opportunities for children at your preschool?  Are you seeing an ever widening crevasse wedged between the questions, "What to teach?" and "How to teach it?"

Choosing the right physical activity curriculum can be a challenging task for both new and experienced climbers.  Participate in the next SPARK Webinar and let Early Childhood content experts safely escort you to the summit!  You'll receive a map to guide you down the path of discovering developmentally appropriate activities (sample lesson plans) and teaching strategies that really work on children ages 3-5.

Whether you have already conquered the highest peak or taking the first step on your journey, this webinar will provide useful information you'll want to keep in your backpack.  So, grab your gear and register today!

Attendees will learn:

• Why physical activity is important for young children and how much is recommended - physical activity guidelines • Physical activity's relationship to learning and school readiness skills • Strategies for choosing PA content and examples of quality activities and lesson plans • Tools and resources that foster more structured and unstructured physical activity minutes in Preschool settings 

When: Wednesday, July 21st at 3pm Pacific, 6pm Eastern 

Who: All teachers of children ages 3-5 - School districts, Head Starts, WIC Agencies, public and private daycare. 

Duration: 45 minutes 

Cost: Free! 

Registration: Click Here to register https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/380293955

3.  CDC/DASH LGBTQ Joint Working Group

Surveys find that the Nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth population have disproportionate rates of HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, harassment, violence, suicide, use of tobacco and other substances, poor academic performance, and eating disorders. Concerned about these disparities, CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health established the LGBTQ Youth Joint Working Group (JWG) more than 15 years ago to help coordinate prevention efforts for these youth among its funded partners.

The JWG consists of engaged representatives of state, local, territorial, and tribal education agencies and national non-governmental organizations, coordinated by DASH project officers. JWG members regularly share relevant information regarding prevention programs designed to improve the health, learning conditions, and academic achievement of LGBTQ youth by means of an active listserv, occasional conference calls and webinars, and a face-to-face gathering during each DASH Funded Partners Meeting. The group facilitates sharing of successful models, current research findings, surveillance results, collaborative approaches, professional development programs, and funding opportunities.

With the opportunity to add a new HIV prevention School-Level Impact Measure #10 on LGBTQ youth, the JWG steering committee believes the time is ripe to provide an opportunity for additional SEAs, LEAs, TEAs, tribal governments, and NGOs to apply to join the working group. Criteria for membership include the following:

·         Be funded directly or indirectly by CDC/DASH

·         Be interested in addressing health disparities of LGBTQ youth

·         Be recommended by a CDC/DASH Project Officer

·         Be committed to creating a constructive atmosphere that facilitates and supports the goals of CDC/DASH

·         Be willing to respect other members’ requests for confidentiality.

Save-The-Date

The Ancillary Meeting of the CDC-DASH LGBTQ Joint Working Group will be Saturday, October 16, 2010 12:30pm–4:30 pm,  held In conjunction with the 2010 Adolescent and School Health Partners Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri.

If you’re not already a member of the JWG, please contact your project officer for more information or to determine your eligibility for membership and attendance at the Ancillary Meeting.

4.  Michigan Department of Education Featured in Journal

Congratulations to Society member and APL co-chair Kyle Guerrant on the publication of a study conducted in Michigan.

Authored by Trina Boyle-Holmes, Lisa Grost, Lisa Russell, B.A. Laris, Leah Robin, Elizabeth Haller, Susan Potter and Sarah Lee, Promoting Elementary Physical Education: Results of a School-Based Evaluation Study was published in SOPHE’s Health Eduation & Behavior, Vol 37(3) of June 2010.