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From health disparities to childhood obesity, dental care and literacy, Arnold School is making a difference
October 17, 2013
Dr. Angela McLeod, right, and Dr. Suzanne Adlof, second from right, are shown with Cocky and participants at a Get Ready to Read with Cocky family night.
Arnold School of Public Health alumna Frances Ashe-Goins is serving on the President's Working Group for the Intersection of HIV/AIDS, Violence against Women and Girls, and Gender-related Health Disparities.
The group recently released a national report detailing five core objectives: 1) improve health and wellness for women by screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV; 2) improve outcomes for women in HIV care by addressing violence and trauma; 3) address certain contributing factors that increase the risk of violence for women and girls living with HIV; 4) expand public outreach, education and prevention efforts regarding HIV and
violence against women and girls; and 5) support research to understand the scope of the intersection of HIV/AIDS and violence against women and girls, and develop effective interventions.
"These recommendations will change how we work on these issues for women's health within the federal government and in public health programs," said Ms. Ashe-Goins, the Deputy Director of the Office on Women's Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
To read the report, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/vaw-hiv_working_group_report_final_-_9-6--2013.pdf.
Brie Turner-McGrievy on Obesity Society Workshop Committee
Dr. Brie Turner-McGrievy is on the planning committee for the preconference workshop, "Mobile Health Boot Camp for Pediatric Obesity." The Nov. 12 workshop in Atlanta is being held in conjunction with ObesityWeek 2013, the inaugural scientific and educational conference for obesity health care professionals.
The workshop will focus on the use of mobile health (mHealth) for the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity. To learn more about ObesityWeek, visit http://asmbs.org/2011/06/obesity-week-2013/.
Amy Martin leads dental care initiative, named to council
The S.C. Rural Health Research Center at the Arnold School of Public Health has received funding to improve dental care for underserved populations in rural South Carolina.
The Oral Health Workforce Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will fund water fluoridation equipment maintenance in seven communities throughout rural South Carolina.
"Our purpose is to improve access to dental care for underserved populations in order to improve their oral health status. Our priority populations are underserved children aged birth to 18 years. These children live in rural areas where the whole county has been designated a dental health professional shortage area (HPSA)," said Dr. Amy Martin, the deputy director of the SCRHRC.
The award will involve local dentists and safety net primary care providers in the process. "We will train the operators, dentists and primary care providers on water fluoridation advocacy so that they will be part of the process," she said.
Two community awards have been made for 2013. Two other awards will be given by August 2014, with the final three awards being made in 2015.
Martin recently was nominated by the S.C. Department of Commerce to represent South Carolina on the Appalachian Regional Commission's Health Policy Council.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state and local government. Formed in 1999, the ARC's Health Policy Advisory Council (AHPAC) advises the commission on health issues and concerns in the Appalachian Region. Council members include state rural health directors, academics, local health care practitioners and economic development officials. The council focuses on current regional health issues and advises the commission on responses to emerging health problems.
Get Ready to Read with Cocky under way!
The Get Ready to Read with Cocky! program has held two successful family nights to encourage parents, grandparents and children to enjoy reading together and individually.
Recent events held at a school in St. Matthews and at the Calhoun County Library drew more than 1,200 family members and educators. Funded by a $95,000 grant from the Central Carolina Community Foundation, the program is a partnership between the Arnold School's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the School of Library and Information Sciences.
Drs. Suzanne Adlof and Angela McLeod from COMD are collaborating with Kim Jeffcoat of the S.C. Center for Children's Book and Literacy on the Get Ready to Read with Cocky initiative. The program had its origins in a pilot study last year in Richland County.
Visit http://www.sph.sc.edu/news/readingexpress.htm to read more about the program.
