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Health Advisory Committee

The Virginia State Health Advisory Committee meets about six times a year at the Hanover DSS. Meeting dates are on the Calendar of Events page. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 804-372-1065.

Dorothea Butts and Leslie Nussman, Health Advisory Co-chairs

The next meeting of the Virginia Head Start Association Health Advisory Committee will be held September 16, 2008 at the DSS in Ashland 11 a.m. to 3 p.m

News

Effective July 1, 2008, the Code of Virginia at § 32.1-37 requires family day homes, child day centers, children’s residential facilities, and child caring institutions licensed by the Department of Social Services to report outbreaks of disease to the health department. The health department defines an outbreak as ‘the occurrence of more cases of a disease than expected.’ This means that any time a facility director feels that more children are ill than is normal, she should call the local health department that serves the city or county in which the facility is located. This could apply to any disease, and there is no set level of disease that needs to be met to be considered an outbreak. The requirement boils down to if the director suspects that an outbreak may be occurring, the local health department should be notified by phone call. The health department will help assess the situation and make recommendations to help prevent the spread of disease. Please cooperate with the health department, provide them the information they request, and realize they are partners with us in protecting the health of the community.

Meeting Agendas & Notes

Info Memos

Lead Screening, ACF, March 20, 2008 (PDF)
Information to help address concerns raised by ABC legal drama, which aired on Jan 31, 2008, about vaccines and autism (CDC)

Resources

Sample Individual Care Plan, supplied at the April 2008 meeting (Word doc)

Sample Individual Care Plan for a Special Health Condition, supplied at the April 2008 meeting (Word doc)

Health Advisory Committee Bylaws, draft for review (Word doc)

Obesity

F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America

Adult obesity rates rose in 31 states over the past year and decreased in none, according to a new RWJF-supported report from Trust for America's Health (TFAH). But while the obesity epidemic continues to draw increased attention, there hasn't been a coordinated national response to match the scope of the problem.

The fourth edition of the report F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America ranks obesity rates in each state, provides a review of federal and state policies aimed at preventing or reducing obesity, and recommends action steps for families, communities, schools, employers, the food and beverage industries, health professionals, and government.

Read the Report

Study Finds Preschoolers Vulnerable to Fast-Food Advertising
Aug 7, 2007

A study in the August issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine finds that most preschoolers prefer the taste of food packaged in McDonald's wrappers over identical food in plain wrapping, suggesting that children are significantly influenced by fast-food marketing, HealthDay reports. In one of the first studies to assess the effect of a company's branding efforts on children, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine recruited 63 children ages 3 to 5 enrolled in Head Start, a federally sponsored preschool program for low-income families, to participate in a taste test. Researchers presented participants with five pairs of food items, including hamburgers, chicken nuggets, French fries, milk and carrots, wrapping one item in each pair in McDonald's packaging and the other in similar packaging without the McDonald's logo. Read more.

Health & Fitness

Food and fitness regimes are not universal -- we have cultural and ethnic considerations to keep in mind. This American College and Sports Medicine Newletter looks at Population-Specific Health and Fitness Issues and examines why certain populations are more at risk for certain diseases than others and what preventative measures can be taken by these populations to ensure healthier, happier lives.

ACSM Newsletter (PDF).

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Home About Virginia Head Start Find a Head Start Program Success Stories Resources & Links Member Central News & Events Virginia Head Start Association PO Box 876 Lynchburg, VA 24505	Member Central In This Section » Calendar of Events Job Board Regional news VaHS Health News Early Head Start News Male Involvement/Fatherhood Program Initiatives Education & Training Legislative Updates How can I get involved? ListServ VaHS Health News Health Advisory Committee The Virginia State Health Advisory Committee meets about six times a year at the Hanover DSS. Meeting dates are on the Calendar of Events page. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 804-372-1065. Dorothea Butts and Leslie Nussman, Health Advisory Co-chairs The next meeting of the Virginia Head Start Association Health Advisory Committee will be held September 16, 2008 at the DSS in Ashland 11 a.m. to 3 p.m News Effective July 1, 2008, the Code of Virginia at § 32.1-37 requires family day homes, child day centers, children’s residential facilities, and child caring institutions licensed by the Department of Social Services to report outbreaks of disease to the health department. The health department defines an outbreak as ‘the occurrence of more cases of a disease than expected.’ This means that any time a facility director feels that more children are ill than is normal, she should call the local health department that serves the city or county in which the facility is located. This could apply to any disease, and there is no set level of disease that needs to be met to be considered an outbreak. The requirement boils down to if the director suspects that an outbreak may be occurring, the local health department should be notified by phone call. The health department will help assess the situation and make recommendations to help prevent the spread of disease. Please cooperate with the health department, provide them the information they request, and realize they are partners with us in protecting the health of the community. Meeting Agendas & Notes April 2008 Meeting Minutes (PDF) April 2008 Meeting Agenda (PDF) January 2008 Meeting Minutes (PDF) January 2008 Meeting Agenda (PDF) September 2007 Meeting Minutes (PDF) Info Memos Lead Screening, ACF, March 20, 2008 (PDF) Information to help address concerns raised by ABC legal drama, which aired on Jan 31, 2008, about vaccines and autism (CDC) Resources Sample Individual Care Plan, supplied at the April 2008 meeting (Word doc) Sample Individual Care Plan for a Special Health Condition, supplied at the April 2008 meeting (Word doc) Health Advisory Committee Bylaws, draft for review (Word doc) Obesity F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America Adult obesity rates rose in 31 states over the past year and decreased in none, according to a new RWJF-supported report from Trust for America's Health (TFAH). But while the obesity epidemic continues to draw increased attention, there hasn't been a coordinated national response to match the scope of the problem. The fourth edition of the report F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America ranks obesity rates in each state, provides a review of federal and state policies aimed at preventing or reducing obesity, and recommends action steps for families, communities, schools, employers, the food and beverage industries, health professionals, and government. Read the Report Study Finds Preschoolers Vulnerable to Fast-Food Advertising Aug 7, 2007 A study in the August issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine finds that most preschoolers prefer the taste of food packaged in McDonald's wrappers over identical food in plain wrapping, suggesting that children are significantly influenced by fast-food marketing, HealthDay reports. In one of the first studies to assess the effect of a company's branding efforts on children, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine recruited 63 children ages 3 to 5 enrolled in Head Start, a federally sponsored preschool program for low-income families, to participate in a taste test. Researchers presented participants with five pairs of food items, including hamburgers, chicken nuggets, French fries, milk and carrots, wrapping one item in each pair in McDonald's packaging and the other in similar packaging without the McDonald's logo. Read more. Health & Fitness Food and fitness regimes are not universal -- we have cultural and ethnic considerations to keep in mind. This American College and Sports Medicine Newletter looks at Population-Specific Health and Fitness Issues and examines why certain populations are more at risk for certain diseases than others and what preventative measures can be taken by these populations to ensure healthier, happier lives. ACSM Newsletter (PDF).