February 10, 2010  
 

Staff Updates

A hearty congratulations goes out to IMCHC’s Executive Director, Robyn Gabel, who recently won the primary race for State Representative of Illinois’ 18th district! Robyn will enter the November 2010 general election with the hopes of following in the footsteps of other women legislators, including Congresswoman Jan Schakowky and Representative Julie Hamos.

Over the next several months, Robyn will be working with IMCHC’s Board of Directors to ensure that the organization continues to run effectively and that a smooth transition takes place, in the event that she wins the November election.

For more information, please contact us at 312-491-8161.

Mark Your Calendars for 2010 IMCHC Meetings and Events!

Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Tuesday, June 15th
11:30am – 2pm
Maggiano’s at Clark and Grand in Chicago
Contact Lilah Handler for sponsorship opportunities.

Chicago Area General Membership Meetings
Wednesdays, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm
Metropolitan Family Services, 1 N. Dearborn, 10th Floor, Chicago

February 24, 2010                  
May 26, 2010 
September 22, 2010   
December 8, 2010        

Southern Illinois Chapter Meetings 
Wednesdays, 12:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Municipal West Building, 200 Potomac in Mt. Vernon

April 21, 2010
July 28, 2010
October 20, 2010

Lake County Chapter Meeting
Wednesdays 1-3pm at the University of Illinois Extension Building, 100 South Highway 45, Grayslake

March 24, 2010

IMCHC Junior Board
March 9, 2010, Junior Board Meeting
March 11, 2010, Junior Board Book Club Discussion
March 24, 2010, S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G It Out for Student Health Grown Up Spelling Bee
June 24, 2010, Junior Board 2nd Annual Fundraiser

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State and Policy Updates

Join the Responsible Budget Coalition’s Rally on Feb 17th!

The Responsible Budget Coalition’s “We Can’t Wait” Campaign is now underway!  Show lawmakers and everyone else how we are all hurt by the state's broken budget. This campaign gives you an easy way to tell your story AND to mobilize your community to take action in support of tax reform that will:
(1) raise more adequate revenue
(2) make taxes fairer 
We need thousands of Illinois citizens to get involved so legislators feel the pressure, at home and in Springfield.

Illinois needs a responsible budget with a balance solution.  We must avoid relying on deep, painful cuts in vital services to solve our fiscal problems.  "We Can't Wait" will help you make contact with your State Representative and State Senator so they know how their actions in Springfield are being felt at home.

Join thousands of others for a Rally and Lobby Day at the Capital Building in Springfield on February 17th to support HB 174. The rally starts at 11 and there will be bus transportation from the city of Chicago available. For more information on how you can get involved, contact Kathy Chan.

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Federal - Health Care Reform Updates

Kathy Chan, IMCHC’s Associate Director, recently traveled to Washington, DC for Families USA’s annual conference to learn what other health care advocates are doing to move forward federal health reform efforts. In response, she put together a memo encouraging IMCHC’s partners and members to continue to press ahead and urge members of Congress to take swift action. Visit IMCHC’s website to download a copy of the memo.

IMCHC continues to monitor the health care reform bills pending in Congress. While it is unclear what strategy the leadership in both chambers will utilize to pass a health care bill, what is clear is America’s continuing need for reform.  Americans still need health care they can afford and coverage that suits their individual needs.  Some key provisions to remember include:

1. Tax credits will be available to small businesses to offer coverage to their employees
2. Employer-based coverage will not change
3. Health care reform would reduce the deficit and create jobs
4. The “donut-hole” for seniors on Medicare would be eradicated
5. Insurers would no longer be allowed to charge women more than men
6. Reform would provide coverage to millions more Americans

For more information on the key provisions in the proposed bills for both the House and Senate please visit the Kaiser Family Foundation’s interactive side-by-side health reform comparison tool, with separate summaries of the bill’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program provisions, as well as an outline of the ongoing process that Congress must follow as it works to complete and enact a health reform bill.

For additional questions, you may also email Sara Howard, Staff Attorney at IMCHC who has been closely monitoring this legislation. She can also be reached at 312-491-8161x32.



President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget

Obama Budget Proposal Would Protect Women's Programs from Spending Freeze

President Obama's fiscal year 2011 federal budget proposal would exempt programs for women and girls from spending restrictions proposed for many other domestic programs. White House spokesperson Kate Bedingfield said, "We're looking at a lot of significant funding increases for women's programs in a year when the president has ordered a three-year, non-security, discretionary spending freeze."

The $3.8 trillion budget proposal would increase funding for family planning efforts by $10 million, bringing the total to $327 million. The proposal also includes $8.1 billion in food aid for low-income pregnant women, infants and children up to age five, and $3.9 billion for Head Start meals and child care. The budget includes a $177 million, or 22%, increase in aid funding for domestic violence survivors for a total of $535 million. For more information about the budget visit the Health and Human Services website.


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Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers

Building Bridges: Healthy Minds, Bodies, Communities
2010 School Health Center Conference
Hilton in Springfield, IL on May 13 and 14th.

For more information, click here.


Regional Meetings:

Southern Regional Meeting - Thursday, February 25
10:30am- 2:30pm
Adolescent Health Center
101 S. Wall St., Multi-Purpose Room
Carbondale, IL  62902

Chicago Regional Meeting - Monday, March 1
8:30am- 12:30pm
Reavis Elementary School, Gymnasium
834 E. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60615

North-Central Meeting - Thursday, March 11
10:00am-2:00pm
Methodist Atrium Building
Suite A, B and C
900 Main Street
Peoria, IL 61602

RSVP to Conor Butkus at cbutkus@ilmaternal.org or at 312-491-8161 x 28

Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers Highlighted in Report

The Poverty to Opportunity project of the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights has highlighted ICSHC and the Anna-Jonesboro School Health Center in their Poverty Elimination Strategies that Work: A Human Rights Toolkit for Addressing Poverty in Your Community. See pg. 19 for mention of school health centers.

Chicago Area Immunization Campaign

Chicago Department of Public Health to Partner for more H1N1 Flu Clinics in Chicago

The Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Emergency Preparedness planning team is in the process of planning H1N1 vaccinations for February and March.  They would like to partner with organizations within the community who work with underserved and vulnerable populations, racial and ethnic minorities, hard to reach populations, population groups that consistently have lower than average seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates, and adults with chronic conditions, among others.   If organizations would be willing to host, CDPH would provide the nurses, vaccine, and supplies to set up mini clinics at their location. The target groups that CDPH is trying to reach are as follows:

• Underserved and vulnerable populations;
• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) priority groups;

1. Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;
2. Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants younger than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;
3. Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
4. All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
5. Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
   

• Racial and ethnic minorities;
• Hard-to-reach populations;
• Population groups that consistently have lower than average seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates;
• Population groups disproportionately affected by H1N1 morbidity and mortality, e.g. American Indians/Alaska Natives; and
• Adults with chronic conditions.

Please contact Kate Schellinger, Sr. Emergency Management Coordinator at the Office of Public Health Preparedness & Emergency Response at 312-747-9402 (office).

9th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions – Early Registration Ends Soon

The 9th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions (NCIHC) will be hosted by the Chicago Area Immunization Campaign, a project of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition. NCIHC will showcase successful ways in which health coalitions can improve immunization protection, prevent disease, improve access to care and health outcomes for underserved populations, reduce racial, ethnic, and geographic health disparities, educate new populations, and build community health infrastructures. NCIHC will take place on May 26 – 28, 2010 at the Westin River North Hotel in downtown Chicago. 

Early registration ends this week! Payment must be received by February 12, 2010 to ensure the early registration cost. If you are interested in registering for this event, or would like more information, visit IMCHC’s website.

President’s Budget Includes Modest Increase for Immunization Services

“Section 317" of the Public Health Service Act provides a safety net program of grants to states to immunize children, adolescents and adults who have no other means to pay for vaccinations.

The Fiscal Year 2011 budget includes $579 Million (M), an increase of $17 M, for Section 317 “to build on the gains made with FY 2009 Recovery Act funds to increase vaccination coverage and to support States in obtaining reimbursement of immunization services provided to children with private health insurance.”  In their budget justification to the President the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state “this increase will be used for purchase of vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to reduce vaccine-preventable diseases. The increase will also continue the billables demonstration projects.” 

For more information visit Every Child By Two website.



Illinois Premature Infant Health Network

The Illinois Premature Infant Health network will have its next full meeting on March 1st at IMCHC’s office in Chicago. We will be discussing a bill to get more educational materials to parents of premature infants, conducting a subject matter only hearing on prematurity in Springfield and planning NICU tours during the summer of 2010.  Please contact Sara Howard if you would like more information about IPIHN or to RSVP for a meeting.

Upcoming meetings and conference calls include:

February 22nd – IPIHN Continuity of Care Committee Conference Call, 11am-12pm

February 22nd – IPIHN State Policy Committee Conference Call, 2pm-3pm

March 1st – IPIHN General Meeting, 10am-12pm at the IMCHC Office

*June 21st – IPIHN General Meeting, 10am-12pm, hosted by LaRabida Children’s Hospital, located at East 65th Street at Lake Michigan in Chicago

*Please note date change for our June IPIHN Meeting.

Campaign to Save Our Babies

The Englewood project is collaborating with several other community based organizations to deliver Health & Reproductive Education to young girls and women. Weekly sessions are being conducted with young girls and teenagers in Englewood on various Life Skills and Health Education Topics. If you are interested in hosting an interactive educational session with these young ladies please contact Tamika D. Hinton or call 773-651-0520.

IMCHC Junior Executive Board

Over twenty-five young professionals are actively involved in IMCHC’s Junior Board planning events to raise awareness for maternal and infant health.  Please contact Sara Howard if you would like to learn more about the Junior Board and its activities. Meetings are held on a bimonthly basis at IMCHC’s offices.

Upcoming events include:

March 9th – Junior Board Meeting
            5:30-7pm at IMCHC Offices, 1256 W. Chicago Avenue
            We’ll be discussing IMCHC’s policy agenda, as well as plans for our upcoming events.

March 11th – Junior Board Book Group Discussion of Reefer Madness:  Sex, Drugs and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market by Eric Schlosser.
            5:30-7:30pm at the home of an IMCHC Junior Board Member          
Please contact Sara Howard if you would like to attend this discussion.

March 25th – S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G it Out for Student Health: a Spelling Bee for Grownups!

Were you a champion speller back in the day? Want another chance to show off your spelling skills as an adult? Join the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers and the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition’s Junior Board for their first spelling bee fundraiser. Teams of two will compete in three exhilarating rounds of spelling for fabulous prizes and the title of the “Best Spellers in Chicago.”  If you are interested in being an event sponsor or participating as a spelling bee contestant, please contact Megan Erskine at merskine@ilmaternal.org

Funds collected will support the youth empowerment and leadership development work of the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers. Don’t miss the most exciting fundraiser of the year!

June 24th – 2nd Annual IMCHC Junior Board Summer Rooftop Fundraiser

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Newsletter Archive

Visit our newsletter archive to read about recently listed articles from past issues.

• Federal and State Policy Updates
• Junior Board Events
• Chicago Area Immunization Campaign Meetings
• Staff Updates

La Rabida Children’s Hospital Presents: The 14th Annual Perspectives in Care Symposium

On April 9, 2010, La Rabida Children’s Hospital will present “A Collaborative Approach to Cerebral Palsy” at their 14th Annual Perspectives in Care Symposium.

For more information, call 773-256-5997.

Raise Awareness for the Earned Income Tax Credit!

In a time of instability and incredible economic pressures, tax credits can help eligible families make ends meet.

Families need to claim these tax credits when they file their 2009 tax returns. Most families will be receiving the tax documents they need to file their taxes in the next few weeks, making this an especially critical time for tax credits outreach.

For more information and outreach materials visit the National Women’s Law Center.  For information specific to Illinois visit the Center for Economic Progress.



Obesity Prevention Initiative Act: PUBLIC HEARINGS

The Illinois Department of Public Health will host a series of public hearings in accordance with the Obesity Prevention Initiative Act.  The purpose of these hearings is to illuminate the social and human costs of obesity and to highlight existing state and community level initiatives; identify existing plans and opportunities for action and expansion of initiatives; inform policy makers and the public about effective solutions to the problem; and identify and engage stakeholders to promote action to reduce obesity, improve nutrition and increase physical activity.

Interested stakeholders are invited to attend and testify at the hearings.  If you would like assistance in crafting your testimony please don’t hesitate to contact Kathy Chan at IMCHC, or Karen Berg or Amber Broughton at the Illinois Public Health Institute.

For additional information about the hearings please visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website, or call 217-557-0496.

The dates for these hearings are:

February 26, 2010, 1-4pm
Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago
160 N. LaSalle, Room C-500

March 8, 2010, 10am-1pm
Illinois Department of Agriculture in Springfield
801 Sangamon Ave., Gate 11, Auditorium

March 15, 2010, 10am-1pm
Carbondale City Hall/Civic Center in Carbondale
200 South Illinois Ave., Room 108

Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding Core Measure: USBC publishes guidance for hospitals

The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) has published guidelines to aid hospitals and maternity facilities in accurate collection of the data needed to comply with The Joint Commission's new core measure on exclusive breast milk feeding. After March 31, 2010, The Joint Commission's Pregnancy and Related Conditions core measure set will be retired and replaced with the new Perinatal Care core measure set. The new Perinatal Care core measure set is available for selection for hospitals beginning with April 1, 2010 discharges.

For more information visit USBC.

Following Decade-long Decline, U.S. Teen Pregnancy Rate Increases as Both Births and Abortions Rise

For the first time in more than a decade, the nation’s teen pregnancy rate rose 3% in 2006, reflecting increases in teen birth and abortion rates of 4% and 1%, respectively.

This new data from the Guttmacher Institute is especially noteworthy because it provides the first documentation of what experts have suspected for several years, based on trends in teens’ contraceptive use—that the overall teen pregnancy rate would increase in the mid-2000s
following steep declines in the 1990s and a subsequent plateau in the early 2000s. The significant drop in teen pregnancy rates in the 1990s was overwhelmingly the result of more and better use of contraceptives among sexually active teens. However, this decline started to stall out in the early 2000s, at the same time that sex education programs aimed exclusively at promoting abstinence—and prohibited by law from discussing the benefits of contraception- became increasingly widespread and teens’ use of contraceptives declined.