Addressing a recent conference hosted by The Heritage Foundation, Dr. Byron Johnson, Co-Director of the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR), and Dr. Joon Jang, Associate Professor of Sociology, Baylor University, addressed "The Long-Term Effects of Religious Involvement on Drug Use."

Presenting at the conference Religious Practice and Civic Life: What the Research Says, held earlier this month in Arlington, VA, Drs. Johnson, and Jang reported findings from a study funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on the role religion plays in prosocial youth behavior. The findings indicate that religiosity during adolescence and early adulthood strengthens protective factors and weakens risk factors that promote drug use.

Other studies presented at the conference noted similar findings. Dr. John Wallace, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, reported that the higher students’ level of religiosity, the less likely they are to binge drink or use marijuana, while Dr. Scott A. Desmond, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Purdue University, and colleagues, reported that adolescents’ religiosity had a significant positive association with self control, and both religion and self control are related to fewer delinquent behaviors such as marijuana and alcohol use.

Resources:

For additional information about the ISR study, visit http://www.baylor.edu/pr/news.php?action=story&story=42314.

For an earlier related study, see http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/24227.pdf.

For the complete paper by Dr. Wallace, see Wallace, J.M., et al., "Religiosity and Adolescent Substance Use: The Role of Individual and Community Influences," Social Problems, Vol. 54, No.2 (May 2007), pp. 308–27.

October 25, 2007 -

WASHINGTON - WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today announced a statewide selection committee to recommend current and recently graduated high school students as potential nominees to the Naval, Air Force, United States Military, and Merchant Marine academies. Read more >>>

USDOJ

United States Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Assistance

Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program Modification 4

http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=15683

See UPDATE below ...

The Florida Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), in conjunction with the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (FASFAA), will be offering workshops designed specifically for guidance counselors relating to federal, state and institutional financial aid programs.

National Training for Counselors and Mentors (NT4CM): Funding Education Beyond High School, is sponsored by Federal Student Aid, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs.

NT4CM workshops will take place from November through January at various locations throughout the state. For more information or to register, simply visit the official NT4CM Web site at www.fsa4counselors.ed.gov/nt4cm, click on Registration and choose Florida. You may also contact Florida coordinator Kelly Harrison at Kelly.Harrison@fldoe.org for more details.

Following are dates and locations for upcoming workshops:

November 9 - Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee
November 14 - Keiser University, Pembroke Pines
November 16 - Miami Dade College - North Campus, Miami
November 29 - Thrasher Horne Conference Center (St. Johns River Community College), Orange Park
December 13 - St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg
January 9 - Panhandle Area Educational Consortium, Chipley
______________________________________________________________________________________
Workshop Agenda (Workshops are from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

I. Overview of Financial Aid
II. How to Apply for Federal Financial Aid
a. FAFSA4caster
b. FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Worksheet
III. Academic Competitiveness Grants
IV. Searching for Scholarships
V. State and Institutional Aid
VI. Available Resources

Update Regarding the Federal and State Financial Aid Workshops

The registration web site for the state-wide financial aid workshops has been updated.

The location for the St. Petersburg workshop on December 13 (the EpiCenter at St. Petersburg College) is confirmed and counselors in that area can now register online at: http://fsa4counselors.ed.gov/clcf/NT4CMRegistration.html

The date and location for an Orlando and Ft. Myers workshop are still being confirmed, both will probably occur in December.

Kelly G. Harrison
Director of Training and Development
Florida Dept. of Education, OSFA

Kelly.Harrison@fldoe.org

____________________________________________________________________________________

Details about this annual award program "celebrating Hispanic pride, culture and accomplishment." Search for profiles of award winners by name, year, and categories such as arts, leadership, math and science, and sports. Also provides information about the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards, for "young leaders [who] have demonstrated high levels of achievement in the classrooms and communities and are positioned as role models for their peers." The awards are presented by the nonprofit Hispanic Heritage Foundation.

http://www.hispanicheritage.org/hispanic.php

Every nine seconds, another student drops out of school in America.  The most recent national statistics peg the national high school graduation rate at only 69.9 percent. These sobering statistics have astonishing implications for our economy and our ability to compete globally, not to mention the daily lives of those dropouts and their communities. According to a new report, authored by Kelly Hupfeld, a research associate at the Center for Education Policy Analysis at the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, research shows that decreasing the dropout rate can only happen on a student-by-student basis. Hupfeld says that the focus must be turned to individuals, because students drop out for a myriad of personal reasons. Consequently, the best dropout prevention strategies lock on to students as individuals and engage them in school and teach the m the skills they need to cope with difficult times. Resiliency-based programs, which help students develop the skills and relationships they need to succeed inside and outside the classroom, can be incredibly effective in preventing high school dropouts. Still, there is no foolproof method to identify students who will drop out of school, as dropping out seems to be a function of multiple factors across multiple domains. Based on this research, the National Dropout Prevention Center concludes that predictions as to who will drop out are more accurate when multiple risk factors and domains are considered. It is imperative that schools institutionalize resiliency strategies as the world can sometimes do its best to beat down students. It would be great if schools, rather than contributing to the problem, could help enrich and improve students’ lives.
http://scholarcentric.com/key_facts_at_risk_students_dropouts_resiliency_skills.html

Website for this organization "dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism." Features material about organization's activities and policies, and background about autism including how to cope, how to grow with it, and video clips "to help parents and professionals learn more about the early red flags and diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)." Access to videos requires free registration.

URL: http://www.autismspeaks.org/

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on revised State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation this afternoon. This bill would provide health insurance coverage for nearly 10 million low-income children.

House leaders announced the vote late Wednesday night. This legislation (H.R. 3963) addresses concerns that had been raised about the SCHIP bill (H.R. 976) the House voted on last week. These changes clarify that children living in families making $83,000, adults, and children who are not U.S. citizens are not eligible for SCHIP coverage.

Easter Seals supports this SCHIP legislation and urges you to contact your representative immediately and ask them to vote “Yes” on H.R. 3963 today.

Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of our nation’s low-income children, including those with disabilities.

Stay informed: visit our SCHIP Information Center.

According to a recent report published by the Office of Applied Studies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2006, one third of U.S. youth age 12 to 17 drank alcohol and one fifth used an illicit drug in the past year.

The October 18, 2007, issue of The OAS Report draws on the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and other data to describe "A Day in the Life of American Adolescents: Substance Abuse Facts."

Resources:

To access the report and related resources, visit http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k7/youthFacts/youth.cfm.

College Goal Sunday 2008 is approaching and we need your help! This event is geared towards assisting low income, first generation, and minority college-bound students with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA. Students will have the opportunity to sit down and get their questions answered by a financial aid expert. College Goal Sunday will take place in locations throughout the state in February and one student at each site will win a $500 scholarship. We need your help in spreading the word to your students! Please spread the word as often as possible at pep rallies, sporting events, one-on-one sessions with your students, and parent meetings. Site coordinators are also looking for volunteers to assist the day of the event. For more information on the specific locations and site contacts, please go to the web site at www.fldoe.org/collegegoalsunday. Should you have additional questions, please contact Amy Albee, College Goal Sunday state coordinator, at amy.albee@fldoe.org.

http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=17739

Hard Choices Comic Book

This special comic book, developed by SAMHSA in collaboration with Marvel Entertainment and the Elks USA, features Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four characters in a battle against underage drinking. Hard Choices urges kids to become real-life heroes by making healthy choices.

To order more than 5 copies, please fax your request to 240-221-4292. Include your name, address, phone number, email and number of copies requested.

A free hard copy of the Hard Choices teacher’s guide is automatically included with every special request order of 25 copies or more. The teacher’s guide features interactive activities for educators, parents, and youth leaders to use with kids. A PDF version of the teacher’s guide is available at the “View Materials in PDF Format” link below.

PLEASE NOTE: A digital version of the comic book will be available soon at the “View Materials in Your Browser” link below.

MARVEL, Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four: TM & © 2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. www.marvel.com.

The Department of Education has issued the following memorandum regarding the Clarification Regarding Requirements for Major Areas of Interest & Students with Disabilities Seeking a Special Diploma.  The memorandum may be viewed at:

   http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-4669/MAI-ESE.pdf

The Department of Education has issued the following technical assistance paper regarding the Florida’s Guide to Public High School Graduation 2007-2008.  The technical assistance paper may be viewed at:

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-4668/K12-2007-124.pdf (memo)

http://www.fldoe.org/APlusPlus/pdf/MAJORSGuideHSGraduation2007.pdf (brochure)

Public release date: 16-Oct-2007


Contact: stephanie berger
sb2247@columbia.edu
212-305-4372
Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health

Study shows reducing class size may be more cost-effective than most medical interventions

October 16, 2007 -- Reducing the number of students per classroom in U.S. primary schools may be more cost-effective than most public health and medical interventions, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Virginia Commonwealth University. The study indicates that class-size reductions would generate more quality-adjusted life-year gains per dollar invested than the majority of medical interventions. The findings will be published in the November issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

The researchers estimated the health and economic effects of reducing class sizes from 22–25 students to 13–17 students in kindergarten through grade 3 nationwide, based on an intervention tested in Project STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Ratio), a large multi-school randomized trial that began in 1985. Project STAR is considered the highest quality long-term experiment to date in the field of education.

The study shows that a student graduating from high school after attending smaller-sized classes gains an average of 1.7 quality-adjusted life-years and generates a net $168,431 in lifetime revenue. “Higher earnings and better job quality enhance access to health insurance coverage, reduce exposure to hazardous work conditions, and provide individuals and families with the necessary resources to move out of unfavorable neighborhoods and to purchase goods and services,” says Peter A. Muennig, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at the Mailman School. “Regardless of class size, the net effect of graduating from high school is roughly equivalent to taking 20 years of bad health off of your life."

When targeted to low-income students, the estimated savings would increase to $196,000 per additional graduate. “This is because low-income students seem to benefit more from the additional attention afforded by small classes,” noted Dr. Muennig. “Because we focused on a relatively expensive intervention and examined outcomes over a range of values, our results should provide a conservative framework for evaluating this and other interventions as long-term data on educational interventions become more plentiful,” he commented.

The performance of students in the U.S. has been declining relative to the performance of students in other countries. With health costs soaring and student performance falling, the United States is in jeopardy of losing its economic dominance.

The findings not only raise issues of whether investments in social determinants of health can be more cost-effective than investments in conventional medical care, “but more intriguing still, also bring up the idea that each dollar invested in education could also potentially produce other long-term returns,” observes Dr. Muennig. He notes that further analysis will refine models and produce more-precise estimates, but “these findings do point to the importance of looking more broadly at the options available for improving health outcomes—including those outside the boundaries of clinical medicine.”

###

About the Mailman School of Public Health

The only accredited school of public health in New York City, and among the first in the nation, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health provides instruction and research opportunities to more than 950 graduate students in pursuit of masters and doctoral degrees. Its students and more than 300 multi-disciplinary faculty engage in research and service in the city, nation, and around the world, concentrating on biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, population and family health, and sociomedical sciences. www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu

http://tinyurl.com/26xf9h

Suicide Prevention Through MySpace.com
Popular Internet Site Helps Build Awareness

By Leslie Quander Wooldridge

What's an effective way to raise awareness about SAMHSA's National Suicide Prevention Lifeline? As it turns out, it's MySpace.com, one of the most popular online networking sites in the Nation.

People of all ages use MySpace to share photos, post their music and poetry, reconnect with old friends, and even make new friends.

And visitors to MySpace now have another reason to log on. SAMHSA is using the site to spread the word about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. A free, 24-hour resource for anyone who needs
help, the Lifeline connects callers to more than 120 crisis centers across the country.

The Lifeline's toll-free telephone number-1-800-273-TALK (8255)-is posted at <www.myspace.com/suicidepreventionlifeline>. The MySpace page also includes clear information about suicide warning signs, how
the Lifeline works, and more.

More than 2,400 people have already chosen to become "friends" of the Lifeline's page, which is expected to increase word-of-mouth referrals to the free telephone resource.

How It All Started

In spring 2005, the administrators of the Lifeline Web site noticed increasing hits from MySpace-at the rate of about 60 to 80 per day.

As it turned out, several people on the networking site had posted the Lifeline logo on their pages and were directing visitors to the official Web site at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

MySpace quickly became the number one referrer to the Lifeline site, even surpassing the SAMHSA referrals. Noting the increase in traffic, SAMHSA's Lifeline staff signed up for a customized page on MySpace.

In 2006, the Lifeline Web site received about 150,000 unique visitors referred by MySpace. Through May 2007, the Lifeline has received about 85,000 unique visitors.

"This new venture is helping us provide suicide prevention information to young people in an online space where they feel comfortable," said A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., Director of SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). "Our MySpace page gives people an easily accessible link to important information about suicide prevention."

In fact, the MySpace page is so popular that SAMHSA is exploring partnerships with other networking sites. Lifeline also is working with Facebook.com, a popular online communication site for college
students, to keep the momentum going.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is one component of the National Suicide Prevention Initiative, a multi-project program led by SAMHSA's CMHS. (See SAMHSA News online, September/October 2005.)

More Resources

Supplementary materials for suicide prevention include Web banners and logos, public service announcements (PSAs), a media outreach toolkit, wallet cards in English and Spanish, and business cards,
flyers, and magnets.

To view and download materials, or to request PSAs, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Web site at <http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/campaign/promotional.aspx>.

To learn about SAMHSA's National Suicide Prevention Strategy, visit www.samhsa.gov. To view the Agency's Lifeline Web page on MySpace, visit <www.myspace.com/suicidepreventionlifeline>.

Why Call the Lifeline?

If you or someone you care about needs help:

       Call to speak with someone who is ready to listen.
     *

       Call if you feel you might be in danger of hurting yourself.
     *

       Call to find referrals to mental health services in your area.
     *

       Call to speak to a crisis worker about someone you're concerned about.


SAMHSA News - July/August 2007, Volume 15, Number 4

http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/245617-224

The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families is looking for a
Counselor who will be an integral part of CHCF’s Community Based Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program at Walton High School in the Bronx. The counselor will provide individualized and group counseling to 150 adolescents between the ages of 13-19. The counselor will be responsible for providing support to teens involving issues around teen pregnancy prevention, the consequences of early sexual activity, life skills and decision making, reproductive health and safer sex education, child-parent relationship building, at-risk behaviors, positive communication and conflict resolution, and drop-out prevention intervention. CHCF is looking for a goal-oriented, highly organized, and sensitive individual whom understands the complexities and challenges of working with youth in underserved communities. The ideal candidate will be flexible, open-minded, creative, committed to working with underserved communities, and willing to go the extra mile to improve the lives and education of the children and youth we serve.

October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As Mary Beth Buchanan, Acting Director of the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), reminds us, "Domestic violence is not only a personal tragedy, it is a serious crime that negatively effects women, men, children, neighborhoods, and communities. We must join together to address the causes of this crime so that each and every home can be a place of peace and safety."

OVW has announced a national information campaign on its Web site Enditnow.gov, a comprehensive online resource for victims of domestic abuse.

Resources:

For further information about OVW's information campaign and additional resources to assist victims of domestic violence, visit http://www.enditnow.gov.

http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/Grant-Alerts/Junk-Free-Schools-Video-Contest.aspx

Junk-Free Schools Video Contest Submitted: 10/4/2007

Center for Science in the Public Interest -- Junk-Free Schools Video Contest

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is accepting entries to its Junk-Free Schools Video Contest. The purpose of the contest is to decrease unhealthy foods and increase healthy foods in schools throughout the United States by encouraging videos promoting the issue.

The Grand Prize winner will receive a $100 iTunes gift certificate and their video and profile will be showcased on the organization’s school foods website. Honorable mentions will receive links on the organization’s website to their videos. Eligible applicants are individuals who post their video entries on www.youtube.com and complete and submit information about the entry, including the link to the Youtube, video using the contest entry form (accessible via the link below).

Deadline: November 1, 2007

Please Note: The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) does not administer this funding opportunity.

Contact the Center for Science in the Public Interest grant program directly for complete program information and program guidelines:
http://www.schoolfoods.org/contest.html

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/09/State/State_selects_school_.shtml

State selects school chief

A College Board vice president is chosen to lead the 2.7-million-student system.

By RON MATUS, Times Staff Writer
Published October 9, 2007

TAMPA - The state Board of Education picked a new education commissioner Monday, choosing a former superintendent from out of state to be the first to lead Florida schools in the post-Jeb Bush era.

The 7-0 decision won't be finalized until a contract is worked out, but Eric J. Smith, 57, said he anticipated being on the job in Tallahassee by year's end. Now a senior vice president at the College Board, he'll be the first permanent commissioner since February, when Bush ally John Winn resigned under pressure after a rocky, 30-month stint.

>>> visit the website to read more ..

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/uosc-fhf100807.php

Public release date: 8-Oct-2007

Contact: Jennifer Chan
chanj@usc.edu
323-442-2830
University of Southern California

Friends help friends avoid drug use

USC study shows prevention programs tailored around social networks reduce substance use among teens by about 15 percent

Los Angeles, October 8, 2007­ – High-risk teenagers who participate in peer-led substance abuse prevention programs reduce their drug use by approximately 15 percent versus traditional curricula, suggests a study led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC). The study will appear in the journal Addiction, and is now available online.

“Most substance abuse prevention programs disseminate information about the bad effects of drugs and teach resistance skills without considering the impact of peer influence,” says Thomas Valente, Ph.D., assistant professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “Generally, our study emphasizes the power of peers. We found that social network-tailored prevention curricula can be very successful in achieving long-term behavioral changes in teenagers.”

The study compared substance use among students participating in the prevention program Project Towards No Drug Abuse (TND), traditionally led by a health educator or teacher, to the modified peer-led Project TND Network. TND held interactive discussions at the classroom level while TND Network divided the students into smaller groups composed of their friends, increased the number of group activities and a student-chosen leader led the discussion.

Approximately 550 students from 14 alternative high schools in Southern California completed surveys given before the program and again approximately a year later. The average age of the participants was 16 years old. The study assessed data on their use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Students were randomly assigned by classroom to receive one of the two curricula or the control group.

“Reducing drug use among the high-risk teen population at these alternative schools is tough,” continues Valente. “It is encouraging to see this type of positive influence among students who live and go to school in challenging environments.”

However, the study also found that students with a peer environment that supports substance use did not benefit from the interactive program. Students with substance using friends increase their own use in the peer-led condition.

“Peer influence can go both ways, some students benefited because of the positive social influence of their friends while others were harmed by negative influence of their substance using peers,” concludes Valente. “Programs that incorporate this type of interactive programming can be very effective, but they depend on how peer influence is channeled. ”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse funded this study.

http://www.ourchangingworld.net/Articles.html

Just three years ago, Latasha Jackson of Brighton, Mass. would have scoffed at the idea that she was college material. Now, she has applied to some of Massachusetts’ best business colleges, and intends to be the first in her family to pursue secondary education. Her attitude shifted when she was enrolled in Brighton’s business pathways curriculum, which is part of the school-to-college-to-career program for ninth graders. Programs like these have gained traction because classes are boring and unrelated to students’ lives, according to dropouts. Brighton’s pathways program places students in broad topical clusters, while other similar programs across the country require students to think about what specific jobs they hope to achieve and then take courses to prepare them. There are critics of this policy, saying it is important for high school students to gain general knowledge and communications skills. Debra Humphrey of the Association of American Colleges and Universities thinks this is a "colossally bad idea," as "businesses are [saying] that the jobs that today’s ninth graders will eventually have don't even exist yet." However, she does approve and praise the creation of learning communities and cluster programs like Brighton’s.  Another student, Jasmin Santana, requested to attend Brighton because of the pathways program, even though it meant a one hour commute each way. While no one in her family has gone past high school, Santana will apply to Harvard and other universities in hopes of becoming a pediatrician. Latasha Jackson says "there are some days [she] can't wait to get to accounting class." Any program that can get a student excited about accounting has to be doing something right.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1004/p13s01-legn.html

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/bc-t100207.php

Public release date: 3-Oct-2007

Contact: Charlotte Webber
press@biomedcentral.com
44-020-763-19980
BioMed Central

'Extreme' teenagers

Adolescents have grown taller and put on weight over the last thirty years, but the problem of underweight teens may be worse, a study in the online open access journal BMC Public Health suggests. An analysis of the height, weight, and body-mass index of teenagers during 1966-1969 and 1995-1997 in Norway demonstrates a shift towards taller and heavier teenagers, but also hints that there are more underweight adolescents.

Health researchers commonly use body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared, in weight-related health studies. Sigrid Bjørnelv of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and colleagues write that changes in these measurements across society over periods of time often reflect changes in nutrition. Better nutrition increases both height and weight, and reduces health problems connected with malnutrition. However, increases in BMI can also point to poor diet and lack of exercise.

Bjørnelv and her colleagues analyzed height, weight and calculated BMI data for 6774 14-18-year olds who participated in the Young-HUNT study in 1995-97. They compared the data with 8378 adolescents in the same age group collected by Norway's National Health Screening Service in 1966-69.

The researchers found significant changes between the two periods. Height and weight increased significantly in both sexes and all ages, while average (mean) BMI increased significantly in boys of all ages but only in 18-year old girls. Mean BMI did not change for girls aged 14-17 years. Critically, the team revealed a change in distribution of BMI, with an increase in the upper percentile values and a decrease in the lower percentile values.

While the increase in the highest percentile implies better nutrition and an increase in prevalence of obesity amongst adolescents in agreement with other studies, explains Bjørnelv, the decrease in the lower percentile values implies that the thinnest adolescents in 1995-97 had a lower BMI than their counterparts in 1967-69. This finding requires further study.

###

Article:
Changes in BMI-distribution from 1966-69 to 1995-97 in adolescents. The Young-HUNT Study, Norway.
Sigrid Bjornelv, Stian Lydersen, Arnstein Mykletun and Turid L Holmen
BMC Public Health (in press)

During embargo, article available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/imedia/1047432967114535_article.pdf?random=44991

After the embargo, article available from the journal website at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/

Article citation and URL available on request at press@biomedcentral.com on the day of publication

Please quote the journal in any story you write. If you are writing for the web, please link to the article. All articles are available free of charge, according to BioMed Central's Open Access policy.

For author contact details please contact Reidun Mangrud (HUNT Study) via email: reidun.mangrud@ntnu.no

BioMed Central (http://www.biomedcentral.com) is an independent online publishing house committed to providing open access to peer-reviewed biological and medical research. This commitment is based on the view that immediate free access to research and the ability to freely archive and reuse published information is essential to the rapid and efficient communication of science.

BioMed Central currently publishes over 180 journals across biology and medicine. In addition to open-access original research, BioMed Central also publishes reviews, commentaries and other non-original-research content. Depending on the policies of the individual journal, this content may be open access or provided only to subscribers.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/jhub-ctv092707.php

Public release date: 1-Oct-2007

Contact: Tim Parsons
paffairs@jhsph.edu
410-955-6878
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

Childhood TV viewing a risk for behavior problems

Timing of media exposure plays a vital role in outcomes

Daily television viewing for two or more hours in early childhood can lead to behavioral problems and poor social skills, according to a study of children 2.5 to 5.5 years of age conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The Hopkins researchers found that the impact of TV viewing on a child’s behavior and social skills varied by the age at which the viewing occurred. More importantly, heavy television viewing that decreased over time was not associated with behavior or social problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under age 2 watch no television while children age 2 and older are limited to no more than two hours of daily viewing. The study is published in the October 2007 issue of Pediatrics.

“A number of studies have demonstrated negative effects of heavy television viewing. However, timing of exposure is an important consideration as reducing viewing to acceptable levels can reduce the risk of behavioral and social problems,” said Kamila Mistry, MPH, lead author of the study and a doctoral candidate in the Bloomberg School’s Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health.

For the study, the research team analyzed data for 2,707 children collected from the Healthy Steps for Young Children national evaluation. Parents were surveyed about their child’s television viewing habits and behavior at 2.5 and at 5.5 years of age.

Sixteen percent of parents reported that their children watched two hours or more of television daily at 2.5 years of age (early exposure), while 15 percent reported that their children watched two hours or more of television daily at 5.5 years of age (concurrent exposure). One in five parents reported that their children watched two hours or more of television daily at both 2.5 years and at 5.5 years of age (sustained exposure). Sustained exposure to television was associated with behavioral problems. However, early exposure that was subsequently reduced was not a risk for behavior problems. Concurrent viewing was associated with fewer social skills, while sustained and early viewing had less of an impact on social skill development.

The study also found that having a television in the child’s bedroom at 5.5 years of age was associated with behavioral problems, poor social skills and poor sleep. Forty-one percent of the children included in the study had a television in his or her bedroom.

“Children who reduced their viewing by 5.5 years of age were not at greater risk for behavior and social problems,” said Cynthia Minkovitz, MD, MPP, senior author of the study and associate professor with the School’s Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health. “It is vital for clinicians to emphasize the importance of reducing television viewing in early childhood among those children with early use.”

###

“Children’s Television Exposure and Behavioral and Social Outcomes at 5.5 years: Does Timing of Exposure Matter?” was written by Kamila B. Mistry, MPH; Cynthia S. Minkovitz, MD, MPP; Donna M. Strobino, PhD; and Dina L. G. Borzekowski, EdD.

Data collection for this research was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Commonwealth Fund.

For public health news updated throughout the day, visit www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews.

Collection of tips and publications for Crime Prevention Month, observed annually in October. "The month-long celebration spotlights successful crime prevention efforts on the local, state, and national levels." Includes Halloween safety brochures and links to other crime prevention material. From the National Crime Prevention Council.

http://www.ncpc.org/about/crime-prevention-month

The National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention has published Developing Safe Schools Partnerships: Spotlight on Juvenile Justice.

The information provided in this 2-page fact sheet draws on the experience of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, a collaborative effort of the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services.

Among the resources cited for developing effective juvenile justice-school relations is the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Preventions' Model Programs Guide, an online portal to scientifically tested and proven programs that address a range of issues across the juvenile justice spectrum.

Resources:

"Developing Safe School Partnerships: Spotlight on Juvenile Justice" and related juvenile justice resources are available at http: //www.promoteprevent.org/Resources/briefs/juvenile%20justice%20resources.html

To access the Model Programs Guide, visit http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/programs/mpg.html.

Free Youth Smoking Prevention Materials Available: Philip Morris USA has developed a free parenting resource brochure series, "Raising Kids Who Don't Smoke." The brochures and other resources for parents are available online.

http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/News-Alerts/September-2007/Conference-SCHIP-Bill-Allows-Funds-to-SBHCs.aspx

A 300-page compromise between the U.S. House and Senate on reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that was approved by the House September 25 and was expected to pass the Senate yesterday includes language allowing states to use SCHIP funds for "items and services furnished through school-based health centers."