August 2015

Prevalence of Disability and Disability Type Among-United States 2013

A recent Friends tele-briefing reviewed CDC’s July 31 MMWR report which examines state-level prevalence of disability and disability type.  This report also presents prevalence estimates of disability by select demographic groups. Additional supporting items are available on the CDC website including an online national map containing state data on disability a key findings summary of the report, infographic, and other information about disability and health. Visit: www.cdc.gov/disabilities.  Members of the Friends are encouraged to review this state data and integrate it into their own efforts.

Calling for Kitchen Cabinet Members

The Executive Committee invites you to serve on Thematic Area “kitchen cabinets” of key partners who will advise the Champions and the NCBDDD in each of the Thematic Areas. Acting as a think tank, each Thematic Area kitchen cabinet will be composed of a group of 10-15 key partners whose mission and work relate to the particular Thematic Area. The time commitment would involve quarterly conference calls. If you are interested in serving on Thematic Area “kitchen cabinet,” please contact the Friends Chair, Adriane Griffen, at agriffen@aucd.org.  Members of the Friends are encouraged to review this state data and integrate it into their own efforts.

September 9: International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day

Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause a range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Alcohol use during pregnancy can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, and sudden infant death syndrome. There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. There is also no safe time and no safe type of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. Read More…

NCBDDD’s FAS Prevention Team Grantee Meeting

On July 20 and 21, NCBDDD welcomed approximately 50 partners representing the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Practice and Implementation Centers and National Partners. These grantees are developing new strategies to reach health care providers in the prevention of risky alcohol use, including alcohol-exposed pregnancies and FASDs, and in the identification and care of individuals living with FASDs. Grantees are developing discipline-specific approaches for influencing practice and systems change at the national level for pediatricians, nurses, ob-gyns, social workers, family practice physicians, and medical assistants. As part of this group, we were pleased to initiate new partnerships with representatives from the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Association of Medical Assistants, and the National Association of Social Workers. This grantee meeting marked the end of a planning year and our partners are ready now to move ahead toward implementing their strategies in Year 2 of their efforts. [Photo caption A panel session at the grantee meeting on the use of champions. Pictured from left to right – Ellen Hutchins, Public Health Consultant; Michelle Clark, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Don Balasa, American Association of Medical Assistants; Jennifer Frost, American Academy of Family Physicians; Sharon Dietsche, National Association of Social Workers; Rachel Daskalov, American Academy of Pediatrics]

Retirement of R. Louise Floyd, RN, DSN

On July 31, Dr. R. Louise Floyd retired from CDC after over 25 years of public health service. Louise led CDC’s fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) activities for over 20 years and will always be recognized as a leader in the field. She worked diligently to develop and promote strategies to reach women of childbearing age to prevent alcohol use during pregnancy. Her dedication to the identification and care of individuals living with FASDs is another hallmark of her career. Louise has always been a proponent and leader in prevention research, surveillance, diagnosis, and health education strategies, and has used her considerable talents to advance these activities at CDC and beyond. Louise’s leadership and scientific capabilities were recognized in 2008 when she and her co-authors were honored as the winners of the CDC/ATSDR Charles C. Shepard Science Award. Most recently, Louise has worked to promote preconception health and health care, a natural extension of the work that Louise did for so many years in the prevention of FASDs. On July 20, at the FAS Prevention Team’s grantee meeting, staff and partners honored Louise with a tribute to her many years of service. We sincerely thank Louise for her huge contributions to public health, women’s health, and FASD prevention and intervention and we wish her the very best in retirement! [Photo Caption: Louise Floyd (center) with Tom Donaldson (left) and Kathy Mitchell (right) of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS).]

Improving Systems Care for Patients

Many people with sickle cell disease (SCD) do not have access to the coordinated care they need, so NICHQ is working with partners and families to improve the systems of detection and care for patients. Read More (http://sicklecell.nichq.org/)

New Spanish Language EHDI Video

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program has produced a video for Spanish-speaking families who are in need of a follow-up hearing screening for their baby. The video, “¿Qué tan bien oye su hijo? Lo que los padres deben saber” (How well can your child hear? What parents need to know), was initiated in response to a request from members of the national EHDI Diversity Committee. Read More…

September is Emergency Preparedness Month

Throughout September, CDC and more than 3000 organizations—national, regional, and local governments, as well as private and public organizations—will support emergency preparedness efforts and encourage Americans to take action. For Preparedness Month 2015, CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response plans to focus on communities of preparedness. Each week will focus on a unique part of the community. Learn more at http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/preparedness_month.htm and follow @CDCNCBDDD and @CDCEmergency for the latest information.

Executive Committee

Champions

NCBDDD’s Social Media Corner

• Upcoming chats for @CDC_NCBDDD
• Topic: #Prep4Moms: Emergency Preparedness for Moms and Little Ones
• Description: Participants will learn about ways that pregnant women and new moms can keep themselves and their babies safe before, during and after an emergency. 
• Date: Thursday, September 3, 2015
• Time: 1:00PM EASTERN
• Host: Co-hosted by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (@PHEgov) and the HHS Administration for Children and Families (@OHSEPR). 
• To join: You can follow the chat by using #Prep4Moms in all of your tweets

• Topic: #CDCPrep: Preparedness and Community Resilience
• Description: Participants will learn and discuss community preparedness and resilience
• Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2015
• Time: 2:00PM EASTERN
• Host: CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (@CDCemergency)
• To join: Follow @CDCemergency and use #CDCprep to join the conversation

How to Add NCBDDD Connect Badge to E-mail Signature:

1. To add the “Connect with NCBDDD” button to an e-mail signature follow the steps below:
2. Open Microsoft Outlook
3. Go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures
4. Right click the graphic below and select “copy”
5. Paste the graphic into your desired signature in the “Edit signature” field
6. Click on the graphic and then click the hyperlink icon in the top right of the “Edit signature” field
7. Be sure http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/connect/index.html is listed in the URL box and hit OK