May 2016

All-Friends Quarterly Check In

June 3, 2pm-3:30pmET

Make plans to join our next quarterly check in. All members of the Friends are invited. We’ll feature updates from the Saving Babies thematic area with short updates from all other areas.

The #ZIKA Family Resource One Pager

By Jennifer Bolden Pitre, MA, JD,
Family Voices Family Liaison to Friends of NCBDDD

There is an overwhelming amount of information on the Zika Virus in the media, but where can families find basic information that they can share with other families to help them take steps to protect themselves and their unborn children?As a professional family leader I thought it would be essential to have as much information as possible as a handy guide in one central location for families.  Read more…

Fetal Alcohol Prevention Program Celebrates a Successful Grantee Meeting

NCBDDD held a 2-day Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Grantee Meeting April 21-22 in Decatur, GA. Grantees shared collaborations and successes on preventing alcohol use during pregnancy. Discussions focused on moving forward the work of the various health-related disciplines (including the fields of family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, medical assisting, nursing, pediatrics, and social work) to prevent FASDs. Read More

Update from the Prevention Research Team, NCBDDD – FDA Approves Fortification of Corn Masa Flour

On April 14, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they will permit fortification of corn masa flour with folic acid to help prevent certain birth defects, effective immediately. The announcement reflected a decision to accept a Citizens’ Petition filed in 2012 by the March of Dimes, American Academy of Pediatrics, Spina Bifida Association, National Council of La Raza, Royal DSM and Gruma Corporation.  Read more…

SBA’s 41st National Conference

Please join the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) in going Beyond All Limits for the 41st National Conference to be held in Bloomington, Minnesota. June 25th – 28th. Children and adults with Spina Bifida, their families, physicians, nurses, and other clinicians will have the unique opportunity to gain information on the latest medical care and network on various topics which affect their lives and professions. Read more…

NCBDDD Staff Participate at Policy Forum in Boston, MA

Joe Sniezek, Nancy Cheal, and Mary Kate Weber from NCBDDD participated in a policy forum in Boston entitled, “Reducing Risky Alcohol Use: What Health Systems Can Do,” on April 27, 2016. The forum was a collaborative effort with Brandeis University and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. The forum addressed strategies that health care systems can use to reduce risky drinking in Massachusetts, and included success stories from around the country. More than 60 participants attended, including representatives
from insurance companies and policy experts.

ACHA Webinar Presents: The Beat Goes On: Rhythm Issues in Adults with CHD

Are you an adult congenital heart disease (CHD) patient who has arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats? Have you wondered why these occur? Do you know that while arrhythmias in CHD patients are different from rhythm problems in people without CHD, many or the medications and procedures used to treat them are the same? If you have a history of arrhythmias, take medications for them, have had an ablation, or have a pacemaker or ICD, you don’t want to miss this webinar. You will learn about the new advances in their management and how they can be successfully treated.
Read More…

In Honor of Autism Awareness Month, NCBDDD Teamed up with The Jim Henson Company and PBS! 

The Jim Henson Company’s Dinosaur Train teamed up with the NCBDDD’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” initiative aiming to improve early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so children and families can get the early services and support they need. During the month of April, The Jim Henson Company provided grants to PBS stations across the country to host screenings of the episode and community events to promote their special autism awareness “Junior Conductors Academy” episode. Read more…

NCBDDD Vital Signs: National and State-Specific Patterns of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Among Insured Children Aged 2–5 Years — United States, 2008–2014

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a biological disorder that causes hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and attention problems. Parents do not cause ADHD, but parents can play a key role in treatment. Behavior therapy is an effective treatment that improves ADHD symptoms without the side effects of medicine. It is an important first step for young children with ADHD and most effective when delivered by parents. With the support of healthcare providers and therapists, parents can learn specific ways to improve their child’s behavior and keep their relationships strong. Discover new tools created for this release such as: finding a behavior therapist, state profiles and our new fact sheet. Read more...

Socioeconomic factors at the intersection of race and ethnicity influencing health risks for people with disabilities

People with disabilities are known to experience disparities in behavioral health risk factors including smoking and obesity. What is unknown is how disability, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status combine to affect prevalence of these health behaviors. NCBDDD assessed the association between race/ethnicity, socioeconomic factors (income and education), and disability on two behavioral health risk factors. Read more.

Lakeshore Foundation-NCHPAD joins Let’s Move! Active Schools national collaborative 

Let’s Move! Active Schools – part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative – and Lakeshore Foundation-NCHPAD announced a new partnership that will create more Active Schools environments and increase physical education and physical activity opportunities for students across the country. Lakeshore Foundation-NCHPAD joins 34 other leading health, education and private sector organizations as part of the Let’s Move! Active Schools national collaborative. Read more…

Executive Committee

Champions

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