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EPA Implements Lead Protections
Contractors renovating homes and apartments built before 1978 must now employ practices to protect children and pregnant women from exposure to lead-based paint, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced. The enforcement of an existing rule comes nearly 2 decades after Congress directed the EPA to regulate housing renovations and after environmental groups filed a lawsuit to force action. The EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule requires contractors to be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices. To date, the EPA said it has certified 204 trainers who have already taught the practices to about 160,000 people in the construction and remodeling industries.
Male Teens Miss Sex Counseling
Despite national efforts to improve sexual health services for teenagers, even teenage boys who report high-risk sexual behaviors generally don't get counseling about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, a study from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center found. Published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the research found that only one-third of male teens who reported three or more female partners, anal sex with female partners, or oral/anal sex with male partners received counseling in 2002. Only 26% of males reporting high-risk sex, which the authors defined as sex with a prostitute, sex with a person infected with HIV, or sex while high, received counseling. The researchers recommended evidence-based, uniform guidelines to reduce confusion among providers about sexual counseling, and they said pediatricians with male teenage patients need to “ACT”: ask, counsel, and test.
NCQA Adds Obesity Measure
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) said it is adding a new childhood obesity measurement to its health plan data set. The committee said it has been collecting data on the measurement, “Weight Assessment and Counseling for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children/Adolescents,” which in 2009 became the only gauge of childhood obesity adopted by health plans nationwide. Now, there are enough data available for comparisons between plans. The NCQA will include the childhood obesity measurement in the August release of its online database of health plans' quality indicators so purchasers, consumers, and others may compare the plans' performances in this area. The measurement adjusts body mass index data for age and sex, distinguishing between desirable growth and unhealthy weight gain.
Grandparents Help Autistic Children
Grandparents play a key role in the lives of children with autism; one-third say they were the first to raise concerns about their grandchild's development, according to a survey from the Interactive Autism Network at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The survey of more than 2,600 grandparents found that nearly 11% live in the same household as their autistic grandchildren, and another 46% live within 24 miles. Many had moved closer to help the grandchild's family manage the disorder. More than 70% said they played some role in treatment decisions, and about one-third said they provided some direct child care at least once per week. Many grandparents also said they contributed financially to treatment.
House Approves Child Fitness Bill
School districts would be required, under a bill approved by the House, to post information on their Internet sites detailing the strengths and weaknesses of their physical education programs. The legislation, now referred to the Senate, also would require direct reports to parents on physical education for their children. The information would have to include the amount of time students spend in physical education classes, whether those classes follow a curriculum adhering to national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines or state guidelines, and descriptions of the facilities available for exercise. The reports also would need to include information on the importance of a healthy lifestyle in the learning environment.
Reducing Minority Teen Pregnancy
New federal legislation would aim pregnancy prevention programs at teenagers in minority communities. The need there is great, according to Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), who sponsored the legislation. More than half of Hispanic and African American teen girls will become pregnant at least once before age 20, she said. The Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2010 (H.R. 5033) would expand the number of competitive federal grants available for teen pregnancy programs in minority communities. It would also offer grants for research into the prevalence and social causes of pregnancy and births among minority teens. “While addressing teen sexual behavior is complex, we know that an effective strategy to reduce teen pregnancy in minority communities involves sexual health education that takes into consideration cultural and linguistic differences,” Rep. Roybal-Allard said in a statement.
EPA Implements Lead Protections
Contractors renovating homes and apartments built before 1978 must now employ practices to protect children and pregnant women from exposure to lead-based paint, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced. The enforcement of an existing rule comes nearly 2 decades after Congress directed the EPA to regulate housing renovations and after environmental groups filed a lawsuit to force action. The EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule requires contractors to be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices. To date, the EPA said it has certified 204 trainers who have already taught the practices to about 160,000 people in the construction and remodeling industries.
Male Teens Miss Sex Counseling
Despite national efforts to improve sexual health services for teenagers, even teenage boys who report high-risk sexual behaviors generally don't get counseling about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, a study from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center found. Published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the research found that only one-third of male teens who reported three or more female partners, anal sex with female partners, or oral/anal sex with male partners received counseling in 2002. Only 26% of males reporting high-risk sex, which the authors defined as sex with a prostitute, sex with a person infected with HIV, or sex while high, received counseling. The researchers recommended evidence-based, uniform guidelines to reduce confusion among providers about sexual counseling, and they said pediatricians with male teenage patients need to “ACT”: ask, counsel, and test.
NCQA Adds Obesity Measure
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) said it is adding a new childhood obesity measurement to its health plan data set. The committee said it has been collecting data on the measurement, “Weight Assessment and Counseling for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children/Adolescents,” which in 2009 became the only gauge of childhood obesity adopted by health plans nationwide. Now, there are enough data available for comparisons between plans. The NCQA will include the childhood obesity measurement in the August release of its online database of health plans' quality indicators so purchasers, consumers, and others may compare the plans' performances in this area. The measurement adjusts body mass index data for age and sex, distinguishing between desirable growth and unhealthy weight gain.
Grandparents Help Autistic Children
Grandparents play a key role in the lives of children with autism; one-third say they were the first to raise concerns about their grandchild's development, according to a survey from the Interactive Autism Network at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The survey of more than 2,600 grandparents found that nearly 11% live in the same household as their autistic grandchildren, and another 46% live within 24 miles. Many had moved closer to help the grandchild's family manage the disorder. More than 70% said they played some role in treatment decisions, and about one-third said they provided some direct child care at least once per week. Many grandparents also said they contributed financially to treatment.
House Approves Child Fitness Bill
School districts would be required, under a bill approved by the House, to post information on their Internet sites detailing the strengths and weaknesses of their physical education programs. The legislation, now referred to the Senate, also would require direct reports to parents on physical education for their children. The information would have to include the amount of time students spend in physical education classes, whether those classes follow a curriculum adhering to national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines or state guidelines, and descriptions of the facilities available for exercise. The reports also would need to include information on the importance of a healthy lifestyle in the learning environment.
Reducing Minority Teen Pregnancy
New federal legislation would aim pregnancy prevention programs at teenagers in minority communities. The need there is great, according to Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), who sponsored the legislation. More than half of Hispanic and African American teen girls will become pregnant at least once before age 20, she said. The Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2010 (H.R. 5033) would expand the number of competitive federal grants available for teen pregnancy programs in minority communities. It would also offer grants for research into the prevalence and social causes of pregnancy and births among minority teens. “While addressing teen sexual behavior is complex, we know that an effective strategy to reduce teen pregnancy in minority communities involves sexual health education that takes into consideration cultural and linguistic differences,” Rep. Roybal-Allard said in a statement.
EPA Implements Lead Protections
Contractors renovating homes and apartments built before 1978 must now employ practices to protect children and pregnant women from exposure to lead-based paint, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced. The enforcement of an existing rule comes nearly 2 decades after Congress directed the EPA to regulate housing renovations and after environmental groups filed a lawsuit to force action. The EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule requires contractors to be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices. To date, the EPA said it has certified 204 trainers who have already taught the practices to about 160,000 people in the construction and remodeling industries.
Male Teens Miss Sex Counseling
Despite national efforts to improve sexual health services for teenagers, even teenage boys who report high-risk sexual behaviors generally don't get counseling about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, a study from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center found. Published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the research found that only one-third of male teens who reported three or more female partners, anal sex with female partners, or oral/anal sex with male partners received counseling in 2002. Only 26% of males reporting high-risk sex, which the authors defined as sex with a prostitute, sex with a person infected with HIV, or sex while high, received counseling. The researchers recommended evidence-based, uniform guidelines to reduce confusion among providers about sexual counseling, and they said pediatricians with male teenage patients need to “ACT”: ask, counsel, and test.
NCQA Adds Obesity Measure
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) said it is adding a new childhood obesity measurement to its health plan data set. The committee said it has been collecting data on the measurement, “Weight Assessment and Counseling for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children/Adolescents,” which in 2009 became the only gauge of childhood obesity adopted by health plans nationwide. Now, there are enough data available for comparisons between plans. The NCQA will include the childhood obesity measurement in the August release of its online database of health plans' quality indicators so purchasers, consumers, and others may compare the plans' performances in this area. The measurement adjusts body mass index data for age and sex, distinguishing between desirable growth and unhealthy weight gain.
Grandparents Help Autistic Children
Grandparents play a key role in the lives of children with autism; one-third say they were the first to raise concerns about their grandchild's development, according to a survey from the Interactive Autism Network at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The survey of more than 2,600 grandparents found that nearly 11% live in the same household as their autistic grandchildren, and another 46% live within 24 miles. Many had moved closer to help the grandchild's family manage the disorder. More than 70% said they played some role in treatment decisions, and about one-third said they provided some direct child care at least once per week. Many grandparents also said they contributed financially to treatment.
House Approves Child Fitness Bill
School districts would be required, under a bill approved by the House, to post information on their Internet sites detailing the strengths and weaknesses of their physical education programs. The legislation, now referred to the Senate, also would require direct reports to parents on physical education for their children. The information would have to include the amount of time students spend in physical education classes, whether those classes follow a curriculum adhering to national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines or state guidelines, and descriptions of the facilities available for exercise. The reports also would need to include information on the importance of a healthy lifestyle in the learning environment.
Reducing Minority Teen Pregnancy
New federal legislation would aim pregnancy prevention programs at teenagers in minority communities. The need there is great, according to Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), who sponsored the legislation. More than half of Hispanic and African American teen girls will become pregnant at least once before age 20, she said. The Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2010 (H.R. 5033) would expand the number of competitive federal grants available for teen pregnancy programs in minority communities. It would also offer grants for research into the prevalence and social causes of pregnancy and births among minority teens. “While addressing teen sexual behavior is complex, we know that an effective strategy to reduce teen pregnancy in minority communities involves sexual health education that takes into consideration cultural and linguistic differences,” Rep. Roybal-Allard said in a statement.