CDC Study: Most Adolescents Not Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines

Only 1 in 4 U.S. children between the ages of 12 and 15 meet recommended physical activity levels, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC researchers used 2012 data from the combined National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey. 
Read entire report at the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db141.htm.

Funding Opportunity: Mobilization for Health, National Prevention Partnership Awards (NPPA) Program

The Mobilization for Health: National Prevention Partnership Awards (NPPA) Program is designed to promote and accelerate partnerships, catalyzing collaborations in improving health through access to, and use of, preventive services across the United States. The program is designed to establish integrated, collaborative local, state, regional, or tribal partnerships to increase community awareness and action on preventive health services, particularly those provided through Health Promotion Programs and Services.

Please note the following dates:

A pre-application webinar will be scheduled on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 from 1-3p.m. ET. Further details of the pre-application webinar can be found on: http://www.hhs.gov/grants/.

Applications are due March 3, 2014 by 5 p.m. ET

Broad public health partnerships are encouraged between academic, governmental, community based and faith based organizations.

Feel free to distribute widely.

This funding opportunity announcement has 2 parts:

A) Awards $50,000 to $75,000.

B) Awards not to exceed $500,000.

To ensure adequate time to successfully submit the application, HHS/OASH recommends that applicants register immediately in Grants.gov since the registration process can take up to one month. For information on registering for Grants.gov, refer to http://www.grants.gov or contact the Grants.gov Contact Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (excluding Federal holidays) at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

Mobilization for Health: National Prevention Partnership Awards (NPPA) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) announce the anticipated availability of funds for Fiscal Year 2014. The Mobilization for Health: National Prevention Partnership Awards (NPPA) grant program is designed to do the following: Promote and accelerate partnerships Catalyze collaborations to improve health and wellness through access to and use of preventive services across the United States Educate and train health workers and the public Establish communication programs for all community populations regardless of social and economic barriers or race/ethnicity The program seeks to establish integrated, collaborative local, state, regional, and tribal partnerships to increase community awareness and action on preventive health services. Applications  Applications are due March 3, 2014, by 5:00 p.m. (ET).  Applicants should clearly identify Part A (1-year award) or Part B (up to a 3-year award) in their application. Successful applicants will be single organizations that coordinate and oversee multiple partners that will implement the proposed activity. All applications for this funding opportunity must be submitted electronically through http://grants.gov and must be received by5:00 p.m. (ET) on March 3, 2014. Pre-Application Webinar A pre-application webinar will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (ET). Register to join the public pre-application webinar. A registration confirmation email will be sent to you. Keep this email within easy reach when joining the webinar; it includes your conference access information, including a unique PIN. Grant application questions can be submitted prior to the webinar via emails toOASHGRANTFOA@hhs.gov. Questions during the webinar can be entered into the webinar chat box. Frequently Asked Questions. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions on the NPPA Program for more information. Assistance Registering for the Webinar If you need assistance with registering, please contact Chanya Liv by email atOASHGRANTFOA@hhs.gov or by phone at 202-690-2470. HHS welcomes the attendance of the public at its pre-application webinar and will make every effort to accommodate persons with physical disabilities or special needs. If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Chanya Liv at OASHGRANTFOA@hhs.govor 202-690-2470 at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting. For more information: Access the funding opportunity announcement

Affordable Plans Available in Utah

In Utah, a family of four could pay as little as $122 per month for health coverage. A 27-year-old could pay as little as $95 per month.

There are affordable plans available in the Health Insurance Marketplace right now. If you want coverage that will start as early as February 1, 2014, make sure that you complete your application and enroll in a plan by January 15, 2014. Click here to enroll online.

Junior League Care Fair - Mini Dental Fair

The Junior League committee has just announced an upcoming free dental fair for the under-served.  This is an attempt to serve clients with dental needs outside of the big health fair in the summer:

Saturday, Feb 8

9am-5pm

Horizonte Instructional Training Center

1234 S Main Street

Salt Lake City, Utah

This dental-only fair will provide individuals with basic dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, dental exams and vouchers for follow-up care. If you are a dentist or hygienist who would be interested in volunteering for this event, please contact the dental committee at dental@juniorleaguecarefair.org or Kristin Gelegotis at 801-554-7570 and Kristin.gelegotis@gmail.com.

Thanks for helping spread the word to those in need and potential dental volunteers.

Nominate Utah Community Advocates for Select 25 Award by January 19th!

Select 25 is a grant program that awards $2,500 to nonprofit organizations that serve special
populations or improve health and well-being. In the past, SelectHealth has awarded grants to organizations that help sponsor community health initiatives like community gardens, physical education and safety programs.

The application is only a page and can be found at http://selecthealth.org/stayhealthy/select25/Pages/home.aspx. Winners are chosen by community stakeholders and given $2,500 and a media package to promote their program services. This grant is only available to Utah organizations, so please consider applying or sending it on.

Education: It Matters More to Health than Ever Before

Americans with fewer years of education have poorer health and shorter lives—a fact that has never been more true than today. Since the 1990s, life expectancy has decreased for people without a high school education, especially White women. Now, more than ever before, people with less education face a serious health and economic disadvantage.

New issue brief and video explore the links between education and health.

This new brief and video kick off the Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health’s Education and Health Initiative, a program to raise awareness about the links between education and health. It is the first in a series of four briefs that will explain these complex connections, discuss the role of health care reform, and demonstrate why investing in education can cut health care costs.

Key Findings

• People with less education are living shorter, sicker lives than ever before.Americans with less education face higher rates of illness, higher rates of disability, and shorter life expectancies. In the U.S., 25-year-olds without a high school diploma can expect to die 9 years sooner than college graduates.
• These health disparities are even more prominent among White women.While overall life expectancy has generally increased, it has decreased for Whites with fewer than 12 years of education—especially White women. White women without a high school diploma are living shorter lives than they did in 1990.
• Investing in education saves lives and dollars. More education leads to higher earnings that can provide access to healthy food, safer homes, and better health care. In contrast, people with fewer years of education generate higher medical costs and are less productive at work.

To read entire brief visit RWJF at http://www.rwjf.org/en/research-publications/find-rwjf-research/2014/01/education--it-matters-more-to-health-than-ever-before.html

CMS issued the formal extension of PCN in Utah

CMS issued the formal extension of PCN through December 2014.  As part of the extension, CMS reduced PCN's income level to 100% Federal Poverty Line (FLP), effective March 31. Current PCN clients over 100% FPL have been notified.

How will PCN change on January 1, 2014?

Starting on January 1, 2014, the amount of income you can make each month and still be on PCN will change.  Only people with income less than the amounts below will be eligible for PCN. 

Household Size	Monthly Income
1	$958
2	$1293
3	$1628
4	$1963
5	$2298
6	$2633

What happens if my income is too high?

Your current income is more than the amounts listed above for your household size.  The Affordable Care Act (also known as Healthcare Reform) created an option where you may be able to receive help to purchase a health insurance plan that would cover more services than PCN.  You have the option to:

·       sign up now for a more complete plan and see if you are able to get help paying for the plan;or

·       stay on PCN until your case closes on March 31, 2014.  

What if I want to get private health insurance now?

You can look for private health insurance at any time.  You may be able to find health insurance on Healthcare.gov.  If you apply at Healthcare.gov, you will also find out if you can get help paying for insurance premiums and copays.

Private health insurance has more benefits than the PCN.  With private health insurance, you can get coverage for hospital stays, specialists, more than 4 prescriptions per month and other services not covered by PCN. You may also be able to get mental health or substance use disorder services.

If you get health insurance now, you must report this to the Department of Workforce Services and your PCN case will close. 

How can I get help finding private health insurance?

Take Care Utah is a program that can help you find affordable health care coverage. They have health insurance navigators that can help you.

What is a health insurance navigator?

A health insurance navigator is a person who can help you find healthcare coverage either through Medicaid or private insurance.

For questions or help finding health insurance, contact Take Care Utah by:

·       Calling 801-433-2299 or

·       Online athttp://www.healthpolicyproject.org/TakeCareUtah/

To learn about current coverage options in Utah visit   http://www.healthpolicyproject.org/FindCoverage.html.

For more information on federal healthcare reform or to find health insurance coverage options on your own, visit      www.healthcare.gov.