Physical Activity Update | Eat Smart, Move More…NC

Color Me Healthy is the recipient of the 2005 Nemours Vision Award for Excellence in Child Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. The Nemours Vision Award recognizes the work of one U.S. community organization or government agency from outside of Delaware that have developed visionary and effective programs for children and their families. The award was presented to Dr. Carolyn Dunn with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and Cathy Thomas with the North Carolina Division of Public Health, co-authors of Color Me Healthy. For more information, go to this site.

North Carolina receives the Good Neighbor and Leading by Example Awards

North Carolina was awarded the Good Neighbor and Leading by Example Awards at a January conference for CDC funded states. The Good Neighbor award recognized North Carolina for sharing their program materials, advice, consultation, and ideas with other states. North Carolina also received the Leading by Example award for providing leadership in physical activity and nutrition for the benefit of other states. The NC 5 A Day Program and Coalition was especially acknowledged in this award.

Note: The PAN Branch accepted the award, recognizing the success of our state is a reflection of our strong local and state-level partnerships. It is through the local and statewide sharing of ideas, resources and efforts that North Carolina has established itself as a national leader in public health efforts to promote and support physical activity and healthy eating.

Programs, Projects and Initiatives

Designing Healthy Communities: Raising Healthy Kids

National Public Health Week April 3-9, 2006

In 1995, President William Jefferson Clinton proclaimed the first full week in April as National Public Health Week (NPHW). During this week, he called on federal, state, and local health agencies to work with private organizations towards building healthier communities and awareness of public health issues around the country. This year the observance of NPHW is April 3-9. The focus will be on children and the built environment and be held from April 3-9. For more information, go to this site.

American Hiking Society Announces Its 14th Annual National Trails Day Get Outside and "Experience Your Outdoors" on June 3, 2006

All across the country, people are getting ready to celebrate the great outdoors at this year’s National Trails Day - America’s largest annual single-day trails and outdoor celebration. Organized by American Hiking Society, the national nonprofit organization serving as the national voice for America’s hikers, the 14th annual National Trails Day is set to kick off on Saturday, June 3. Hundreds of thousands of trail enthusiasts are expected to participate in a wide variety of activities on public trails at more than one thousand nationally sanctioned events across the land.

National Trails Day, American Hiking Society’s signature trail awareness program, encompasses activities for all interests and abilities, in an inclusive, family-friendly manner. Events will include: hikes; paddles; horse and bike rides; outdoor festivals; trail openings and dedications; volunteer trail building and maintenance projects; educational programs; and much more. Besides allowing people to discover, learn about and celebrate our country’s public trails system, it also provides Americans a chance to thank the volunteers, land-managing organizations and civic-minded businesses that maintain this irreplaceable national asset. National Trails Day events are hosted by local and statewide trail clubs, city, state and federal public land and health agencies, community groups and other nonprofit organizations, and outdoor-minded businesses. People interested in attending a local event should visit American Hiking’s National Trails Day web site, www.NationalTrailsDay.org. The site includes a map allowing users to search for registered events in their local community and across the country.

Success Stories

Eat Smart, Move More…North Carolina Launched to the Public

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker-Odom helped kick off the official public launch of Eat Smart, Move More…North Carolina with a health walk on the campus of Dorthea Dix on Wednesday, January 18th. After speaking to Department’s employees about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity, Secretary Hooker-Odom led the group in a .6 mile walk.

The N.C. Division of Public Health and its state and local partners launched the Eat Smart, Move More…North Carolina campaign January 15-21 with events statewide.

In addition to the Secretary’s walk in Raleigh, Eat Smart Move More…North Carolina events included the Davie County School Employees’ Health Fair in Davie County; Eat Smart, Move More…Pitt County Teachers in Greenville; Wilmington Families Eating Smart and Moving in Wilmington; A New Year and A Healthier Me in Raleigh; Eat Smart, Move More…NC: Belmont Highlights Simple Solutions for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Belmont; and ABC (Asheville-Buncombe County) Let’s Go in Asheville, to name a few.

A flurry of media activity during the week included newspaper articles in The Pilot, Southern Pines, the Jacksonville Daily News, The Asheville Citizen-Times, The Wilmington Journal, The Carteret County News-Times, The Daily Reflector, Greenville, and the Bladen Journal; TV coverage on WSOC-TV, Charlotte, WNCT-TV, Greenville, and News 14 Carolina, Raleigh; and radio coverage on the NC News Network (statewide) and WPTF, Raleigh.
To coincide with the launch of Eat Smart, Move More…North Carolina, a new consumer Web site, MyEatSmartMoveMore.com was launched. The site focuses on helping consumers get a better handle on some critical health behaviors that we all need to do more of each day.

The site also features resources for North Carolinians who want to make healthy changes in their homes, preschools, schools, churches, worksites and communities. For example, click on "school," and find information you can use to talk to your child’s school teacher or principal about making physical activity a regular part of the school day.

Eat Smart, Move More…NC is a statewide healthy eating and physical activity movement that helps North Carolinians of all ages and abilities to eat smart and move more where they live, learn, earn, play and pray.

Featured Resources and Research

Fit Families NC

In an effort to address North Carolina’s obesity epidemic among children and youth, the Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) established a study committee known as Fit Families NC in 2004. The purpose of the Study Committee was to evaluate the causes and status of obesity among the state’s children and to recommend viable policy initiatives to the General Assembly and relevant agencies and organizations. To download a copy of the Committee’s report, visit this site .

NC State Board of Education Physical Education Ad Hoc Committee

On November 30th, the NC State Board Education (SBE) accepted the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Physical Education. The report examines the feasibility of requiring 150 minutes of elementary physical education and 225 minutes of middle school physical education. To view details about the NC SBE Meeting, visit this link . To view the Committee Report, visit this link .

The Economic Cost of Unhealthy Lifestyles in North Carolina

A report on the economic cost of unhealthy lifestyles in North Carolina has been released. To view the press release and download the report, visit www.beactivenc.org.

CDC’s Health-Related Quality of Life Website

CDC is pleased to announce the release of updated Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) state-level data and CDC’s first surveillance summary on HRQOL, which are available at this site . Updated information includes: updated HRQOL prevalence estimates and trend charts, using 1993-2004 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Users can examine national and state prevalence with the option of categorizing data by age, gender, or race/ethnicity.

Theory at a Glance

Are you a health education professional looking to apply proven concepts to your communications program planning and design? If so, be sure to go to this site today for a downloadable version of the National Cancer Institute’s recently released monograph, Theory at a Glance: A Guide for Health Promotion Practice (Second Edition).

Based on the highly regarded first edition, the updated version includes findings from recent health behavior research, theoretical approaches to using emerging technologies, and ideas on developing programs for diverse populations.

Drawing on case studies to illustrate key behavior change theories,Theory at a Glance makes it possible for even the busiest program director to take a theory-based approach to program planning and evaluation. To order copies, visit the Cancer Information Service online or call 1-800-4CANCER.

Most Behaviors Preceding Major Causes of Preventable Death Have Begun By Young Adulthood

By the time they reach early adulthood, a large proportion of American youth have begun the poor practices contributing to three leading causes of preventable death in the United States: smoking, overweight and obesity, and alcohol abuse. This finding is according to an NIH-funded analysis of the most comprehensive survey of adolescent health behavior undertaken to date. For more information, go to this site.

Weight Loss Improves Bladder Control in Women with Prediabetes

Losing a modest amount of weight through dietary changes and increased physical activity reduces the occurrence of urinary incontinence (UI) in women with prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet diabetic. This finding comes from a new study, published in the February issue of Diabetes Care, of women who participated in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a landmark clinical study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For more information go to this site.

Residents of Washington State’s ‘Walkable Neighborhoods’ Have Lower BMIs, Higher Physical Activity Levels

A study summarized in the Journal of the American Planning Association finds that residents of more "walkable neighborhoods" have lower body mass indices (BMI) than those living in less pedestrian-friendly areas. They are also more likely to participate in 30 minutes of daily exercise, the Seattle Times reports. For more information go to this site.

Northern California Health Officials Urge Pedestrian-Friendly Development to Promote Physical Activity

At a workshop in Redding, Calif., health officials urged county planners and policy-makers to consider developing "walkable neighborhoods" to foster exercise among residents, the Redding Record Searchlight reports. For more information go to this site.

Complete the Streets Website

Complete the Streets is a movement focused oninsuring that all streets aredesigned and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must be able to safely move along and across a complete street.
The Complete the Streets website offers successful case studies, blueprints for establishing Complete Street policies in your neighborhood as well as listing available resources. Visit the Complete the Streets Website.

Safe Routes To School National Partnership Offers New Resources

According to the Jan. 4th Safe Routes to School E-News, "The Safe Routes to School National Partnership continues to be asked by community members, parents, and advocates for information and resources on how to work with cities and school administrations on developing Safe Routes to School programs. To help, we developed a short ‘Getting Started’ primer and PowerPoint presentation which can be downloaded and customized for local use." Find the documents online at this link.

Study Finds Parents’ Perception of Neighborhood Safety Affects Children’s Activity Levels, Weight

A study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine finds that children who live in neighborhoods considered by their parents to be unsafe are more likely to be overweight than children who live in communities their parents believe to be safe, HealthDay reports. For more information, go to this link.

Effective Physical Activity Programs Include Personalized Education

Physical activity programs that integrate an understanding of attitudes and behaviors are the focus of a special section in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. "Older adults bring with them symptoms, emotions, motives and beliefs that are as important to adherence and to the outcomes of interventions as the physical training regimen itself," wrote W. Jack Rejeski, PhD and Lawrence R. Brawley, PhD, in the section overview. For more information, go to this link.

Rural Hispanics at a Glance

Rural Hispanics at a Glance provides the latest information from the 2000 Census and other Federal data sources about Hispanics living in nonmetro counties. This six-page brochure highlights growth and geographic dispersion, demographic characteristics, and the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions for this population. It emphasizes rapid Hispanic population growth, particularly in new rural destinations of the Midwest and Southeast, and it illustrates differences in age structure between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites. The report also provides data on important demographic, labor market, income, poverty, and social service indicators for nonmetro Hispanics.

Using a visually interesting format that incorporates text bullets with charts and maps, it quickly provides information on key indicators of the rural Hispanic population to assist public officials, community organizations, private decision makers and others in their efforts to enhance the economic opportunities and quality of life for this rapidly growing population. For more information, to this link.

Physical Activity Fact

Older adults who exercise three or more times a week (just 15 minutes of exercise - such as walking or swimming ) have a 30% to 40% lower risk of developing dementia than their more sedentary counterparts. Exercise Associated with Reduced Risk of Dementia in Older Adults; Larson EB et al; Annals of Internal Medicine Source , Ann Intern Med 2006; 144: 73-81

Teenagers with Obese Parents More Likely to be Overweight, Study Finds

A study published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association finds that less than 40 percent of children ages 12 to 16 with obese parents are normal weight and that having an obese parent is the most significant predictor of whether children will be overweight, the New York Times reports For more information go to this link.

‘Quiet’ Diabetes Epidemic Emerging as Primary Public Health Threat, Experts Say

Although type 2 diabetes was once considered a "relatively benign sickness of the old," a significant increase in new cases is posing challenges to individual patients and the health care system in general. Officials at one New York City hospital say that nearly half of the patients admitted at any given time have diabetes-related ailments, the New York Times reports. For more information, go to this link.

Google Map Pedometer

Google Maps has made available the Google Map Pedometer. Using the online Pedometer, the user can plot a walking route and easily calculate the distance walked or enter a start address and plot the route from there. Another feature is a calorie calculator that converts distance walked to calories burned. Find the Google Map Pedometer at this link.

ACSM Fit Society Newsletter

The Fall 2005 edition of the ACSM Fit Society Page newsletter – a special issue on YOUTH WEIGHT MANAGEMENT – is now available on the ACSM Web site. Click HERE to download your FREE copy and get the latest information from ACSM’s leading authorities on nutrition and activity for children and teens.

Health, United States, 2005

CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics has published Health, United States, 2005, the 29th edition of the annual report on the nation’s health. The report includes 156 detailed trend tables organized around four broad subject areas: health status and determinants, health-care use, health-care resources, and health-care expenditures. Many of the trend tables provide information on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in health.

The report also includes the 2005 Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans, which assesses the current state of the nation’s health and how it is changing over time, both positively and negatively, by presenting trends and information on selected determinants and measures of health status. The Chartbook includes a special focus on persons aged 55–64 years, a growing segment of the adult population.

Health, United States, 2005 is available online. Information about the report is available from the National Center for Health Statistics Data Dissemination Branch by telephone, 1-866-441-NCHS, or e-mail, nchsquery@cdc.gov.

Legislation

The NCSL postcard on State Physical Education Requirements for 2005, with a 50-state P.E. policy map is available on the NCSL web page.

A Bill To Amend Section 1111 Of The Elementary And Secondary Education Act Of 1965 Regarding Challenging Academic Content Standards For Physical Education (S1276 & HR4359)

Senator Cornyn (R-TX) and Representative WAMP (R-TN) have each introduced a bill that would amend No Child Left Behind Act to include physical education. The bills require content and performance standards for physical education beginning in school year 2006-2007 as part of a state plan for compliance under the law. By the 2008-2009 school year, states would also have to assess student progress in physical education.

Grants

3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Grant Program

America’s low calcium intake is recognized as a major public health problem. To address this concern, the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) will award (1) $5,000 grant to an organization or individual proposing innovative, community-based nutrition education programs aimed at empowering children to become advocates for healthy eating, including three servings of dairy a day. A total of (2) grants will be awarded within SUDIA region.

Grants are open to all groups or individuals in the U.S., including those self-employed, commissioned by or employed by organizations of local government, state and local health departments, regional and state agencies and schools, medical facilities and extension specialists. Grants are also open to past 3-A-Day of Dairy grant winners. The 3-A-Day of Dairy nutrition education program is designed to improve overall diet, by including three servings a day of milk, cheese or yogurt to help children adopt a healthy lifestyle.

To access submission guidelines and to download an application, please visit: www.southeastdairy.org, If you don’t have Internet access, please contact:

Mary Martin Nordness, MA, RD, LD, CHES
256.503.5902 or 800.251.4531

Applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2006

Nickelodeon Announces Giveaway Program to Encourage Healthy Play

Children’s television network Nickelodeon has announced the launch of the 2005-2006 "Let’s Just Play" Giveaway Program, where the network will distribute more than $1 million from September 2005 to June 2006. The "Let’s Just Play" Giveaway offers kids around the United States the opportunity to take action and enter for a chance to win $5,000 to improve their school or community program’s fitness resources. The initiative is part of the network’s three-year pro-social "Let’s Just Play" campaign, which encourages healthy and active lifestyles for kids and families.

For ten months, Nickelodeon will award a minimum of 20 winners per month with $5,000 each to help facilitate play in their community. To enter, kids (6-15 years of age), partnering with teachers and other community-based leaders, must tell Nickelodeon what they need for their public or private school (grades K-9) or community-based after-school organization to help them play better and why, and give three reasons why play is important. Once the entry form is completed and mailed to Nickelodeon, the winners will be randomly selected and announced via Nickelodeon Online at the top of each month, beginning in September.

For more information on the "Let’s Just Play" program and details on submitting program entries, visit the Nickelodeon Website.

Balance Bar Offers Individual/Team Grants and Community Grants

As part of its commitment to helping people enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle, the Balance Bar Food Company offers grants to help individuals, teams, and community organizations pursue their goals.

Balance Bar Individual/Team Grants provide financial support to enthusiasts and amateur athletes who passionately pursue activities that enrich their lives. Individuals and teams can apply for grant amounts ranging from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $10,000. (Deadline: March 15, 2006).
Balance Bar Community Grants provide financial support to enable communities and organizations to passionately pursue physical activities that enrich their lives. The grant must be dedicated to a project that will provide organization members, as well as community residents, with opportunities to lead healthy, active lifestyles. Organizations with 501(c)(3) status can apply for grant amounts ranging from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000. (Deadline: August 30, 2006).

Detailed program information and application guidelines are available at the Balance Bar Web site.

Nike Accepting Applications for Bowerman Track Renovation Program

A philanthropic initiative of Nike, Inc., the Bowerman Track Renovation Program provides matching cash grants to community-based, youth-oriented organizations that seek to refurbish or construct running tracks.

Administered by Nike’s Community Affairs department, this ten-year, $2 million program provides matching funds of up to $50,000 to youth-oriented nonprofit organizations anywhere in the world. The program distributes approximately $200,000 in matching grants each year.

Organizations applying for the grant must demonstrate a need for running track refurbishment or construction. Grant recipients will provide track access to neighboring communities. Bowerman Track Renovation Program funds must be matched in some amount by other contributors by an agreed-upon deadline. Recipients of a Bowerman Track Reno- vation grant are encouraged, but not required, to use Nike Grind technology to resurface their track. Nike Grind material is made of recycled athletic shoes sliced and ground into rubber granules, providing a superior, environmentally conscious all-weather track surface.

U.S. applicants should be exempt from income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) or 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and be defined as a public charity or a unit of government. Athletic booster clubs, schools, and school districts are considered public charities and are eligible to apply. Applicants outside the United States should be charitable in purpose and nongovernmental organizations. To be eligible, applicants must employ at least one full-time staff person and maintain a viable track program serving boys and girls, ages 14-18.

Proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis through May 31, 2009. A committee of Nike representatives meets to review eligible completed proposals quarterly (i.e., January, March, June, and September).

Complete program guidelines and an application form are available at the Nike Web site.

Champions for Healthy Kids Program Offers Grants to Improve Kids’ Fitness and Nutrition Habits

Champions for Healthy Kids, a national grant program created to encourage healthy eating choices and active lifestyles in young people, is now accepting grant applications for 2006. The program is a partnership of the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation, and the President’s Challenge. Since its inception in 2002, Champions for Healthy Kids has invested more than $6 million in youth nutrition and fitness programs that have served more than 100,000 children across the United States.

Each year, the Champions Grant Program awards fifty community groups and schools with $10,000 grants that support innovative programs to help children develop positive, lifelong nutrition, and physical fitness habits. The program supports the work of innovative nutrition and fitness programs developed by grassroots, not-for-profit organizations that serve children and teenagers.

Grants will be awarded to not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) or 509(a) status and agencies working with communities that demonstrate the greatest need and likelihood of sustainable impact on young people’s nutrition and activity levels through innovative programs. For more information go to this link.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Grants to Study American Indian/Alaskan Native Communities

Deadline: March 10, 2006

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will fund community-responsive interventions to reduce risk in American Indians and Alaska Natives. For more information, visit this link .

Women’s Sports Foundation Invites Applications for GoGirlGo! Grant Program

Deadline for Applications: March 15, 2006

The GoGirlGo! Grant and Educational Program, administered by the Women’s Sports Foundation, provides financial assistance to sports and physical activity programs seeking to add new or expanded program participation opportunities for an under-served population of girls, particularly economically disadvantaged girls and/or girls from populations with high incidences of health-risk behaviors. GoGirlGo! is dedicated to the development and funding of girls’ sports/physical activity programs that combine athletic instruction and programming with the delivery of educational information by qualified adults aimed at reducing risk behaviors that threaten the health and social advancement of girls in third to eighth grade. The GoGirlGo! educational curriculum is available free of charge and must be ordered separately. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to deliver girls’ sport/physical activity programming to girls in third to eighth grade; deliver a minimum eight-week sports/physical activity program, with preference given to organizations that work consistently with girls throughout the year; demonstrate that the program is administered by experienced and committed adults; be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (if the program does not have nonprofit status, it may be possible to receive a grant through a local fiscal agent); and demonstrate a commitment to the GoGirlGo! educational curriculum, including completion of a post-project attitudinal survey. The GoGirlGo! curriculum may be implemented following receipt of a grant. A total of $200,000 will be awarded. For more information, go to: http://www.GoGirlGo.com

Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation Grants

Deadline for Applications: November 15; February 15; and April 15.

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation provides a variety of grants to community groups and schools that meet our eligibility requirements, in order to support the growth of youth baseball and softball, as well as promote character growth in children.

Please visit the title link for information about the grants and downloadable applications. For more information, go to this link.

Training and Professional Development

2006 National Bike Summit

Building Bicycle Friendly Communities
Washington, DC
March 1-3, 2006

Join us in the Nation’s Capital for networking, training and practical knowledge from the leaders of America’s bicycling movement. After years of focus on the Federal transportation bill, the bicycle community’s attention now turns to implementation: turning dollars into better conditions for bicyclists. For more information, go to this link.

International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health

Atlanta, GA
April 17-20, 2006

This event, sponsored by the CDC Physical Activity and Health Branch will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the release of the landmark U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health. Key scientific and programmatic advances in the field in the past 10 years will be emphasized and the direction of future research and promotion will be highlighted.

For more information, go to this link or email ICPAPH2006@cdc.gov.

National conference on Health Promotion and Education

Advancing the National Health Promotion and Health Education Agenda through Effective Policies and Practice
Washington, D.C.
May 23-26, 2006

Conference Themes:

Developing a Competent Workforce
Innovative Approaches to Health Education and Health Promotion Practice
Collaborating with non traditional partners
Economics of Health Education and Health Promotion
Role of Health Education/Promotion in Public Health Legislation and Policy

For more information go to this link.

Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2006 Presentation Submissions Form

Making Connections
Madison, Wisconsin
September 5-8, 2006

The online form for submitting presentation proposals for the Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference are on-line at this link. Presentations will focus on a variety of critical linkages within this theme:

Creating streets that better serve all users and providing trails that go somewhere.
Creating communities where "places to go" are within walking and biking distances
Creating transit links for getting downtown or to the football stadium
Building broad-based coalitions to do both big and little things
Getting bicycling and walking embedded in government and business circles
Using bicycling and walking to enhance people’s health, happiness, and safety

CDC’s 2006 National Health Promotion Conference

Atlanta, Georgia
September 12-14, 2006

Join local, state and national public health leaders, businesses, communities, researchers, policymakers, communicators, and other professionals to discuss new directions in health promotion. The conference tracks include Nontraditional Partnerships; Innovative Approaches to Public Health Practice; Translating Science and Evaluating Results; Health Policy and Communications; Implementing Best Practices at the Local Level; and Emerging Issues and Hot Topics in Public Health. Visit this site for additional details.

The Cooper Institute Conference Series: Parks, Recreation, and Public Health: Collaborative Frameworks for Promoting Physical Activity

Dallas, Texas, USA
October 26 - 28, 2006

In 1997 The Cooper Institute began a series of conferences related to improving the public’s health. The series is intended to bring together an international group of experts to focus on a particular topic relating to physical activity. The conferences have led to highly referenced and influential journal publications.

The 2006 conference will focus on developing collaborative frameworks for researchers, practitioners, and educators in the field of public health, parks, and recreation. Abstracts will be accepted for poster presentations at the conference.
For more information go to this link.

APHA Call for Abstracts

Boston, MA
November 4-8, 2006

The American Public Health Association’s CALL FOR ABSTRACTS for the 134th Annual Meeting to be held in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday, November 4, 2006 — Wednesday, November 8, 2006 is now open for submissions.

We invite you to submit your abstract and assist APHA in continuing to provide the highest quality public health educational programming. Abstracts are welcome in any area of public health, including those that incorporate the meeting theme of "Public Health and Human Rights." Abstracts will be accepted through the APHA web site.