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| Volume
1, Issue 2 |
March 2010 |
|
Dear
Subscriber,
Welcome
to the second issue of "Strengthening Our
Practice" newsletter from National Professional
Development (NPD).
In this edition, you'll hear
about highlights from the NPD event held in Miami,
Florida this past January, along with the story of
Miami-Dade County Public Schools' "Test Miami"
program.
We hope you take the time to read
about this exciting program. We also
encourage our asthma partners to check out the
newly released registration information for the
upcoming NPD event to be held in June in
Chicago, Illinois.
As always, we look forward to hearing
your stories of reaching youth at greatest risk
and look forward to strengthening our practice
together.
All the best,
Holly Alperin and Kim Coates
NPD Partners
|
| Miami Event Generates New Ideas for the
Future |
|
Sun, sand, and surf was the backdrop for the
second in a three-session offering of the
"Strengthening Our Practice: Refining Our Aim"
event held in Miami on January 25-27, 2010.
Seventeen teams participated in
inspiring keynote sessions, skill
building, facilitated round-table
discussions, and team planning on:
- Improving the quality of HIV prevention
education and coordinated school health programs
at the state and local levels
- Reaching youth at greatest risk for HIV
infection, physical inactivity, unhealthy
dietary behaviors, and tobacco use
Youths'
Performance Impresses
Audience
Event attendees were treated to a powerful
musical performance: "Generation X to the Third
Power," featuring the PAVAC Players Touring
Company of Miami Northwestern Senior High
School.
|
PAVAC
Players Touring
Company |
This Miami-Dade Public Schools educational
theatre troupe featured 10 young women in white
linen shirts and jumpers, and four young men in
vests and ties, singing and dancing to topics
addressing HIV/AIDS, incest, prostitution, and
drugs.
The performance ended on an uplifting, high
note as troupe members sang a spirited rendition
of "We are the World." The audience gave them a
standing ovation.
San
Francisco Team Presents a Powerful
Message
Just one highlight of several at the Miami
NPD event was the San Francisco Unified School
District's presentation: "That's So Gay! Combating
Homophobia to Reduce LGBTQ Health
Disparities."
The session offered insight on improving
skills to increase safety in schools for LGBTQ
youth.
|
Kevin
Gogin and Ilsa
Bertolini |
The presenters, Kevin Gogin and Ilsa
Bertolini balanced levity with sobering LGBTQ
statistics: a higher incidence of alcohol and
marijuana use, elevated mental health indicators
for depression and suicide, and increased threats
at school.
Facilitators shared a powerful film
addressing bullying with participants called
"Let's Get Real."
"Strengthening Our Practice: Refining Our
Aim" will be presented for a third and final time
in San Francisco on April 20-22, 2010.
Registration for this event is at capacity.
Strengthening
Our Practice in
Chicago
|
| "Ask Me About" . .
. Miami-Dade Success
Story |
|
|
Test
Miami: Improving HIV
Understanding
In June 2009, Test Miami was launched to
promote routine HIV testing by physicians, improve
Miami-Dade residents' understanding of HIV, and
reduce the transmission of HIV.
This initiative is implemented through a
collaborative effort between the Miami-Dade County
Health Department, Florida Department of Health,
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida
International University School of Public Health
and School of Journalism, the University of Miami
Developmental Center for AIDS Research, HIV
counselors, community-based organizations, city,
county, state, and national officials, and all
concerned citizens.
With components
of Test Miami seeking the reduction
of the transmission of HIV and improving
Miami-Dade residents' understanding of HIV, the
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Miami-Dade
County Health Department, the University of
Miami's Connect to Protect Project, and
community-based organizations collaborated to
provide HIV education and testing to high school
students in targeted areas.
|
Seated
from left to right: Florence Greer,
Jacquelyn White, and Carol
Wilson. |
Over the course
of several days, students
were presented with the basics of HIV and attended
school site presentations by speakers living with
HIV/AIDS.
The students attending these educational
activities were provided an opportunity to receive
free HIV and STD testing at the school site.
In addition to FREE HIV testing,
other health services were
available. If students participated in
the HIV testing events, they received credit for
community service.
* *
* *
Do you have a program accomplishment that you
want others to "ask you about?" Send it to: Holly
Alperin at halperin@doe.mass.edu. We may
include it in a future edition and/or on the NPD
website. | |
|
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education and the San Francisco
Unified School District-Student Support Services
Department are funded by CDC to improve the
capacity of CDC/DASH-funded agencies and to
effectively implement programs through national
professional development events, trainings, and
follow-up technical assistance.
Sincerely,
NPD
Partners | | |
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