March 17, 2010

The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs today announced the release of a publication designed to improve law enforcement responses to people with mental illnesses. The report shows there is no one-size-fits-all approach, but a growing number of communities are implementing Specialized Policing Responses (SPRs) that are designed to improve outcomes and encounters involving people with mental illnesses. Effective SPRs share many common features, but programs also differ in some important ways. These programmatic variations generally stem from a community's unique needs, opportunities, and limitations. Full release.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the approval of the Esteem, an implanted hearing system used to treat moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss, a type of permanent hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is usually caused by genetic factors or damage to the inner ear resulting from noise, viral infections, or aging. The results are reductions in perception of sounds and in the ability to understand speech. Full release.

"Educationally relevant health disparities" are key drivers of the achievement gap, "but they are largely overlooked," Charles Basch, the Richard March Hoe Professor of Health Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, said at a recent panel discussion at the College. "Over the past several decades, a variety of strategies have been tried to help close the achievement gap, standards, accountability, NCLB, more rigorous teacher certification, and they're all important, but they won't have the desired effect unless students are ready and motivated to learn." Full release.

The number of licensed registered nurses (RNs) in the United States grew to a new high of 3.1 million between 2004 and 2008 according to a report released today by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This increase of more than 5 percent also reflects growing diversity in the backgrounds of nurses in the United States. "We are encouraged by growth in the numbers and diversity of Registered Nurses, and HRSA is committed to continuing this trend to ensure an adequate supply and distribution of nurses in the future," said HRSA Administrator and nurse Dr. Mary K. Wakefield. "HRSA supports increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce and we are working diligently to achieve that goal." Full release.

Despite the usual abundance of nearby farms, local farm products are largely missing from most schools' lunch trays. An emerging "farm to school" movement aims to fix that by matching local farms with local schools, cutting out the middleman, and scaling up students' nutrition. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has been joined by Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and 12 other senators in introducing legislation to expand farm to school links to boost the use of local farm products in the federally supported school lunch program. Leahy introduced the bill on Tuesday. Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this morning in support of the Congressional Black Caucus' public hearing, "Out of Work But Not Out of Hope: Addressing the Crisis of the Chronically Unemployed." "With today's public hearing on the crisis of the chronically unemployed, the CBC shines a bright light on a persistent social and economic challenge to our nation. As Congress works to strengthen our economy and create jobs, we must also work to end economic disparities that have existed longer than the current downturn." Full release.

The U.S. Army Women's Foundation today hosted its 2nd Annual Army Women in Transition Symposium and Hall of Fame Luncheon on Capitol Hill from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with more than 200 people attending the two events. The Symposium included three panels, which analyzed current programs helping servicewomen transition from the frontlines to a civilian career, the corporate world, or the classroom. Full release.

The American Jewish Committee expressed appreciation for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's reaffirmation today of the "close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel and between the American and Israeli people." "Coming at a time when the historic alliance between the United States and Israel has been characterized as being in crisis, Secretary Clinton's comments provide much-needed clarity," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Her remarks are particularly welcome given the overheated commentary asserting that the special relationship between America and Israel is in danger." Full release.

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