ListenMedical Costs for Youth with Diabetes More than $9,000 a Year
Young people with diabetes face substantially higher medical costs than children and teens without the disease, according to a CDC study published in the May issue of the journal Diabetes Care. The study found annual medical expenses for youth with diabetes are $9,061, compared to $1,468 for youth without the disease.
Much of the extra medical costs come from prescription drugs and outpatient care. Young people with the highest medical costs were treated with insulin, and included all those with type 1 diabetes and some with type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes cannot make insulin anymore and must receive insulin treatment. Some people with type 2 diabetes also are treated with insulin, because their bodies do not produce enough to control blood glucose (sugar).
Children and adolescents who received insulin treatment had annual medical costs of $9,333, compared to $5,683 for those who did not receive insulin, but did take oral medications to control blood glucose.
"Young people with diabetes face medical costs that are six times higher than their peers without diabetes," said Ann Albright, Ph.D., R.D., director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation. "Most youth with diabetes need insulin to survive and the medical costs for young people on insulin were almost 65 percent higher than for those who did not require insulin to treat their diabetes."
The study examined medical costs for children and teens aged 19 years or younger who were covered by employer-sponsored private health insurance plans in 2007, using the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database. The estimates were based on administrative claim data from nearly 50,000 youth, including 8,226 with diabetes.
Medical costs for people with diabetes, the vast majority of whom are adults, are 2.3 times higher than costs for those without diabetes, according to CDC's National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011. Authors of the Diabetes Care study suggest that the difference in medical costs associated with diabetes may be greater for youth than for adults because of higher medication expenses, visits to specialists and medical supplies such as insulin syringes and glucose testing strips.
Among youth with diabetes, 92 percent were on insulin, compared to 26 percent of adults with diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps convert blood glucose into energy. Without adequate insulin, blood glucose levels rise and can eventually lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage and amputation of feet and legs.
Type 1 diabetes develops when the body's immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Risk factors may be genetic or environmental. There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes, the body no longer handles insulin properly and gradually loses the ability to produce it. Risk factors include obesity, older age, family history, physical inactivity, history of diabetes while pregnant, and race/ethnicity. Type 2 diabetes is extremely rare in children younger than 10 years. Although type 2 diabetes is infrequent in children and teens aged 10 to 19 years, rates are higher in this group compared to younger children, with higher rates among minorities.
For information about diabetes, visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes or the National Diabetes Education Program at www.yourdiabetesinfo.org. To learn more about diabetes in youth, visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes/youth.
Press release: PRNewswire
27 April 2011
___
IVORY COAST
Fear, Population Grow at
Salesian Compound in Ivory Coast Where 30,000 Seek Safety After Horrific
Violence
...
New fears grow along with the number of
people seeking safe shelter at a Salesian Missions compound in Duékoué.
More than 30,000 displaced civilians are now living without adequate
food, water and sanitation, raising intense fears of a cholera outbreak
among other real health risks.
New fears grow along with the number of people seeking safe shelter at a Salesian Missions compound in Duékoué. More than 30,000 displaced civilians are now living there after fleeing their homes when the Carrefour district was looted and houses set on fire on March 29. At least 800 people were killed.
“There is no food, people are sleeping on the ground, there is nowhere else to go,” says Salesian Father Vicente Grupeli. “There are no toilets or washing facilities and we have no drinking water.”
They also are without adequate food and water. However, Fr. Grupeli’s greatest fear is a cholera outbreak, which he says is a serious threat if more aid is not received soon.
A Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) team has been providing medical care in the Salesian compound in Duékoué on a daily basis since December. On April 19, MSF reported:
"The pressure on the camp is enormous. The number of people sheltering there far surpasses its capacity, and more are continuing to arrive. In surrounding villages, many people are still hoping to make their way to this dreadful safe haven."
“In our dispensary, consultations have recently doubled and in some rooms we have two consultants because of the lack of space,” says Dr. Mohamadou Seyni, who coordinates MSF’s activities in the camp. “After the days of violence, we had a lot of trauma and injuries that we needed to refer to our team in the hospital in town, but now most of our consultations are for malaria. Yesterday, out of 120 children tested, 80 had malaria.”
On April 4, the Salesian Info Agency (ANS) reported that “there are only two Salesians there who have to try to respond to the appeals for help from about 20,000 people.”
Since then, the number of people seeking shelter and assistance at the Salesian compound has grown to at least 30,000. A report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirms the massive numbers and shows completed registrations for more than 27,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking refuge in and around the Salesian compound in Duékoué.
The numbers are growing and people are afraid to leave and return home.
“It would be naive to believe that they will return home immediately,” says Fr. Gupeli.
The fears are warranted. Catholic News Service (CNS) reported that armed robbers attacked members of the faculty of a Jesuit-run theology school in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan on April 17, as the priests were preparing for dinner. Students have not been at the school for several months due to escalating violence in the area. The robbers entered school grounds by jumping over a security wall, then quickly disarmed the guards on duty and attacked a deacon.
This illustrates why U.N. forces have guarded the Salesian compound ever since the violence erupted, making it one of the only places civilians feel safe (even with the health threats they face due to lack of adequate clean water and sanitation). Like all Salesian workings around the globe, safety is paramount and is evident in the large security walls and guards. But the presence of the U.N. forces doesn’t ease the fears of the people. Rather, it indicates the seriousness of the situation.
“This does not mean that there is more security,” says Fr. Gupeli. “On the contrary, the people are afraid.”
The Salesian Missions compound – created to serve as a vocational training center, a home for children and a youth center – suspended all activities to care for the tens of thousands who have overwhelmed the facility, according to Fr. Grupeli. ANS reports, “to cope with this tragic situation, the Salesians and the refugees are in urgent need of help from the main humanitarian aid agencies.”
The Salesian mission office in Madrid launched an urgent appeal for food, water, medical supplies and other needs that are in short supply. Information about the campaign can be found at http://www.misionessalesianas.org.
Story provided by MissionNewswire.
About SALESIAN MISSIONS in Duékoué and
Around the Globe
The “Salesian Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus mission” – as it is known
locally – is the only remaining catholic mission in Duékoué and is
registered officially as “Salesian Missions Duékoué.”
The Salesians in Duékoué are connected with the Salesian Missions office in New Rochelle, NY, which is working to provide information about the events and situation in Duékoué. The office is responsible for U.S.-based fundraising efforts to support missions around the globe, in addition to managing crisis response when needed (such as it did in Haiti).
The Salesians are made up of 34,000 Priests,
Brothers and Sisters serving in the spirit of their founder, Don Bosco,
an Italian Catholic priest who devoted his life to fulfilling the needs
of orphans and vulnerable children. Their mission is to enable poor and
suffering children to live better lives and build brighter futures. The
Salesians operate 5,000 schools and technical training centers, 23
colleges, 216 clinics and hospitals, 225 orphanages and shelters, and a
wide variety of social and economic development activities – in more
than 130 countries spanning all five continents.
No American Lay Missioners are serving in the Ivory Coast.
Press release: PRWeb
26 April 2011
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8342224.htm
___
Foster-Youth Advocate
Stacie Turner Named National Ambassador
for American Humane Association
Stacie Turner, successful Washington, D.C., entrepreneur and founder of Extra-Ordinary Life – a charity that provides educational and support services to teenage girls living in foster care – has been named an American Humane Association National Ambassador. In this role, Turner will speak, advocate and fundraise on behalf of American Humane Association, whose mission is to create a more humane and compassionate world by ending abuse and neglect of children and animals.
Turner, known by many for another role – in the reality TV series "Real Housewives of D.C." on Bravo – is committed to helping youths in foster care deal with the often harsh realities of life and reach their potential through meaningful and inspirational experiences. A foster child herself, Turner was adopted as an infant by loving parents, but she identifies with the many kids and teens who grew up in foster care and were not as fortunate as she.
"I'm honored to serve as a National Ambassador for American Humane Association, an organization whose work and objectives are near and dear to my heart," Turner said. "We are both fighting to ensure that at-risk children have a safe environment to grow up in, that they receive the support they need to overcome challenges, and that they are given every opportunity to realize their full potential – to 'dream big' – and succeed in life."
"Stacie Turner's devotion to helping create a bright future for District of Columbia teens in foster care is inspiring," said American Humane Association President and Chief Executive Officer Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D. "We are excited to have Stacie bring her passion, drive and energy to our team as we work together, at the local, state and national levels, on behalf of the most vulnerable members of society."
Turner, the founder and leader of Extra-Ordinary Life, was born into foster care in Washington, D.C., and was adopted at 6 months old by loving parents who provided a nurturing childhood, a stable home life, and exposure to people, education and travel, which instilled in her a strong self-image and a drive to achieve. She seeks to shift the paradigm of adolescent children in foster care from the extraordinarily tragic to the extraordinarily positive – and help them forge a path towards achievement despite obstacles. Turner earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Howard University and an M.B.A. from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business. She has held positions in marketing and management with a number of large corporations, including Procter & Gamble, the Sprint Corporation and BET Networks. Subsequently, she formed two successful ventures —a strategic marketing consulting firm called The Turner Group and a real estate sales and development firm, Brickstone Ventures.
About American Humane Association
Since 1877, the historic American Humane Association has been
at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting
children, pets and farm animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today
we're also leading the way in understanding human-animal interaction and
its role in society. As the nation's voice for the protection of
children and animals, American Humane Association reaches millions of
people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training
and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and
businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane
Association at www.americanhumane.org today.
PRNewswire
20 April 2011
___
FLORIDA
Cuts to Florida Child
Welfare Agency Will Put Children in Peril
...
If Governor Scott’s budget proposal is approved, the Department of
Children and Families will lose funding and manpower vital to protecting
at-risk kids. Recent tragedies show that the agency is already
underfunded and overwhelmed. Fighting proposed cuts must be a top
priority for Florida voters and legislature, urge the Miami crime victim
lawyers of Gerson & Schwartz
Crime doesn’t pay -- but judging from budget cuts proposed by Florida
Governor Rick Scott, neither does fighting it. The Scott
Administration’s proposal to slash $172 million and 1,800 positions from
the Department of Children and Families will only create more tragedies
like the recent murder of 10-year-old Nubia Barahona, says crime victim
attorney Philip M. Gerson of the Miami law firm Gerson & Schwartz. That
makes it imperative, he says, for voters and the Florida legislature to
stand up to the proposed cuts, and help protect the state’s greatest
asset -- its children.
“The administration wants to cut funding for the agency that has the responsibility to discover abuses and prevent senseless injury and death -- like that of young Nubia, who was beaten and dumped in a trash bag in the back of a truck, allegedly at the hands of her adoptive parents,” says Gerson. “They had been entrusted with Nubia’s care by DCF, and unfortunately, there wasn’t sufficient oversight even before budget and manpower cuts. Under the administration’s proposal, the agency will be even more overwhelmed and underfunded. How does that do anything but create more tragedies and more crime victims?”
According to the Miami Herald Nubia and her twin brother Victor had been found in their adoptive father’s truck on Valentine’s Day -- Nubia already dead and Victor near death after being doused with toxic chemicals. Their adoptive parents, Jorge and Carmen Barahona, have been charged with first-degree murder in Nubia’s death. Over the years, multiple complaints about the Barahonas -- alleging disturbing treatment of the children -- had been filed with DCF. Callers to the agency’s hotline reported that Nubia and Victor were locked in bathrooms for long periods of time or bound with tape. Still, the children remained in the Barahona home and police were not notified.
The latest call -- from a therapist concerned about the children’s safety -- came just four days before Nubia’s body was found. A subsequent independent review recommended changes in DCF policy and procedures.
“Now we’re asking DCF to do a better job while taking away resources and creating even higher case loads,” says Gerson. “Actually what we need is more resources and more supervision. The administration may not see how that’s just common sense, but voters can see it -- and they have to make sure their legislators see it, too.”
Gerson -- a board member of the National Center for Victims of Crime, the nation’s leading advocacy organization for crime victims -- urges all Florida residents to become advocates for the state’s children. “By speaking and writing to lawmakers, we can make sure that proposals that imperil our youth never happen -- and changes that protect them do.”
Founded in 1970 by Miami crime victim attorney Philip M. Gerson, the law firm of Gerson & Schwartz, P.A., has spent the past four decades protecting, and vindicating, the rights of individuals who have suffered serious harm. In the process, the firm has become recognized as “Top Lawyers” by the South Florida Business Review, and noted for its work with advocacy groups like the National Center for Victims of Crime and International Cruise Victims Association.
Press release: PRWeb
19 April 2011
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8318442.htm
___
USA
New National Study Finds Increase in Football-Related Injuries Among Youth
A new study conducted by researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that an estimated 5.25 million football-related injuries among children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments between 1990 and 2007. The annual number of football-related injuries increased 27 percent during the 18-year study period, jumping from 274,094 in 1990 to 346,772 in 2007.
“We found that nearly 2,000 pediatric and adolescent football-related injuries were treated every day in emergency departments during football season,” said Lara McKenzie, PhD, study co-author and principal investigator in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “We need to do a better job of preventing football-related injuries among our young athletes.”
According to the study, published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics, the most common injuries were sprains and strains (31 percent), fractures and dislocations (28 percent) and soft tissue injuries (24 percent). In addition, concussions accounted for 8,631 injuries each year. Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old suffered a greater proportion of the injuries (78 percent), and were more likely to sustain a concussion or be injured at school when compared to younger players. Children aged 6 to 11 years old were more likely to sustain lacerations, and were often injured at home.
“Prevention and treatment of concussions are the focus of many discussions at every level of play – from the junior level all the way up to the National Football League. Our data shows that young athletes are at risk for concussions,” said Dr. McKenzie, also a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “Every day during football season, an average of fifty-seven 6 to 17 year olds are treated in U.S. emergency departments for football-related concussions. The potential long-term consequences of this type of injury make this an unacceptably high number.”
Data for this study were collected from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which is operated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The NEISS dataset provides information on consumer product-related and sports and recreation-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments across the country.
The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital works globally to reduce injury-related pediatric death and disabilities. With innovative research at its core, CIRP works to continually improve the scientific understanding of the epidemiology, biomechanics, prevention, acute treatment and rehabilitation of injuries. CIRP serves as a pioneer by translating cutting edge injury research into education, advocacy and advances in clinical care. For related injury prevention materials, or to learn more about the Center for Injury Research and Policy, go to http://www.injurycenter.org. While visiting our website, sign up for the RSS feed in the What’s New section of our media center to receive e-mail updates of our latest news.
Ranked in U.S.News & World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” and Parents magazine’s 2009 top 10 “Best Children's Hospitals” lists, Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric healthcare networks providing care for infants, children, adolescents and adult patients with congenital disease. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital faculty train the next generation of pediatricians, scientists and pediatric specialists. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities in the U.S., supporting basic, clinical, translational and health services research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Currently, two buildings totalling approximately 300,000 square feet are dedicated to research on the Nationwide Children's campus. An additional 225,000 square feet of research space will be added when a third research building opens in 2012. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org/Research at http://nationwidechildrens.org/Research
Press release: Newswise
12 April 2011
___
PENNSYLVANIA
Borough of Quakertown
Installs First Permanent Prescription Drug Drop Box
in Bucks County
The Borough of Quakertown became the first municipality in Bucks County to place a permanent “drop box” in their police department headquarters for citizens to safely dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. “We have been participating in the national take back days since last year”, said Ray Fox, Chair of the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition, (UBHCHY), “however we wanted to provide a safe and secure place our community members could go on any day to dispose of these drugs and not wait for months for a special day.” Mr. Fox will present a $500 check to Borough of Quakertown at the April 6th borough council meeting to help offset the cost of the box.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, especially for teenagers who report they can easily obtain prescription pills from medicine cabinets in their own and other people’s homes. According to the most recent youth survey conducted by the UBHCHY in 2010, 12% of graduating seniors in Upper Bucks highs schools have taken someone else’s prescription pills in the past 30 days.
“After participating in last year’s successful national drug take back days, Detective Don Bender encouraged us to purchase a safe and secure box that we could place in our lobby. This way people can get rid of their unused prescriptions on a more regular basis,” said Scott McElree, Quakertown Borough Manager and Police Chief. “We are very pleased that our local coalition can help with the funding of the drop box.”
Lee Rush, Community Organizer for the UBHCHY is hopeful that other police departments throughout Bucks County will soon follow the lead set by the Quakertown Police Department. “This will certainly help get rid of unused and expired prescriptions and put them out of reach of young people,” said Rush. “However we hope this effort is duplicated throughout the region so even more people can afford themselves of the opportunity to properly dispose of these prescriptions on any given day.”
On April 30th the third national Prescription Drug Take Back day will occur from 10 AM to 2 PM throughout the United States. Local sites in Upper Bucks county are listed at www.ubhchy.org and other sites throughout the region are listed at www.dea.gov.
The Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition represents Palisades, Pennridge and Quakertown communities and is funded in part through a federal Drug Free Communities Support Program grant from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). For more information go to www.ubhchy.org.
Press release: PRLog
9 April 2011
___
Schools for Troubled
Youth Maintain High Standards of Service Delivery
During Difficult Economic Times
While the recent closing of several Aspen Education Group residential treatment centers, and the consolidation of three others into existing Aspen facilities, is very unfortunate, the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) applauds Aspen for the care and conscientiousness it is exhibiting in its handling of the children and families affected by these moves.
“While it is indeed unfortunate that difficult economic times have necessitated these changes, “ said NATSAP President Glen Zaugg, “Aspen is taking great care in working with families to ensure that their children’s needs are met, that they are properly cared for, and that the transition is as seamless as possible under trying circumstances.”
NATSAP is a national not-for-profit membership association composed of residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, and therapeutic wilderness programs and numbers some 165 programs across the United States and Canada.
Aspen reported that the transition decision came as a result of a reduced demand for therapeutic schools and programs in today’s economy, and was only made after much deliberation and “substantial financial investment over the past two years in an effort to avoid program consolidations.”
Aspen is working closely with students, parents, and referring professionals and staff to minimize the impact of these changes. Aspen has also offered stay incentives to critical academic and therapeutic staff to ensure the continuation of high-level services during the reorganization process, which will take up to six months to complete. It is anticipated that the majority of students will continue uninterrupted in their present program locations and graduate as planned. Aspen is also paying student relocation costs for those who transfer to other programs, either within or outside of the Aspen network.
NATSAP has developed best practice guidelines for its member programs, has assisted several states in the development of uniform and meaningful regulations governing programs of this kind, and only accepts programs into its membership if they are state licensed and/or accredited by one of several nationally-recognized, independent accreditation agencies.
“Most of these types of programs are individually owned and operated,” Zaugg continued, “and while the last several years have presented unique economic challenges for many families that have resulted in lower enrollments for some of our member programs, we are now beginning to see an upsurge in enrollments across our membership.”
PRWEB.COM Newswire
7 April 2011
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/271047
___
MissionWise® Expands Presence in Arizona: Trains Nonprofits in Business Planning
MissionWise®, the innovative not-for-profit
consultancy that helps build healthier nonprofits, announced that it has
significantly expanded its presence in Arizona, adding several new
clients in the Phoenix / Scottsdale metropolitan area. Included are the
Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC), AGUILA Youth
Leadership Institute, and Parent Organized Partnerships Supporting
Infants and Children Learning to Eat (P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E.).
MissionWise®, the entrepreneurial nonprofit that trains health and human service organizations in the social sector to grow stronger and more sustainable, announced that it has significantly expanded its presence in Arizona, adding several new clients in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Established as the consulting arm of Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.®) to help nonprofits achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness through business planning in their efforts to eliminate health inequities, MissionWise has expanded its client roster to include the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) and AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute in Phoenix, as well as Parent Organized Partnerships Supporting Infants and Children Learning to Eat (P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E.) in Scottsdale.
For each of these client organizations, MissionWise will provide consultation and training over a period of several weeks to help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to build and improve their business capacity, which, in turn, will strengthen their mission impact, operational effectiveness and financial sustainability. This work is predicated on the notion that nonprofits will have a greater likelihood of achieving their mission and financial bottom lines if they have a strong business plan and diverse revenue base.
According to Pamela Block, Vice President of MissionWise, "We are honored and proud to have added three exceptional new clients to our growing roster of nonprofits in Arizona, all of whom are making a tremendous difference in the communities they serve." Block continued, "MissionWise is uniquely qualified to help these organizations strengthen their management and business capabilities, retain their mission focus, and become more financially self-sufficient because we are part of a nonprofit that has been operating as a successful social enterprise for nearly forty years."
Despite the continued economic challenges faced by funders, nonprofits, and other health and human service organizations in Arizona, MissionWise has experienced robust growth throughout the region within recent months. In addition to taking on projects with its newest set of clients, MissionWise has had a number of other recent engagements with Phoenix-area organizations, including the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, Arizona Grantmakers Forum, and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. It was through these engagements that MissionWise was introduced to the sizeable and highly diverse nonprofit community in the greater Phoenix / Scottsdale metropolitan area.
"There is an exceptionally high level of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit among Phoenix-area nonprofits, and there is tremendous opportunity for them to build even greater mission impact and financial sustainability," said Larry Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comprehensive Health Education Foundation. "We believe it is because of the current economic challenges that organizations are seeking out our services as they look for ways to better achieve their mission and financial bottom lines through a strong business plan and diverse revenue base."
About MissionWise®:
MissionWise® offers consulting, training, and mentoring expertise in building capacity so health and human service nonprofits and organizations can become stronger, more sustainable, and better achieve their missions. Its diverse clients include foundations, grantees, and other health and human service organizations such as The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The California Endowment, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF), Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Public Health Law & Policy (PHLP), Treatment Research Institute (TRI), Houston Community Health Centers, Inc., Collaborative to Advance Funding in Palliative Care (CAFPAC), In SHAPE Program of Monadnock Family Services, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, and Presidio YMCA, among others. For information about MissionWise, please visit http://www.missionwise.org
Press release: PRWeb
5 April 2011
