MO Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Announcing:  Pediatrics in the Heartland, April 16-17 in Kansas City
Jointly sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Kansas AAP Chapter
Promoted by the AAP Chapters: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
Mark Your Calendar and plan to register for this annual event.
Please click here to register online or see a copy of the CME brochure.

Missouri Pediatricians are donating medical care in Haiti. We would encourage our readers to log on to their blogs often and get firsthand medical accounts from the earthquake stricken island . If you are aware of colleagues currently donating medical services please email Johanna Echols  jbechols@embarqmail.com

• Drs. Mary Deeken and Doug Boudreau from Jefferson City left for Haiti on January 23, 2010. Read about their medical mission by loging on to their blog: http://kenouhaiti.blogspot.com
• Dr. Pat Wolff from St. Louis has also had a long standing interest in supporting the needy in Haiti.
  Read about Dr. Wolff’s medical mission to Haiti.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is promoting use of the text4baby free mobile phone service by pregnant women and new moms to encourage optimal outcomes for Missouri’s mothers and babies.

Download Text 4 Baby - First Year Messages  75kb Excel file (.xls)

Take A Minute For Missouri’s Kids - January/2010

There is a lot of excitement in the air with many things happening on the national level as well as on the state level. I would like to take the opportunity to introduce the MOAAP leadership to you in this first Take a Minute segment of 2010. As most of you know we have our annual meeting in November and the new president takes the helm at this meeting. I am still a little intimidated especially taking over from Dr Tom Tryon whose leadership and passion has taken the MOAAP so far. We have an extremely talented and diverse Board of Directors whom I would like to introduce to the membership.
Click here for entire article.

The AAP Parenting Corner is now part of our new website for parents in Missouri as well: www.healthychildren.org

HealthyChildren.org is the only parenting Web site backed by 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Whether you’re looking for general information related to child health or for more specific guidance on parenting issues, HealthyChildren.org is the right place. You’ll find information regarding the American Academy of Pediatrics’ many programs and activities, our policies and guidelines, our publications and other child health resources, as well as much, much more. Best of all, you can rest assured that the information comes from the nation’s leading child health experts and that we have scientific research supporting our recommendations.

Click here to visit HealthyChildren.org

The Legislative Committee is participating in the 28th Annual Lobby Day April 7, 2010. We encourage all Pediatricians interested in child advocacy to come to Jefferson City on April 7, 2010. Please see the details in the flyer. Any questions? Please visit www.childadvocayday.org

Child Advocacy Day flyer (PDF file)

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Genetics and Healthy Childhood is pleased to announce the posting of its new Perinatal Depression web page.  The page provides information on this disorder for pregnant women, new moms, family and friends, and healthcare providers.  The page also provides information on available resources.

To promote the website, the Department has developed 5 x 8 inch cards with information on the website.  These cards are not for individual distribution, but are to be placed in waiting rooms in healthcare provider offices and local public health agencies for visitors to review and take if they have an interest.

To obtain an initial supply of 25 of these cards for use in your waiting room, complete the order form and fax to Karen Schenk or Leslie Seifert at 573-751-6185

Click here to review the card  (PDF)

Click here for the current issue of the MOAAP newsletter (Fall/Winter 2009)

Click here for previous issues.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food packages are undergoing monumental changes as of October 1, 2009.  Currently, over 50% of the women, infants and children in the United States are eligible for WIC, and the numbers are no different for the state of Missouri.  To learn more about the key points related to the food package changes, please follow this link.

In 2009, President Obama signed into law the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  This legislation was critical for helping to ensure continued healthcare eligibility for millions of children.  At a state level, Governor Jay Nixon outlined his optimistic agenda for healthcare for children and adults to include the following:

• To expand eligibility thresholds to cover an additional 34,000 working parents.

• To eliminate premiums for children living between 150% and 225% of the federal poverty level so more children will enroll in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

• To provide children with continuous eligibility so parents do not have to fear loss of coverage if their family or job situation changes.

• To streamline the premiums for children between 225% and 300% of the federal poverty level so their coverage costs a standard $50 a month.

• To enhance outreach efforts to make sure those eligible for coverage throughout the state are enrolled.

To learn more, please follow this link