|
This Week's Facts:
-
Website Helps Military Youth Adjust to Relocation
-
FDA
Heightens Sunscreen Regulations
-
State
Agency Supports Faith-Based & Community Groups
Univ. of Wisconsin Releases America's Health Rankings
The University of Wisconsin
Population Health Institute
has used the model of the United Health Foundation
America’s Health Rankings
to develop health rankings for each U.S. state to the county
level. The
County Health Rankings are
based on mortality (length of life) and morbidity (quality of
life) measures. In Indiana, those in Hamilton, Boone, and
Hendricks counties live the longest. The counties of Dubois,
Hamilton, and Warren counties rank in the top three of quality
of life measures. You can find your county on the map, then take
a look at the
Health Outcomes
and
Health Factors
tables and see how your county measures up. Download more
information on Indiana health
here.
-----------------------------
Friday Facts Editorial Team:
Katharine Springer
State Data
Center Coordinator
Elisabeth
O’Donnell
Federal Documents Librarian
&
Kim Brown-Harden
State
Documents Coordinator
-----------------------------
Join the
FDLP-IN
listserv
for
the latest government information
The Indiana SDC/BIDC Network
is on Facebook |
Website Helps Military Youth Adjust to Relocation
 One
of the most well-known aspects of military life is that families
move a lot.
USA.gov,
in conjunction with the Department of Defense, sponsors a
website designed to help military kids deal with this.
Military Youth on
the Move is divided
into four parts:
Elementary School,
Middle School,
High School,
and
Just for Parents.
Each part is full of tips and personal stories geared toward
each age group. The section for high school students talks about
the difficulties of making new friends in high school, the
importance of staying healthy through difficult times, and
ongoing issues such as dealing with the deployment of a parent.
All areas emphasize the importance of talking to someone if
things seem too tough. The site also has links to other websites
for military kids, which can provide further resources. Even if
your library doesn’t serve a large active duty military
population, chances are some kids in the community have parents
who have been deployed through the National Guard. While the
advice on moving multiple times may not apply, they can get
useful tips on dealing with deployment.
FDA
Heightens Sunscreen Regulations
 The
FDA is implementing stricter regulations when it comes to
sunscreen. In an effort to give consumers better protection
against sunburn and skin cancer, sunscreen will be categorized
and labeled differently starting in 2012. Sunscreens protect
people against two different kind of rays – UVB and UVA. UVB
rays primarily cause sunburn; prior FDA regulations dealt mostly
with these. UVA rays are responsible for signs of aging and skin
cancer. Under the new rules, sunscreen will only be labeled
“broad spectrum” if it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Additionally, they must be at least SPF 15. Anything less than
that may be sold to protect against sunburn, but their labels
must mention that they don’t necessarily protect against skin
cancer or signs of aging. On the opposite end, there will no
longer be any sunscreens with an SPF protection label higher
than 50 – according to the FDA, studies have shown that there is
no tangible different between sunscreen levels above 50. One
final measure prohibits sunscreen manufacturers from labeling
the products as waterproof, sweatproof, or sunblocks. Instead,
they should tell consumers how much time they can expect to stay
in the water before they need to reapply. Having fair skin
increases your chances for skin cancer, but no one is immune to
skin damage caused by the sun. Slather on!
For more information on this, be
sure to check out the
FDA Consumer
Updates page. As
part of the regulatory process, citizens also have the ability
to comment on the new regulations. See the Federal Register
entry for the
full rule
and visit
Regulations.gov
if you want to comment.
State
Agency Supports Faith-Based & Community Groups
 Most
people are aware of the phrase and laws that insist on a
“separation of church and state,” however, one doesn’t always
exclude the other. Churches, faith-based organizations, and
other community organizations seek funding from state and
federal agencies to improve the lives of Indiana citizens. The
Indiana Office of
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
can help provide
resources
and information for community and faith-based organizations
looking for financial assistance during difficult times. Contact
the State Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives for
more information about ways this office can assist your
organization. Organizations must be clear and state policies and
guidelines to remain in compliance with state and federal
requirements.
|
