FDA Approves New Indication for Gardasil to Prevent Genital Warts in Men and Boys

On October 16, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved use of the vaccine Gardasil for the prevention of genital warts (condyloma acuminata) due to human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 in boys and men, ages 9 through 26.  Each year, about 2 out of every 1,000 men in the United States are newly diagnosed with genital warts.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and most genital warts are caused by HPV infection. “This vaccine is the first preventive therapy against genital warts in boys and men ages 9 through 26, and, as a result, fewer men will need to undergo treatment for genital warts,” said Karen Midthun, M.D., acting director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. 

Read the entire press release from the FDA. 

Free Trainings on California Health Alerts Network

In conjunction with the California Department of Public Health, CPCA will provide three (3) FREE online trainings to our membership on the California Health Alerts Network - CAHAN. The goal of these trainings will be to enroll all Community Clinics and Health Centers in CAHAN, identifying 2-3 key individuals from each organization that will receive and confirm CAHAN alerts. These individuals should be those responsible for the clinic’s emergency preparedness and response.

What is CAHAN?

The California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) is the State of California’s web-based information and communications system available on a 24/7/365 basis for distribution of health alerts, dissemination of prevention guidelines, coordination of disease investigation efforts, preparedness planning, and other initiatives that strengthen state and local preparedness. CAHAN participants have the ability to receive alerts and notifications via alphanumeric pager, e-mail, fax, and phone (cellular and landline).

If you are interested in participating on one of these three (3) FREE on-line trainings, please click below:

• November 19, 2009 - 10am - 11:30am 
• December 17, 2009 - 10am - 11:30am 

If you would like more information on CAHAN, please visit their website at http://cahan.ca.gov or email cahaninfo@cdph.ca.gov.

For questions about these trainings please contact Adedra Lee @ alee@cpca.org or 916.440.8170.

Federal Grant Notice: Substance Abuse In the Community

The Department of Health & Human Services is making $4.8 million available for 12 awards of up to $400,000 per year for up to 3 years to expand community-based substance abuse treatment and help local recovery facilities to expand their substance abuse services.

Deadline: Jan. 14, 2010

Insider's Tip: "Community"is the key word for this program, which is specifically set up to provide support for local organizations--including grass-roots, faith-and-community-based treatment programs and recovery "community" organizations. Funding is designed to meet the needs of individual communities in cities, towns, counties and multi-county partnerships.

Get more details on this, including contact information and other new private and federal funding opportunities:

National Council of Nonprofits Releases H1N1 Flu Preparedness for Nonprofits Toolkit

The National Council of Nonprofits has created toolkit for helping nonprofits prepare for an H1N1 epidemic. It includes:

1. The LATEST news from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on seasonal influenza and the H1N1 pandemic.
   - NEW! Flu Vaccine locator, state by state
2. NEW! Flu essentials in various languages
3. Podcast: "Take 3 Actions to Fight Flu"
4. Factsheet and flier for employees: What you should know about antiviral drugs
6. Flier: Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Guide for Parents
7. Suggested action steps to help your association and your members be prepared for and cope with an outbreak of the flu.
8. Tips for preparedness
9. Sample policies for the nonprofit workplace
10. Ideas for educating your employees
11. Customize a letter to your employees
12. Send a letter to your members telling them about how serious the flu outbreak is and sharing the resources developed by the National Council with them.
13. Business Planning/Continuity Planning
14. Articles and Other Resources
15. More information on vaccinations: Updates on vaccinations, medications and masks

Check out this great resource for yourself.

CFHC Activity Calendar for November 2009

FPHW Course – Day I
Wednesday, 11/04/09, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CFHC Board Room
Class is Full

FPHW Course – Day II
Thursday, 11/05/09, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
CFHC Board Room
Class is Full

FPHW Course – Day III
Friday, 11/06/09, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
CFHC Board Room
Class is Full

How to Provide Client-Centered Counseling
Thursday, 11/19/09, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
CFHC Board Room
To register call (213) 386-5614, Ext. 4580

FPACT Orientation
Tuesday, 11/24/09, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Berkeley, CA
To register call (877)326-7228 or www.fpact.org

CFHC Offices Closed
Thursday, 11/26/09

CFHC Offices Closed
Friday, 11/27/09

Healthed Has a New Address

CFHC's Information & Education Division (www.healthed.org) now has a new address! We've moved to:

Information & Education Division
California Family Health Council
246 Union Avenue
Los Gatos, CA 95032
Phone: 1-408-374-3720
Fax: 1-408-374-7385

Be sure to update your address books and contact information.

Resource: Presenting on Sexually Transmitted Disease Racial Health Disparities

The California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center has released "Presenting on Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Racial Health Disparities: A Resource Guide for Facilitators" (PDF)

The purpose of this document is to serve as a resource for public health professionals and their community partners in starting discussions and/or answering questions related to the multiple individual and societal factors that influence sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rates among different racial/ethnic groups.

The main emphasis of this resource guide is to highlight the larger societal factors (e.g., poverty, racism) that influence STD/HIV rates and to encourage their inclusion in the training discussions and program planning that may traditionally focus on individual-level behavior change interventions. This document is a work in progress to which we encourage its users to add additional concepts and related research.

Download the PDF to use in your own clinic. (PDF, 604K)

FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Peramir in Cases of H1N1

On Friday, October 23, 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the use of the investigational antiviral drug Peramivir intravenous (IV) in certain adult and pediatric patients with confirmed or suspected 2009 H1N1 influenza infection who are admitted to a hospital.

Clinicians considering use of Peramivir IV under EUA must read and understand the content of the FDA-issued Emergency Use Authorization of Peramivir IV: Fact Sheet For Health Care Providers (www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/eua) ) prior to initiating a request and must agree to comply with terms and conditions of authorized use of Peramivir per the FDA-issued EUA. Clinicians who, after reading the Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers, wish to obtain Peramivir IV for a patient can download the request form (or access an electronic request portal) at http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/EUA/peramivir_recommendations.htm.

Download the entire Letter to Colleagues (PDF, 14k)

H1N1 Vaccinations and Public Health Clinics in LA County

Something for our Title X Agencies to bear in mind:

The demand for H1N1 vaccine in Los Angeles County is currently exceeding local and national supplies, which is impacting some Public Health-run vaccine clinics. To ensure equitable availability of the limited vaccine supply throughout the county, screening for priority groups will be intensified.

Individuals who plan to go to a Public Health H1N1 vaccine clinic are encouraged to review the vaccination form, available in several different languages, and found on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov. Those who are in a priority group for H1N1 vaccine should bring a completed vaccine form with them to a vaccine clinic. Those who are not in an H1N1 priority group will have to wait for a future date to receive vaccine.

Download the full press release (PDF)