Many of you have inquired as to the structure and functions of national SOPHE and how it relates to the Arkansas chapter. I’ll try with each newsletter to explore the many responsibilities and individuals who make SOPHE work at the national level. Currently, SOPHE has 21 chapters and 5 affiliates (working to become a chapter). Each chapter or affiliate has a representative to the House of Delegates. The House of Delegates elects four representatives to serve on the Board of Directors. As you can see on the chart below (last page of newsletter), the Chapter Delegates make up a large part of the National organization. Also as a part of the organizational structure, you can see the House Committees. It is my privilege for the next two years to serve as Co-Chairman of the Chapter Development Committee. This committee works very hard to address the needs of chapters across the country. We look at issues such as membership recruitment, chapter fundraising and enhancing the relationship between National SOPHE and local chapters. We schedule quarterly conference calls supported by the national office to talk with Chapter Delegates. Chapter members are encouraged to participate in these conference calls and I would welcome any Arkansas member who would like to be included. The calls are free and set up through CDC.

AR SOPHE BOOTH AT APHA
Marian Evans, CHES

SOPHE Member Recognized Nationally

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Research completed by a UA master’s student as part of her program in health science could help educators nationwide find ways to work more effectively with state legislators. Mary Ramey’s findings appear in the March/April issue of the American Journal of Health Education, in an article she co-authored with health science professor Michael Young. Ramey’s survey of Arkansas legislators yielded new information about lawmakers’ attitudes toward school health programs. The 42 survey questions were based on the goals and objectives promoted by the U.S. Public Health Service in their Healthy People 2010 report. Ramey’s research will be of particular use to educators who are concerned with encouraging healthy choices through comprehensive school health education. Her data showed a split in attitudes along party lines, with Democrats showing more interest in funding school health education. Ramey’s most surprising finding related to the impact of religiosity. Despite the popular perception that religious people are opposed to health education in the schools, she found that neither church attendance nor religious feeling had a significant effect on support for comprehensive school health education. Similarly, gender or being a parent of a school-aged child were not factors in determining support or opposition. A few of Ramey’s questions dealt with legislators’ opinions on the level of education and training needed for health educators. Overall there was not strong support for increasing educational requirements for those teaching health education. Again, the key factor in determining response was political affiliation. In this case, Republicans were more likely to support more stringent requirements. Ramey and Young concluded that the study pointed to the importance of educating legislators about the 

value of comprehensive school health education. They acknowledged that the study was limited to only one state and hope to see similar studies nationwide. When Ramey discussed her research with U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, he was enthusiastic about both her concept and the usefulness of her findings. Ramey reports that the surgeon general was particularly impressed that a student who had not yet received her master’s degree had done this research and was presenting it at a national conference. While still a UA graduate student, Ramey presented her research at the national meeting of the American School Health Association, and it was presented in her absence at the American Public Health Association. She has also presented related findings at a regional meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. Noting that Ramey had successfully translated her concern about public health into an innovative research project, Young said, "Mary brings intelligence and commitment to whatever she takes on. She will be a leader in promoting school health in Arkansas." Ramey credits the guidance of her mentor,Young, with giving her the encouragement and tools to successfully complete her survey. "Mike Young is concerned about making sure you know what you’re doing," Ramey said, "and then he pushes you to the point that you can’t help but produce your best work. After receiving her health science master’s degree from the U of A, Ramey entered a master in public health program, conducted by Tulane University in Little Rock, from which she graduates this spring. She is taking her elective courses in environmental health from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. A life-long Arkansas resident, Ramey plans to continue living in Elkins with her two teen-aged daughters. After studying for four years to earn back-to-back master’s degrees, Ramey has not yet made career plans. She and her dog will continue with the animal-assisted therapy she has contributed to the community for the past 16 years. Beyond that, Ramey says that the whole world is open.

CDC Internet Site in Spanish
Anna Haver, CHES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched its Spanish language web site, CDC En Espanol. This web site is not a translation of the English language site, but is a site tailored to Hispanic/Latino populations. It provides health related information, including immunizations, to the Hispanic/Latino professionals as well as to the Spanishspeaking community. The site also includes information targeted at special subgroups, such as adolescents, students, teachers, patients and healthcare providers. Links to other federal agency web sites that are important to the Hispanic/Latino community are also provided. The web address for this site is www.cdc.gov/spanish.

Anyone who needs to change their address, phone number, or e-mail needs to let Marian Evans know so she can update the SOPHE membership roster.
mailto:roster.msevans@healthyarkansas.com

Arkansas SOPHE Health Education Conference
by Dana Smith

"Spring Into Wellness" at the AR SOPHE Health Education Conference scheduled for February 28 - March 1, 2002 in Little Rock. This exciting conference will host 200 health education professionals from the medical, community and school setting. 

The Conference Planning Committee needs your help! We are currently looking for:

• Organizations/agencies to sponsor breaks, speakers and other expenses.

• Speakers for the break-out workshops.

• Donations for door prizes.

If you can assist with any of the above needs or are willing to contact agencies to see if they can help, please contact Dana Smith at (501) 753-4840 or e-mail at DMSmith00@aol.com. We will be sending out the Request for Presentations by June 10, 2001. If you would like to receive the RFP, please notify Dana immediately.

August 8
9 a.m. –12 noon
Writing and managing budgets 
Presenter May Carol Lieblong
Fayetteville, Mountain Home, LR, Arkadelphia, and Monticello

August 30
12 noon- 2 p.m.
CADCA broadcast- "Current Trends in Environmental Approaches to Satellite broadcast, sponsored by CADCA
Little Rock, Helena, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, and Hope.

September 27
"Sustaining Community Coalitions: The Future of Community Coalitions"
12 noon- 2 p.m.
Satellite broadcast, sponsored by CADCA
Monticello, Mountain Home, Little Rock, Helena

November 7
"Recruiting and Managing Volunteers"
9 a.m. - 12 noon
Presenter: Sherry Anderson
Fayetteville, Mountain Home, Little Rock, Arkadelphia, Monticello

December 5
"Latest prevention research – what’s happening in 2002?"
9 a.m. - 12 noon
Presenter: Carl Shackelford, SW CAPT
Little Rock, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Helena, and Hope.

Sites and dates are tentative. To register or find out more, contact Heather Ribich at (501)  569-3071 or heribich@midsouth.ualr.edu.