6/22/04njm

*"It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white as long as it catches
mice."*

Deng Hsaio P'ing 1904-1997

This a page for sharing "what works" as seen in the published literature
as well as what is done at sites that care for American Indian/Alaskan
Native children. If you have any suggestions, comments or questions
please contact Steve Holve, MD, Chief Clinical Consultant in Pediatrics
at sholve@tcimic.ihs.gov

IHS Child Health Notes

July 2004

# Quote of the month

*"I'd never want to join a club that would have me as a member"*"

Groucho Marx

# This is a pitch to join the Indian Health Special Interest Group of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

As a federal employee you are limited in how you may lobby Congress.
Fortunately, the AAP, through its Indian Health Special Interest Group
is able to lobby effectively for Indian Health needs. You don't need to
be a pediatrician to join. Membership is open to anyone who provides
healthcare to children.

If you are already a member of the AAP, membership fees to join the AAP
Section on Community Pediatrics (the umbrella group for the Indian
Health Special Interest Group) is \$35. If you are not eligible for
membership to the AAP, you may become a Section Affiliate member for
\$60. . For specific instructions on joining, please send an email to
Sunnah Kim at <skim@aap.org>. As a special incentive to anyone
(pediatrician and non --pediatricians) who is new to Indian Health
Service or a 638 facility in the past five years, membership is
currently being offered **FREE**. Membership benefits include:
opportunity to dialogue through e-mail lists; bi-monthly facilitated
discussions on topics related to Indian health; informational e-mail
updates on current news, funding opportunities and resources relating to
AI/AN healthcare. If you have any questions contact Sunnah Kim at
skim@aap.org.

Another resource available through the AAP is the Committee on Native
American Child Health (CONACH). This is a standing committee of the
Academy that also lobbies Congress for Native American health needs. In
addition they provide technical support on health issues facing American
Indians and Alaskan Natives. Lastly they can serve as a clearinghouse to
provide locums coverage to IHS or 638 sites that need temporary
pediatric coverage.

The home page for the Committee on Native American Child Health is

<http://www.aap.org/nach/>

CONACH has also developed several important technical reports on issues
relating to Native American health:

Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Children with
Special Emphasis on American Indian and Alaska Native Children was
published in October 2003

<http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;112/4/e328.pdf>

Ethical Considerations in Undertaking Community Based Medical Research
with Vulnerable Populations was published in January 2004.

<http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;113/1/148.pdf>

The Prevention of Unintentional Injury Among American Indian Alaska
Native Children: A subject Review was developed with the Committee on
Injury and Poison Prevention, and published in December 2002

<http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;104/6/1397.pdf>

Immunizations for Native Americans was issued jointly with the committee
on infectious disease in September of 1999 It contains an excellent
summary of the increased risk and the need for particular attention to
immunizations in American Indian and Alaska Natives

<http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;104/3/564>

Lastly, CONACH runs a Web site for locums pediatricians. As an IHS/638
site you can post your need for a locums pediatrician:

<http://www.aap.org/nach/locumtenens.htm>

# Meetings of Interest for Child Health

## [Adolescent Health Issues in Indian Health]{.underline}

School Based Health: Donna Perry, Susie John, and others

...plus Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Contraception, and more....

These are all available at the Biennial IHS Tribal and Urban (ITU)
Meeting on Women's Health and Maternity Care, August 4-6, 2004 in
Albuquerque, NM.

<http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/MCH/M/CN01.cfm#August2004>

Or contact Neil Murphy, MD for info at <nmurphy@anmc.org>

### International Meeting on Inuit and Native American Child Health

#### April 29-May 1, 2005

[Seattle, WA]{.underline}

[Visit]{.underline} [www.aap.org/nach](http://www.aap.org/nach) [for
additional information]{.underline}