The AAP Committee on State Government Affairs (COSGA) is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2013 AAP Child Health Advocate Award. The AAP Child Health Advocate Award acknowledges the significant accomplishments of public officials and advocates who have served as a voice for children in state government. Dr Dean Sidelinger was nominated by California District IX in recognition of his advocacy work on behalf of children. Dr Sidelinger’s nomination was selected by COSGA, and approved by the AAP Executive Committee.

Dr Sidelinger currently serves as Child Health Medical Officer for the Health and Human Services Agency of San Diego County, CA. In this role, Dr Sidelinger provides strategic planning and direction for the County of San Diego’s programs impacting the county’s children and families as part of “Live Well, San Diego!”, a 10 year plan to build a safe, healthy, and thriving community. Programs that Dr Sidelinger oversees include children’s mental health, child welfare services, First 5 San Diego, health promotion, immunizations, maternal and child health, MediCal, and others. Prior to serving as Chief Health Medical Officer, Dr Sidelinger served as the county’s Deputy Public Health Officer.
Dr Sidelinger’s accomplishments extend beyond just working for the County of San Diego. He is an active member of the AAP California Chapter 3, having served as Vice President and Treasurer. Dr Sidelinger is a member of both the AAP Council on Community Pediatrics and the AAP Pediatric Leadership Alliance Planning Group.

Dr Sidelinger joins 34 other distinguished recipients who have been presented the AAP Child Health Advocate Award since 1991. The AAP thanks Dr Sidelinger for his career-long commitment to child health and issues affecting families in California, and District IX for submitting his nomination.
The Academy’s Division of State Government Affairs will be soliciting nominations for the 2014 AAP Child Health Advocate Award this coming January. To learn more about the AAP Child Health Advocate Award, please contact Jeff Hudson in the Division of State Government Affairs at 800/433-9016, extension 7799 or at jhudson@aap.org.

San Diego County Board of Supervisors proclaims May 7, 2013 Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency Initiative to Enhance Behavioral Health Care Capacity in the Pediatric Medical Home
In concert with the national trend to enhance integration of core behavioral healthcare service capacity in the pediatric health home context, San Diego County recently contracted with Vista Hill, a long time provider of mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities services, to provide support to pediatricians and pediatric clinics to enhance their capacity to address behavioral concerns of their patients.

Vista Hill’s SmartCare Behavioral Health Consultation Services – Pediatrics (BHCS-Peds) will work in coordination with AAP-CA3 to introduce a variety of practice development and service supports for pediatricians and their patients to achieve the goals of the County’s integration initiative. Services will be available free of charge to all pediatric practices that serve MediCal patients, with consultation services available regarding all patients, regardless of their health insurance status.
Services available through the program will include:

1. On Call telephone access for pediatric providers to Child Psychiatrist Consultants, Monday thru Friday, 8:30 – 4:30
2. Assistance in implementation of Behavioral Health Screening Tools
3. Patient referral supports by BHCS Clinicians and Health Educators
4. Community-based monthly Parent Education Seminars in four geographic areas
5. CME Trainings on behavioral health issues organized in conjunction with the San Diego Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Systems, Inc.
6. Other supports and services.

For more information: 858 956-5900
Program Staff: Deborah Skvarna, MFT, Program Manager; Bella Montgomery, RNP, Clinical Triage Officer; Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists: Mark Chenven, M.D., Will Connor, M.D., Charmi Patel Rao, M.D.

The Commitment to Early Childhood Mental Health Services in San Diego County: Dedication, Vision, Innovation.
Environmental Scan, May 2013 Report now available.
Click here to view.

Have a great idea for a community project but no idea how to fund it? Would you like to make a meaningful impact in your community but not sure how to get started? Look no further than AAP’s CATCH grant program which supports pediatricians leading positive changes in their communities. Call for proposals are open NOW. Help is readily available from your Chapter Catch Facilitators Natalie Muth (ndmuth@gmail.com and cell 760-840-7048) and Javier Rodriguez (javibass74@yahoo.com).
More info at aap.org/catch and the RFP at: http://www2.aap.org/catch/funding.htm

Kids with asthma can go to a summer camp – almost free!! A $500 value, tons of fun, and they learn how to manage their disease. Asthma camp, sponsored by the American Lung Association of California, takes place June (June 23-28). This is a free (parents only pay a $35 application fee, that is refundable if the child is not selected to go) 5 day overnight camp for kids with asthma between the ages of 8 and 13 yrs. It’s a fun and wholesome experience in the local Julian mountains, where kids do normal outdoor activities while learning how to control their asthma. Please let families know about this great opportunity. Print flyer for distribution.

The Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight Steering Committee names AAP-CA3′s own Christine Wood, MD, FAAP, CLE to IHCW Steering Committee. IHCW SC is a small working group of the Institute that will be actively involved in moving the initiatives of the Institute forward. Our first call for Steering Committee members was met with great interest as we received over 80 outstanding applications. Read more…

Our AAP award winners this month are:

Shirin Alonzo for Dedication to Medication Student Education
Callie Rzasa for Dedication to Medication Student Education

View past winners.