This edition focuses on the 2011 AAP State Legislation Report, and an update on the Teen Safe Driving Grant Program Sponsored by The Allstate Foundation. 
| NOW AVAILABLE
2011 AAP STATE LEGISLATION REPORT
The 2011 State Legislation Report is now available. This annual report details 11 of the many issues relating to children’s health and well-being that the Division of State Government Affairs monitored in 2011. The report contains text summaries, charts, and maps designed to show the state and national perspective on the following issues of importance to AAP chapters, committees, councils, sections, and the national organization: | •State Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
•Access: Medicaid, CHIP and State Medical Home Efforts
•Bullying Prevention
•Childhood Immunizations
•Childhood Obesity Prevention
•Child Passenger Safety
•Graduated Drivers Licensing
•Medical Liability Reform
•Safe Storage of Firearms
•Safety Helmets
•Tobacco Prevention
In addition, the report summarizes the current political composition of state governments and provides an overview of issues to watch in 2012. Individual issue profiles are available on the State Advocacy area of the AAP Web site. The report is also now available for download in its entirety; many StateView readers will also receive a print copy of the report to keep as a handy shelf reference or to share with colleagues and fellow advocates for child health and well being. If you do not receive a print copy by February 18, 2012 and would like one, please contact the Division of State Government Affairs at 800.433.9016, extension 7799 or at stgov@aap.org.
| GRANT AWARDS MADE TO 8 CHAPTERS FOR TEEN DRIVING INITIATIVES - UPDATE FROM THE DIVISION OF STATE GOVERMENT AFFAIRS |
While motor vehicle-related deaths are declining overall, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death in youth from ages 16-20, resulting in approximately 5,500 deaths annually. In 1996, the AAP released its first policy statement recommending Graduated Driver’s Licensing programs to be
implemented in every state. After 15 years of advocacy by pediatricians and other child health advocates, all 50 states have enacted a 3-tiered graduated driver’s licensing program. Despite this success, however, no state currently has a law that meets all the AAP recommendations for teen driving safety.
To aid the Academy's work on teen driving initiatives, The Allstate Foundation has provided a grant to the AAP to support chapters in their efforts to promote policy, enforcement, and public education in states and communities on teen driving issues. The AAP has awarded funds to applications submitted by Alabama, California Chapter 4, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York Chapter 2, and Pennsylvania to support promotion of teen driving initiatives, to educate policymakers and the public at large about the importance of strong teen driving laws, and to leverage this knowledge to create sound public policies. As administrator of the grant program, the AAP Division of State Government Affairs will provide technical assistance and support to chapters in implementing their funded programs. Additional information and support on the Teen Safe Driving Grant Program Sponsored by The Allstate Foundation is available from Hollis Russinof, Program Specialist in the Division of State Government Affairs at 800.433.9016, ext 4983 or at hrussinof@aap.org.
As always, the AAP Division of State Government Affairs is here to provide consultation to AAP chapters on teen driving issues whether your chapter has received a teen driving grant or not. Please contact the Division of State Government Affairs at 800.433.9016 ext 7799 or stgov@aap.org for guidance on state legislative activities related to these issues. We look forward to partnering with our chapters on this exciting national/chapter advocacy opportunity. |
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The Division of State Government Affairs sends this update to the Academy's Executive Committee, Board of Directors, District Vice-Chairs, Chapter Presidents, Chapter Vice Presidents, Chapter Legislative Contacts, Committee on State Government Affairs, Committee on Federal Government Affairs, Chapter Executive Directors, and other interested AAP members and staff.
For additional state legislative information, strategy suggestions, in-depth resources on issues of pediatric interest, and past editions of this update, log onto the AAP MyAAP area and see the State Government Affairs pages at www.aap.org/en-us/my-aap/advocacy/state-government-affairs/Pages/State-Government-Affairs.aspx. | 
| Register Today for the 2012 Chapter Advocacy Summit via Pedialink (search for "Chapter Advocacy Summit"). Early registration discount ends Friday, January 27! |
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