Nami “Hearts And Minds” Education Program Is Launched

Posted by admin | Posted on 14-08-2010

Category : Region V

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Nami “Hearts And Minds” Education Program Is Launched

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has launched a new health education program to promote sound “mind and body” health practices among individuals who live with serious mental illness.The “Hearts and Minds” initiative takes aim at risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity for major illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

“Hearts and Minds” is funded by OptumHealth and the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California-San Francisco. The self-help program’s focus on wellness will inspire health and fitness practices familiar to many Americans—such as diet, exercise and smoking cessation. The main difference is the size of the challenge.

“Wellness is everyone’s concern,” said NAMI Executive Director Mike Fitzpatrick. “But it is especially urgent for people living with serious mental illness.” People living with serious mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia live on average 25 years less than other Americans.

•          One in four Americans experiences mental health problems in any given year.

•          One in 17 lives with the most serious mental illnesses, such as such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

•          One in ten children and adolescents struggles with serious, disabling conditions, including depression.

The program consists of five key components:

•          A special interactive “Hearts & Minds” Web site including discussion groups

•          A facilitator’s guide and tool kit for local community discussions

•          A DVD that can be downloaded or purchased through NAMI’s online store

•          A booklet on health strategies and risks that also can be downloaded or purchased

•          Printed fact sheets on a broad range of topics

“Many kinds of risk factors contribute to health challenges for people with mental illnesses,” said NAMI Medical Director Ken Duckworth, M.D. “Many are preventable or reversible. “They include isolation, relatively low incomes, sedentary lifestyles, smoking as a form of self-medication and the side effects of some medications for mental illness. “There has been significant progress in treatment options for mental illness to support recovery, but for every individual, each option requires careful assessment of benefits and risks. “Hearts and Minds will empower people to minimize and manage health risks to support wellness and recovery,” Duckworth said.

“Strong partnerships can create new resources and opportunities to help people with mental illness live full and productive lives,” said Andy Sekel, executive vice president, OptumHealth. “We are proud to sponsor NAMI’s ‘Hearts and Minds’ education program because it bridges mental and physical health to address the needs of the whole person.”

“Persons with mental illnesses deserve to live a full and healthy life,” said Steven A. Schroeder, M.D., director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center. “At present, far too many compromise that opportunity because they smoke cigarettes, are overweight and don’t get sufficient exercise.”

“‘Hearts and Minds’ includes a timely video that provides helpful suggestions for how to attain wellness. It should be watched by all persons affected by mental illness, including family members and other loved ones.”

About NAMI

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1100 state and local affiliates that engage in research, education, support and advocacy. For more information see:

www.nami.org

nami.org/heartsandminds

twitter.com/namicommunicate

facebook.com/pages/NAMI/85273022315

About OptumHealth

OptumHealth Inc. helps individuals navigate the health care system, finance their health care needs and achieve their health and well-being goals. The company’s personalized health advocacy and engagement programs tap a unique combination of capabilities that encompass public sector solutions, care solutions, behavioral solutions, specialty benefits and financial services. Serving nearly 60 million people, OptumHealth is one of the nation’s largest health and wellness businesses, and is a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company. More information about OptumHealth can be found at www.optumhealth.com.

About the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center

The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center of the University of California-San Francisco is a national program office of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that aims to increase smoking cessation rates and increase the number of health professionals who help smokers quit. The Center creates partnerships for results with a variety of groups and institutions to develop and implement action plans around smoking cessation. For more information see http://smokingcessationleadership.ucsf.edu.

University Of Findlay – Equine Studies Program

Posted by admin | Posted on 14-04-2009

Category : Region III

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University Of Findlay – Equine Studies Program

The University of Findlay is located in Findlay, Ohio and is a four year, non-profit university. There are many different degree options available for students with in the Equestrian Studies Program and include:

· Associate of Arts in Western riding/training emphasis

· Associate of Arts in English riding/training emphasis

· Bachelor of Science in Western riding/training emphasis

· Bachelor of Science in English riding/training emphasis

· Bachelor of Science in Equine Business Management

The universities Equestrian Studies Program is designed to provide students with all of the vital skills that they will need to have a long and successful career in the equine industry by providing them with knowledge and experiences that is unmatched by any other university. The program has a twelve member faculty that is comprised of professional trainers, judges, exhibitors, and breeders who all are actively involved in their specific discipline and have a realistic perspective of the equine industry. For the past 30 years, students have been able to excel because the university offers:

· Riding instruction five days a week

· Professional equine staff

· Two outstanding equine facilities

· Modern horse training techniques

· Over 400 horses

· One-on-one academic advising

· Internship opportunities

The universities Western Equestrian Studies program will teach students the proper techniques in showmanship, horsemanship, and western pleasure during their first year of training. The program will then progress on to breaking colts, cutting, reining, and finishing pleasure horses for the show ring. There are also other areas of the western discipline that will be covered like western riding, and trail. Students will also be taught a number of different customer relation skills and how to produce a horse that is easily ridden by their owners. Besides the intense riding portion of the program, students will also go in depth into nutrition, reproduction, business management, judging, and preventative medicine. There are also special courses available that will cover sales, marketing, promotion, business skills, therapeutic riding, and exercise physiology.

The English Equestrian Studies program focuses on the fundamental theories of English riding and training and will progress though hunters, jumpers, and dressage. Students will then train an unbroken horse to a level that is determined by their instructors. Students can also take several upper level classes where they will learn more advanced riding and training procedures on both the flat and over fences. Special areas that are covered include sales, marketing, promotion, and business skills.

The Equine Business Management Program combines different equine science courses with management topics and traditional business management topics and is designed for students who choose to purse a career in the equine industry other than the area of training. Students will learn about laws that affect the equine industry and many other practical aspects that include livestock management, reproductive management, disease prevention, and selecting, operating and maintain farm equipment. All Equestrian Studies students are highly encouraged to carry a second major or minor to enhance their career options in the equine industry.

All Equestrian majors are eligible for a variety of different academic scholarships that are awarded annually. There are also internships that are available to provide students additional hands on experiences within the equine industry. There are internships available for academic credit or students can choose internships that are taken for zero credit. Internships are available to students in Western equitation, English equitation, or business management.

There are also a number of different student organizations available and include the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, Intercollegiate Dressage Association, Horse Club, UF Horsemen American Collegiate Horse Show Association, and University of Findlay Vaulters. All of these different clubs are

Looking for more information on equine studies programs? Visit our resource links below. Give us a click to your favorites if you would and email your friends about our network.

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Ron Petracek was raised in Southern Idaho with horses and the great outdoors. With this continued passion He now shares through a a vast equine network. Learn more by clicking the links below. Amazing Equine Network System – Buy Sell or trade anything equine related. Get More Horse Classified coverage and distribution with less cost and work. Award Winning Horse Forum

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History Of The Football Program At University Of Florida – The Gators

Posted by admin | Posted on 19-03-2009

Category : Region II

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History Of The Football Program At University Of Florida – The Gators

The modern University of Florida was created in 1905 when Florida passed the Buckman Act.  This act abolished the state’s existing publicly supported educational institutions and consolidated them all into the all male “University of the State of Florida.”

Jack Forsythe coached the new Florida team for three winning seasons which included a 6-0 over the Gainesville Athletic club in their first game between the two rivals.  The official name of the university was shortened to the “University of Florida” in 1909, and the coaching changed to George Pyle’s command at this time.  During this same period of time, the Gators adopted their orange and blue team colors which represented a combination of the blue and white of the old Florida Agricultural College and the orange and black of the old East Florida Seminar, which were the university’s predecessors before the consolidation.

The 1910 season had the Gators see many of their rivals for the first time.  The 1911 Gators ended up defeating The Citadel, Clemson and the College of Charleston.  They finished the 1911 season 5-0-1, which is the only undefeated football seasons in Gator history.  The Gators joined the Southern Conference in 1922.

The 1923 and 1924 seasons were coached by James Van Fleet and let the team to its first national notoriety.  In 1923, Florida shocked the nation when they beat the heavily favored Alabama 16-6 in one of the biggest upsets of the year.  The 1924 Gators tied Georgia Tech and Texas which were heralded as powerhouse teams.

Coach Charlie Bachman led the team to even greater national recognition in 1928, and in 1929.  He helped lead the Gator team to finish with the highest season win totals for 32 years.  1928 also gave the Gators their first All-American, Dale Van Sickel, who later became Florida’s first member of the College Football Hall of Fame.  He was inducted in 1975.

The Gators joined the Southeastern Conference in December of 1932 along with Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Georgia Tech.  Dutch Stanley replaced Bachman as the head coach in 1933, which was the first SEC football season for the Gators.  Stanley was only 26 years old at the time and had been a player for the Gators in 1928.  This coach later resigned under fan pressure in 1935 and was replaced by Josh Cody.  Tom Lieb replaced Cody in 1940.  During World War II, many of the top players went to serve in the war, and as a result the team suffered.  There was one highlight during this dark time as the Gators produced their second All-American, Fergie Ferguson in 1941.

The Gators kindly call the next staff changes era.  The Bob Woodruff era lasted from 1950 to 1959.  The Ray Graves era lasted from 1960 to 1969.  Doug Dickey took over and led the team from 1970 to 1978.  Charley Pell became the head coach in 1979 and was coach until 1989.  Steve Spurrier led the team from 1990 to 2001. Ron Zook took over from 2002 to 2004 and the Gators are now coached by Urban Meyer.  Meyer took over in 2005 and is the present day coach for the Gators.

San Francisco Schools’ Small Schools Program

Posted by admin | Posted on 24-01-2009

Category : Region V

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San Francisco Schools’ Small Schools Program

San Francisco Schools’ Small Schools are Effective

The Small Schools program in San Francisco Schools was established back in 2000. One successful example of a small school is the San Francisco Schools’ Leadership High School. This high school has a total of only 345 students, uses high standards and close relationship with teachers to help at risk students. Leadership High School was established about 5 years ago and now has some of the highest test scores in all of the San Francisco Schools. Mainly the idea is to take large schools, usually high schools, into several smaller schools that can focus on the students needs better.

San Francisco Schools have become a leader in a growing trend that has spread across Northern California. The idea behind breaking up large schools is an attempt to provide an alternative to the status quo. Students in a small school tend to have higher rates of graduation, higher attendance rates, and higher university attendance. The small school environment succeeds due to a more personalized learning environment. The small schools of the San Francisco Schools use a mentor system that gives guidance to that they are personally engaged in their work. Students are motivated while being connected to the school community. The National Longitudinal Study for Adolescent Health reports that students in a small school environment were less likely to use alcohol, illegal drugs, become pregnant, or experience emotional distress.

San Francisco Schools’ Small Schools for Equity

The Small Schools for Equity program is an innovative partnership between San Francisco Schools and a local university. This high school has one hundred students from all of the San Francisco Schools. This high school will be housed on the university’s campus and be supported by the College of Education while being managed and funded by San Francisco Schools. The students, teachers and administration will have a say in curriculum development. Students who attend the Small Schools for Equity program were chosen by San Francisco Schools’ officials. The high school students will study a rigid curriculum that will include high school level math, science, English, humanities, world language, art and Japanese. No college courses will be offered.

The Small Schools for Equity program provides the College of Education with a great opportunity in teacher education. San Francisco Schools has allowed university students seeking teaching credentials to teach and observe in schools throughout the San Francisco School district for years, now the College of Education will have a high school on campus that will benefit from modern educational theory and practices. The high school will be housed in Burk Hall and run a full school day from 8AM to 3PM, the rest of the day Burk Hall will be used by education students.

San Francisco Schools Board of Education Reviews Small Schools

The San Francisco Schools Board of Education is, this summer, reviewing a policy that would support the San Francisco Schools Small Schools By Design. The policy is being introduced by San Francisco Schools Acting Superintendent Gwen Chan and is supported by school board president Norman Yee and San Francisco Organizing Project, a community organization that supports the small schools initiative. San Francisco Organizing Project is a collection of religious congregations, schools and community centers. Those opposed to the program claim that the money spent does not equal the benefits but supporters say that the Small Schools offset the difficulties of declining student enrollment and the flight of families from San Francisco Schools. The current policy up for vote would create a task force to determine the locations and needs of San Francisco Schools which would benefit most from Small Schools.

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