Virginia News Items

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine: Healthy Living is Key to Healthcare Savings.

The News Leader of Staunton, Virginia reports that the Virginia Department of Health has awarded James Madison University a $3.4 million grant to produce content and design for an interactive Web site full of nutrition information for children and their families

Figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau during September show that the child poverty rate in Virginia increased from 13 to 13.8 per cent in 2008, resulting in an additional 13,000 Virginia children living below the poverty line.  Please see vakids.org for more information or the their press release here.

Online Medicaid application is now available through Virginia Easy Access, a website for seniors and adults with disabilities, and the providers that support them.  The online application makes is easier for seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families to apply for Medicaid services.

Virginia 28th Fattest State according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009, a report released by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

George Mason University launches first MPH program for Northern Virginia.  more

Legislation banning smoking in Virginia's bars and restaurants goes into effect Dec. 1, 2009.  The Virginia Department of Health will have the authority to enforce the legislation.  Read VDH's Q & A for more information.

Culpeper Regional Hospital is the first hospital in Virginia to earn the title "Baby Friendly" from the World Health Organization and UNICEF.  It's one of 76 hospitals in the U.S. to earn that distinction. More

Winter issue of Health Equity Matters of the Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy of the Virginia Department of Health has been published.