Monday, May 26, 2014

Map Shows All the African Countries Where the U.S. Has Active Military Operations

http://www.policymic.com/articles/89831/surprising-map-shows-all-the-african-countries-where-the-u-s-has-active-military-operations


Surprising Map Shows All the African Countries Where the U.S. Has Active Military Operations




The news: Today’s reality check comes courtesy of the Washington Post.
President Barack Obama made headlines Wednesday when he deployed 80 American troops to Chad. Their stated mission is to find the over 200 Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haramlast month, a crime that’s galvanized the international community.
But this is the U.S. military, and we’d be foolish to assume anything is so simple. Anyone worried about the broader implications of their actions need look no further than this map:

Image Credit: Washington Post
Thirteen nations – stretching from the Horn of Africa to
Mali’s western border – already house U.S. troops involved
in “actual military operations.” Their presence is widely 
considered part of an expanding “shadow war against
al-Qaeda affiliates and other militant groups” in the
region – and the American people know very little about it.
Like many wars throughout history, this one is 
starting small. Troop numbers remain low, and intelligence
operations are housed mainly in small airbases constructed
in the past seven years.

They emphasize spy missions: Many involve aircraft
disguised as private planes, and are equipped with full-motion
sensors that track infrared heat patterns, record video
and pick up radio and cellphone signals. At least 12 such
bases have been built since 2007.
Things have been quiet thus far, but the U.S. has a troubled 
history of conducting proxy wars throughout Africa.
Since 9/11 alone, American covert operations have contributed
to violence and destabilization in Mali, the Central African
Republic and Libya, among others. Without the level of
pomp and troop involvement as the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, U.S. forces can now subtly influence Africa’s
political landscape as they see fit, while evading public scrutiny.
This should worry us. Despite their operations’ relative
tameness nowadays – if launching drone strikes and
fighting proxy wars can be considered “tame” – U.S.
military intervention on the continent has rarely been without
negative consequences. It’s grown increasingly important to
remember this when calling for intervention in African affairs:
Whatever Band-Aid effect Americans may have now, the
long-term impact will be felt almost exclusively by the people
who actually live there.
Remaining vigilant as our troops amass in growing numbers
might be one of the few ways to avoid creating more
problems we’re ill equipped to fix. The beginning of that
process is education.
To that end, here’s a brief rundown of recent U.S. military
activities and outposts in Sub-Saharan Africa:
Burkina Faso. Base established 2007 in Ouagadougou,
launches spy planes to police and patrol the Islamic Maghreb.
Image Credit: Public Intelligence
Congo. Troops stationed in Congo to aid the search for
Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army.
Central African Republic. Part of the broader search for
the Lord’s Resistance Army.
Chad. 80 troops deployed May 21 to search for the
kidnapped Nigerian girls.
Djibouti. Home to Camp Lemonnier, a full-blown military
base that houses 4,000 troops and has a $1.4 billion
expansion plan in the works. Also faces allegations of being
used as a “black site” where terrorism suspects are tortured.
A congressional investigation into the issue has yet to be
declassified.
Image Credit: Public Intelligence
Ethiopia. Airport annex used to house Reaper drones
flown over East Africa since 2011.
Image Credit: Public Intelligence
Kenya. Multiple bases, including Manda Bay (used to
launch drone strikes) and Camp Simba, home to 60 military
personnel since 2013.
Image Credit: Public Intelligence
Mali. Troops sent in 2013 to aid French and African forces
in wartime, though the White House insisted they were not
directly engaged in combat.
Niger. Drone base since 2013, also houses 100 military
intelligence personnel.
Image Credit: Public Intelligence
Nigeria. Troops deployed to aid the search for the kidnapped
girls earlier this month.
Somalia. Fewer than two dozen troops deployed for “training
and advising” purposes in 2014.
South Sudan. Forty-five military personnel deployed to
protect U.S. citizens and property in 2013.
Image Credit: Public Intelligence
Uganda. Launches surveillance aircraft out of a base in
Entebbe, mostly used to search for Joseph Kony’s Lord’s
Resistance Army.
Image Credit: Public Intelligence
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Thursday, May 22, 2014

Deadline May 27, 2014. $102K for Campus Suicide Prevention Grants

Date: 5/7/2014 8:50 AM
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office
Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA is accepting applications for up to $4.2 million for the Campus Suicide Prevention Grant


The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for Prevention and Public Health Fund-2014 Campus Suicide Prevention (PPHF-2014) grants. The purpose of this program is to facilitate a comprehensive approach to preventing suicide in institutions of higher education. This program is designed to assist colleges and universities build a foundation for their efforts to prevent suicide attempts and completions and to enhance services for students with mental and substance use disorders that put them at risk for suicide and suicide attempts.

Funding for the grants is provided by the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF-2014).

SAMHSA anticipates that up to 14 awards will be made at up to $102,000 each year for up to three years.  Actual award amounts may vary, depending on the availability of funds.

WHO CAN APPLY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education that have not previously been awarded a Campus Suicide Prevention grant. Tribal Colleges and Universities are eligible and encouraged to apply. See Section III-1 of the Request for Applications (RFA) for complete eligibility information.

HOW TO APPLY:You must go to both http://www.grants.gov and the SAMHSA websitehttp://beta.samhsa.gov/grants/applying to download the required documents you will need to apply for this SAMHSA grant.

Applicants must apply online through http://www.Grants.gov . Please refer to Appendix B, “Guidance for Electronic Submission of Applications” of the (RFA) for more information.

APPLICATION DUE DATE: May 27, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time). Applications must be received by the due date and time to be considered for review. Please review carefully Section IV-2 of the application announcement for submission requirements.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Applicants with questions about program issues should contact Rosalyn Blogier at (240) 276-1842 or rosalyn.blogier@samhsa.hhs.gov . For questions on grants management issues contact Gwendolyn Simpson at (240) 276-1408 or gwendolyn.simpson@samhsa.hhs.gov .

Monday, May 19, 2014

Cultural Competency, Knowledge, and Understanding.

Regrettably this is the start of psychological subconscious\conscious training that starts at the earliest age for young black youths due to a lack of cultural knowledge\understanding. 

Readers, you be the judge of what’s taking place for both the short and long term effects.

BEMA



From: Andrew Williams Jr [
To: LiBugg
Subject: Young black students in Fresno and nationally need our help

Andrew Williams Jr.
On May 19, 2014 6:20 PM, "LiBugg"  wrote:

I re-read your email and attachments today hoping to stimulate my thoughts. I want to know how can I help the African American students I get to know while substitute teaching.  I teach in predominantly white and or Spanish districts.  Here is my experience today.

My heart was broken today.

A 3rd grade African American boy worked hard to get his weekly visiting English/drama teacher’s approval. Let's call him Jon.

He was one of two African American male students in a class of 26 (Mostly white.… Perhaps 5 Spanish).  The students prepared to stand up before the class and read their poems.  

I walked by Jon’s table and was impressed with his ability to memorize a poem …with inflection and pauses within 15 minutes.  

The visiting teacher then said, "I will pick the students who worked hard to come up first."   She called all the kids to come up and read their poems.  

Jon was called third to last and then another African American boy second to last.

I saw Jon's face when she got to the 15th student. It looked so sad.  I fought hard not to speak up for him. I had to watch it through to the end to be sure of what was taking place.    

When Jon did read, the teacher was looking down at her papers.  Again, this time I fought hard not to show my anger.  I had to be wise and careful (at this point).  When the teacher was alone, I told her he was one of the best, but called at the end (after she said the best would be called first).

Her response, “Well...He doesn't behave!"    

“Well, today he memorized a poem and did an excellent job, I replied.“  I did not see him misbehave and he was with me all day.  Later, I told Jon he did a great job. Then I made him and a another student (white girl) who did well.... captains of teams.  

It was all I could do for now!  

Nevertheless,  I see so many African American children misunderstood as I travel from school to school.  I  know other kids go through the same experiences…but there is a consistent experience with many (not all but many) African Americans.  That is, they are so misunderstood.  Something has to be done.      


LiBugg

AU African Risk Capacity (ARC)

Even though non-political in nature African Risk Capacity guidelines, and contingency planning documentation must be designed with anti-corruption & enforcement criteria for country participation in order to be an effective and sustainable tool for planning and recovery.


Black Emergency Managers Association

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Funding Opportunity: William Averette Anderson Fund (Bill Anderson Fund)

v William Averette Anderson Fund

The William Averette Anderson Fund, fondly called the Bill Anderson Fund, serves as a conduit between entities (institutions, organizations and agencies) that serve to educate and nurture individuals of color in such fields as, but not limited to, engineering, earth science, sociology, urban planning, public administration and public health: and entities that provide graduate education and employ specialists in hazard and disaster mitigation.  The focus is to significantly increase the persons of color who perform research, are educators, practitioners and research funders in hazard and disaster mitigation. 

The Fund’s focus on one of Bill’s major long-held concerns, expressed to Norma throughout his professional career, and which is captured in the two documents referenced below. First, the National Research Council of the National Academies 2006 report, Facing Hazards and Disasters:  Understanding Human Dimensions. 

 “The report [Facing Hazards and Disasters] indicates that more diversity is needed in the social science disaster research workforce.  Because of their vulnerability, Hurricane Katrina affected many minorities, but there are few minority researchers and practitioners in the field.  A minority perspective could bring new light to issues that would otherwise go unnoticed.  Additionally, the report calls for The NSF (National Science Foundation) and other relevant agencies to take action to increase the size of the scholarly workforce in the field in order to meet future needs, especially since the workforce is aging.”

Second, documented in the International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, November 2008, Mobilization of the Black Community Following Hurricane Katrina: From Disaster Assistance to Advocacy of Social Change and Equity, William A. Anderson, National Research Council, National Academies….

“Inclusion of African Americans and other minorities could be significant because of the different perspectives that they might bring to managing disaster-related problems and conducting critical research and educational activities.”


For information:  Bill Anderson Fund, Norma@BillAndersonFund.org

$15K-$30K Deadline Thursday, June 19, 2014. Awards for Access to Disaster Medicine and Public Health Information.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is offering a funding opportunity for small projects to improve access to disaster medicine and public health information for health care professionals, first responders and others that play a role in health-related disaster preparedness, response and recovery.  NLM is soliciting proposals from partnerships in the U.S. that include at least one library and at least one organization that has disaster-related responsibilities, such as a health department, emergency management department, and responder organizations. Contract awards will be offered for a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $30,000 each for a one-year project.

An open information session was held on Thursday, May 8 at 1:30 pm ET during the monthly Disaster Information Specialist webinar. All questions and responses will be posted following the meeting on FedBizOpps.


The deadline for proposals is Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 5 pm ET.

The solicitation notice can be found on FedBizOpps.gov:

For more information about the “Disaster Health Information Outreach and Collaboration Project 2014”, please visit http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/2014disasteroutreachrfq.html.  

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Call for Papers. ICISF's 13th World Congress on Stress, Trauma, and Coping.







Join with others dedicated to the crisis response community and answer this call for innovative and cutting-edge topics and speakers today!    


Experience a whole new World Congress with more opportunities to Engage, Learn, Share.This theme doesn't just summarize the 13th World Congress on Stress, Trauma and Coping mission and purpose - It also describes the atmosphere we're striving to create: an environment where solutions are evolving to deal with the ongoing challenges facing crisis interventionists. 

ICISF's World Congress provides high-quality crisis intervention education and networking opportunities. Education sessions, designed to transcend all industry sectors, focus on current and emerging issues, best practices, proven techniques, and the complex challenges facing crisis interventionists in today's global environment.

Share your expertise at this premier forum for multidisciplinary exchange of ideas and information. 

 CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS   is OPEN!


Sincerely,
Education & Training Manager
ICISF
3290 Pine Orchard Ln, Ste 106
Ellicott City MD 21042
(410) 750-9600


International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.

Health Consideration: CDC Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)


Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness.

They had fever, cough, and shortness of breath. More than 30% of these people died.

Image of map showing countries in Arabian Penninsula with and without confirmed MERs as detailed on this page.So far, all the cases have been linked to countries in the Arabian Peninsula. This virus has spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. However, there is no evidence of sustained spreading in community settings.
On May 2, 2014, the first U.S. case of MERS was confirmed in a traveler from Saudi Arabia to the U.S. The traveler is considered to be fully recovered and has been released from the hospital. Public health officials have contacted healthcare workers, family members, and travelers who had close contact with the patient. At this time, none of these contacts has had evidence of being infected with MERS-CoV.

On May 11, 2014, a second U.S. imported case of MERS was confirmed in a traveler who also came to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia. This patient is currently hospitalized and doing well. People who had close contact with this patient are being contacted. The two U.S. cases are not linked.

CDC and other public health partners continue to investigate and respond to the changing situation to prevent the spread of MERS-CoV in the U.S. These two cases of MERS imported to the U.S. represent a very low risk to the general public in this country.


CDC continues to closely monitor the MERS situation globally and work with partners to better understand the risks of this virus, including the source, how it spreads, and how infections might be prevented. CDC recognizes the potential for MERS-CoV to spread further and cause more cases globally and in the U.S. We have provided information for travelers and are working with health departments, hospitals, and other partners to prepare for this.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q: What is MERS?

A: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness. MERS is caused by a coronavirus called “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus” (MERS-CoV).

Q: What is MERS-CoV?

A: MERS-CoV is a beta coronavirus. It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV used to be called “novel coronavirus,” or “nCoV”. It is different from other coronaviruses that have been found in people before.

Q: How was the name selected?

A: The Coronavirus Study Group (CSG) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) decided in May 2013 to call the novel coronavirus “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus” (MERS-CoV) Adobe PDF file [5 pages]External Web Site Icon.

Q: Is MERS-CoV the same as the SARS virus?

A: No. MERS-CoV is not the same coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. However, like the SARS virus, MERS-CoV is most similar to coronaviruses found in bats. CDC is still learning about MERS.

Q: What are the symptoms of MERS?

A: Most people who got infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. 30% of them died. Some people were reported as having a mild respiratory illness.

Q: Does MERS-CoV spread from person to person?

A: MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact.[1] Transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel has also been observed. Clusters of cases in several countries are being investigated.

Q: What is the source of MERS-CoV?

A: We don’t know for certain where the virus came from. However, it likely came from an animal source. In addition to humans, MERS-CoV has been found in camels in Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and a bat in Saudi Arabia. Camels in a few other countries have also tested positive for antibodies to MERS-CoV, indicating they were previously infected with MERS-CoV or a closely related virus. However, we don’t know whether camels are the source of the virus. More information is needed to identify the possible role that camels, bats, and other animals may play in the transmission of MERS-CoV.

Q: Is CDC concerned?

A: Yes, CDC is concerned about MERS-CoV. Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness. They had fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About 30% of these people died. Also, in other countries, the virus has spread from person to person through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person. CDC recognizes the potential for the virus to spread further and cause more cases globally, including in the United States.

Q: Has anyone in the United States gotten infected?

A: Yes, on May 2, 2014, the first confirmed case of MERS-CoV was reported in a traveler to the United States. This is the only confirmed case in the United States. Read more.

Q: What is CDC doing about the first case of MERS in the United States?

A: CDC works 24/7 to protect people’s health. It is the job of CDC to be concerned and move quickly whenever there is a potential public health problem. CDC is working very quickly to investigate this first U.S. case of MERS and ensure that Americans are safe. We expect to learn much more in the coming hours and days. We will share updated information through this website.
CDC is also closely monitoring the MERS situation globally. We are working with WHO and other partners to better understand the virus, how it spreads, the source, and risks to the public’s health. CDC is engaged in the following ways:
  • CDC developed molecular diagnostics that will allow scientists to accurately identify MERS cases. CDC also developed assays to detect MERS-CoV antibodies. These lab tests will help scientists tell whether a person is, or has been, infected with MERS-CoV. CDC will evaluate genetic sequences as they are available, which will help scientists further describe the characteristics of MERS-CoV.
  • As part of routine public health preparedness in the United States, CDC has provided MERS-CoV testing kits to state health departments so they can test for patients under investigation for MERS-CoV infection. CDC also developed Interim Guidance for Health Professionals. This includes case definitions, and guidance for evaluating patients, reporting cases to CDC, infection control in healthcare settings, preparedness, caring for MERS patients at home, and handling clinical specimens.
  • CDC is offering recommendations to travelers when needed. CDC is also helping to assess ill travelers returning from affected areas.
  • In addition, CDC has participated in several international public health investigations of MERS. CDC continues to provide advice and laboratory diagnostic support to countries in the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding region.

Q: Am I at risk for MERS-CoV Infection in the United States?

A: You are not considered to be at risk for MERS-CoV infection if you have not had close contact, such as caring for or living with someone who is being evaluated for MERS-CoV infection.

Q: Can I still travel to countries in the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries where MERS cases have occurred?

A: Yes. CDC does not recommend that anyone change their travel plans because of MERS. The current CDC travel notice is an Alert (Level 2), which provides special precautions for travelers. Because spread of MERS has occurred in healthcare settings, the alert advises travelers going to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula to provide health care services to practice CDC’s recommendations for infection control of confirmed or suspected cases and to monitor their health closely. Travelers who are going to the area for other reasons are advised to follow standard precautions, such as hand washing and avoiding contact with people who are ill.
For more information, see CDC’s travel notice on MERS in the Arabian Peninsula.

Q: What if I recently traveled to countries in the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries and got sick?

A: If you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after traveling from countries in the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries[2], you should see your healthcare provider and mention your recent travel.

Q: How can I help protect myself?

A: CDC advises that people follow these tips to help prevent respiratory illnesses:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact, such as kissing, sharing cups, or sharing eating utensils, with sick people.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.

Q: Is there a vaccine?

A: No, but CDC is discussing with partners the possibility of developing one.

Q: What are the treatments?

A: There are no specific treatments recommended for illnesses caused by MERS-CoV. Medical care is supportive and to help relieve symptoms.

Q: Is there a lab test?

A: Lab tests (polymerase chain reaction or PCR) for MERS-CoV are available at state health departments, CDC, and some international labs. Otherwise, MERS-CoV tests are not routinely available. There are a limited number of commercial tests available, but these are not FDA-approved.

Q: What should healthcare providers and health departments do?

A: For recommendations and guidance on the case definitions; infection control, including personal protective equipment guidance; home care and isolation; case investigation; and specimen collection and shipment, see Interim Guidance for Health Professionals.

Footnotes


  1. Close contact is defined as a) any person who provided care for the patient, including a healthcare worker or family member, or had similarly close physical contact; or b) any person who stayed at the same place (e.g. lived with, visited) as the patient while the patient was ill.
  2. Countries in the Arabian Peninsula and neighboring countries: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Deadline June 2, 2014. Visa and Nethope Innovation Grants

http://nethope.org/assets/uploads/20140507_Visa_Innovation_Grants_2014_RFP.pdf


NETHOPE & VISA TO AWARD INNOVATION GRANTS TO NON-PROFIT AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS 


Visa Innovation Grants 2014

OVERVIEW
Each year, the development community, relief organizations and governments make billions of dollars in cash payments to poor households through benefit stipends, emergency relief payments and other development initiatives. Moreover, in the last decade the international community has made a significant transition away from the distribution of in-kind goods toward cash transfers, not only in emergency relief but also in the areas of health, education, food security, and poverty alleviation. While these efforts hold great promise, making an additional shift from physical cash toward electronic payments will allow individuals and organizations to realize fully the benefits of this transition while accelerating the rate of financial inclusion around the world.
Because of the prevalence of cash-based societies in developing markets, NGOs often are forced to rely on physical cash for both their work with beneficiaries (microfinance payments, conditional cash transfers) as well as their internal operations (payroll, expenditures, etc.). While using cash is often the most apparent means of payment, this traditional approach can present significant overhead costs, overburden staffing resources, open the door to corruption and security concerns and present missed opportunities to advance financial inclusion. By exploring new technologies and building new approaches, the humanitarian and development communities can improve the efficiency, transparency and impact of their programs while enabling individuals to begin participating in the formal financial system.
Humanitarian and development organizations already have begun to explore a wide variety of technologies to facilitate payments and manage resources. An increasing array of technologies and opportunities are emerging, providing the flexibility of cash and mitigating the challenges of resource distribution and program operations that transcend diverse geographies. Vouchers, prepaid cards, electronic remittances and mobile money transactions are just a few of the options becoming increasingly available in place of the distribution of physical cash. These mechanisms can have immediate and positive impacts because they help reduce the costs and risks of distributing cash. At the same time, by receiving money electronically, beneficiaries, vendors and employees engage in the financial services cycle and discover the ways in which that cycle can support their livelihoods and their communities.
However, a study by the Cash Learning Partnership entitled, “New Technologies in Cash Transfer Programming and Humanitarian Assistance” reveals significant obstacles facing organizations trying to make this transition, including technological, operational and attitudinal barriers. While some of these barriers are being overcome through greater knowledge-sharing and an increase in public-private partnerships, the report calls for greater investment in overcoming internal barriers and additional funding for adoption of new technologies.
To help organizations address these challenges and questions, Visa has launched the Visa Innovation Grants program. Through this program, Visa is making available five grants of $100,000 each to non-profit humanitarian and development organizations to support innovation, implementation and adoption of electronic transfers and/or payments within their programs and/or within their organizations.
Examples of projects that could be considered for funding:
  • Implementing or transitioning a cash transfer program (e.g., cash grants, cash-for-work, voucher) to using electronic payments instead of in-kind goods or physical cash for an emergency humanitarian scenario or in a non-emergency development program
  • Electronifying the distribution and repayment of microloans or other financial services
  • Electronifying payments to NGO field staff
  • Electronifying significant payment streams for local suppliers in the field
By helping humanitarian and development organizations transition to electronic payments and transactions, Visa believes that these grants will help foster financial inclusion in the communities they serve as well as strengthen the organizations’ ability to realize their missions.



Friday, May 9, 2014

Refugee Protection: UNHCR Protection Manual

http://www.unhcr.org/pages/532700d86.html


UNHCR Protection Manual

Resources
© UNHCR/B. Szandelszky

A repository of protection policy and guidance

The Protection Manual is the UN refugee agency's repository of protection policy and guidance, gathering some 1,000 publications ranging from the 1951 UN Refugee Convention to the latest UNHCR policy positions.

It is updated whenever a new protection policy or guidance document is published, and can thus be relied upon to represent the current state of UNHCR protection policy and guidance.

The manual is organized thematically or by subject, including legal topics (reflecting, for example,

UNHCR guidance on the different elements of the refugee definition) and operational protection guidance (for example, on asylum-seekers at sea or age, gender and diversity).

Under each heading, the documents are arranged in reverse chronological order and are accessible individually through a hyperlink.

Documents from external sources are generally not included, unless they provide guidance on protection-related topics that also applies to or has specifically been endorsed by UNHCR, such as inter-agency guidance.

At the end of each subject heading, relevant related sources are listed, containing older guidance and documents which serve as background reading.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Thursday, May 15. Health Disparities Seminar - Forging a Research Program on the Health of the Black Middle Class -

NOTE:  For all.  
         Have you attempted to obtain a new physician?
           Are any physicians in your community accepting new patients?
           How far ahead do you have to schedule an appointment for your annual physical?
           Is the problem with the entire industry, and not just for minorities?
           Although disparity for health care is increased for blacks, other minorities and others of lower income

NIH Health Disparities Seminar - Forging a Research Program on the Health of the Black Middle Class - Thursday, May 15

PRESENTATION:
Forging a Research Program on the Health of the Black Middle Class

GUEST SPEAKERS:
Kris Marsh, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sociology
University of Maryland
College Park, MD

Rashawn Ray, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sociology
University of Maryland
College Park, MD

DATE/TIME:
Thursday, May 15, 2014
3:00 - 4:30 P.M.

LOCATION:
NIH Campus
Natcher Conference Center, Building 45, Conference Rooms E1 & E2   
45 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
The black middle class is viewed as an example of racial progress. Yet, the health outcomes of middle-class blacks fall dismally behind those of middle-class whites. In this regard, the health outcomes among middle-class blacks stall this alleged progress because middle-class status does not seem to provide the same health benefits to blacks as it does to whites. Without a better understanding of racial differences among the middle class, we cannot devise effective policy solutions to combat health disparities among the most underserved of our population. In their presentations, Dr. Kris Marsh and Dr. Rashawn Ray will provide an overview of a research agenda centered on psychological distress, physical activity, and aging among the black middle class. Using U.S. census and national data, as well as a unique data set on middle-class blacks and whites, they will document how health disparities among the middle class are very much centered on the experiences of black women. They will focus on how the stigma of being single affects the mental health and wealth decisions of middle-class black women as they age and show how the structure of neighborhoods and the social construction of bodies are privileged to support other raced and gendered groups leading to lower levels of physical activity and higher levels of obesity among middle-class black women. Drawing upon the intersectionality framework, they will discuss how the interactive effect of race and gender can be costly for middle-class black women.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Dr. Marsh is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park, and affiliate faculty of the Maryland Population Research Center, Department of Women's Studies, and African American Studies Department. Previously, she was a postdoctoral scholar at the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Marsh has combined her interests of the black middle class, demography, racial residential segregation, and education to develop a research agenda. This agenda is divided into three broad areas: the black middle class, the intersection of educational attainment and racial identification, and intra-racial health disparities. The common theme in her work is decomposing what it means to be black in America by focusing on intra-group variability in class, space, identity and educational achievement. Dr. Marsh has published work on the demographic shift in the black middle class with the emergence of single and living alone (SALA) households and the residential segregation patterns and trends of black and white SALA households. She received a doctoral degree from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Ray is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Previously, he was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley/University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Ray’s research addresses the mechanisms that manufacture and maintain racial and social inequality. His work also speaks to ways that inequality may be attenuated through racial uplift activism and social policy. Dr. Ray is the editor of Race and Ethnic Relations in the Twenty-first Century: History, Theory, Institutions, and Policy. His work has appeared in Ethnic and Racial Studies, American Behavioral Scientist, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Journal of Higher Education, and Journal of African American Studies. He received a doctoral degree in sociology from Indiana University.  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

There is limited parking on the NIH campus.  The closest Metro is Medical Center. Please allow adequate time for security check.  

The seminar will be video cast and made available in the NIH Video archives and on the NIMHD website after the seminar.  

Sign Language Interpreters will be provided. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to participate should contact Edgar Dews at (301) 402-1366 or the Federal Relay at 1-800-877-8339.

CDC Disease Detectives Using New Software Tool in Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak

http://www.domesticpreparedness.com/Government/Government_Updates/CDC_Disease_Detectives_Using_New_Software_Tool_in_Ebola_Hemorrhagic_Fever_Outbreak/

CDC Disease Detectives Using New Software Tool in Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak

Fri, May 02, 2014

For the first time, Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak disease detectives are using a new software tool to help find people exposed to the deadly virus faster. 
The new tool developed at CDC, an Epi Info viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) application, speeds up one of the most difficult parts of disease detection: finding everyone that was exposed to, and possibly infected by, someone with a contagious disease. This task, called contact tracing, is an essential step in breaking the chain of disease transmission and ending an outbreak.  In addition to facilitating contact tracing, the tool assists with the collection and management of epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory information for every case. This data is crucial for developing outbreak countermeasures. 
The Epi Info VHF tool is specifically designed for outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley, Lassa, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fevers. The open-source program runs on the Epi Info software platform that CDC has made freely available since the 1990s. It features virus transmission diagrams that help field workers visualize outbreak spread between people and automated tools that speed contact tracing and data analysis. 
“With a disease as often fatal as Ebola, quickly identifying and following up with those who may have been exposed is key to saving lives and containing the outbreak,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Epi Info, the ‘Swiss Army knife’ of field-deployed epidemiologists, can now help to track disease more quickly.” 
CDC began development of the VHF application for Epi Info after the 2012 Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Upon returning from the field, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer Ilana Schafer, D.V.M., M.S.P.H., approached CDC’s Epi Info team, saying, “There has to be a better way to do this. People are dying and we can’t collect, analyze, and act on the data fast enough.” 
Schafer worked on four outbreak responses in 2012 – three Ebola outbreaks and one Marburg outbreak. She was responsible for creating and maintaining centralized databases for all case epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory information collected by international response partners, including Ministries of Health, Doctors without Borders (Médécins sans Frontières), CDC, and the World Health Organization (WHO), during three of the outbreaks. She was on the CDC/WHO team recently deployed to Guinea for the West Africa Ebola outbreak, along with CDC Epi Info software developer Erik Knudsen, who is tweaking the new VHF tool on the ground as needed. 
“As Ebola outbreaks are rare, this is the first time we’re getting to put this tool through its paces,” said CDC Epi Info team lead Asad Islam, M.S. “Given that the Epi Info VHF tool has a tiny IT footprint and easily works in places with limited network connectivity, that it automatically updates as new information is added, and that it offers daily reports to guide follow-up, we are cautiously optimistic that it will make a significant difference.” 
An earlier version of the Epi Info VHF tool was presented in Uganda in September of 2013 to the Ugandan Ministry of Health, Doctors without Borders, and WHO; they provided valuable feedback that was incorporated into the current version. 
Epi Info software is used globally for rapidly assessing disease outbreaks and for speeding disease detection and response. Developing the VHF tool on the Epi Info platform was far more timely and cost-effective than contracting for development of a specialized system. In addition, once finalized as a standard feature and added to Epi Info, the tool will be available cost-free to be adapted for future public health needs. 
This innovation was the result of collaboration between CDC’s Epi Info team in the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services and the Viral Special Pathogens Branch in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. It coincides with the launch of the U.S. government’s Global Health Security Agenda to strengthen national security by helping other nations prevent, detect, and effectively respond to disease outbreaks. Over the next five years, the initiative will strengthen the health infrastructure of at least 30 partner countries with 4 billion citizens. CDC has invested $40 million this year in the effort and President Barack Obama has requested an additional $45 million in his 2015 budget request toward this purpose. 
Ebola virus is transmitted through direct physical contact with body fluids of an infected person including blood, saliva, stool, urine, and sweat, as well as direct physical contact with objects that have been contaminated by the infected body fluids, such as needles and soiled linens. Outbreaks can spread rapidly, with easily misdiagnosed initial symptoms such as fever, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting and an incubation period as brief as two days and as long as three weeks. 
For more information about the current outbreak of Ebola in Guinea and Liberia, see http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/guinea/
For more information about Epi Info, see www.cdc.gov/epiinfo.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

December 1-3, 2014. International Symposium on Minority Health and Health Disparities conference


2014 International Symposium

Dear Colleague:

As Principal Investigator of the 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health and Health Disparities conference grant, I am writing to encourage you to participate in this longstanding, historic, scientific program to be held December 1-3, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland.

Along with conference co-chairs, Drs Mark Edberg, George Washington University, and Barbara Hayes, Texas Southern University, we encourage you to register and attend the conference, submit abstracts prior to the June 2 deadline, and secure exhibit space and ads

The program is titled “Transdisciplinary Collaborations: Evolving Dimensions of US and Global Health Equity” and is a must attend scientific program for 2014.

The Symposium planning, scientific, abstract and cultural committees look forward to welcoming you to the greater Washington, DC area to share your expertise to improve minority health and to reduce and eliminate health disparities. Also, we encourage you to volunteer as an abstract reviewer for the symposium.

More information about the Symposium is available at http://www.ismhhd.com

Please call our Secretariat at 404.559.6191 or email secretariat@ismhhd.com if you have questions.

Registration for the Symposium is now open.
Sincerely,
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD
Principal Investigator
ISMHHD Conference Grant

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