First Annual Health Disparities Conference
March 10 – 11, 2006; New York, New York
This conference will be held at Columbia University. The theme will be “The Decade of Health Disparity Reduction: Towards Evidence-Based Models.” Click for more information.

Society for Public Health Education 2006 Health Education Advocacy Summit
March 11 – 13, 2006; Washington, D.C.
The National Health Education Advocacy Summit and Congressional Briefings comprise two to three day meetings during which participants receive either basic or advanced-level advocacy training, briefings on specific legislative issues by experienced professionals from the government relations staffs of key public health organizations, and arrange and conduct visits—either individually or in state delegations—with members of Congressional representatives or other Federal officials in Washington, DC. The specific legislative issues on which the advocacy summit focuses varies from year to year and are selected by the summit planning committee in advance of each year’s summit. Specific issues have included appropriations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including preventive health and health services block grants, tobacco prevention and control legislation, and school health programs. Click for additional information on the Summit.

The Virginia Forum on Youth Tobacco Use: Translating Research into Practice
March 29-30, 2006; Richmond, Virginia
Sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute for Drug and Alcohol Programs, The Forum on Youth Tobacco Use: From Research to Practice is designed to bring together researchers, practitioners and policy makers to search for effective policy and programmatic solutions to the problems of underage tobacco use. The Forum on Youth Tobacco Use will provide participants with an opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field of youth tobacco use from the research, policy and practice communities. Following each panel presentation, participants will then have an opportunity to engage in an active dialogue with the presenters and other conference participants in small breakout groups to explore opportunities to translate what we know from research and experience into more effective interventions, and to identify promising new areas of research.
 
Contact for Ms. Stephanie Hart at (804) 828-8635 or slhart@vcu.edu for additional information about the conference, the conference agenda and registration form. Given the format of the conference and the need to provide a setting that will provide opportunities for active participation by attendees through small discussion groups, registration is limited to the first 150 registrants. Click to obtain additional information about the VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies.

5th National Tobacco Symposium on Young Adults
March 29-31, 2006; Raleigh, NC
The 5th National Tobacco Symposium on Young Adults is an invitation to a broad spectrum of student affairs professionals, researchers, health educators, students and community members to join together to learn more about one of the greatest health problems facing young adults today. The BACCHUS Network is hosting the symposium, which will feature a pre-conference on tobacco control for Historically Black Colleges in addition to the 2-day conference. Click to view pre-conference and conference information and a Call for Programs.

World Conference on Nonsmokers' Rights
April 1-2, 2006; Washington, DC
This conference for attorneys is devoted to the topic of protecting the rights of nonsmokers through legal or law-related actions. The purpose is to discover and discuss new and novel legal and law-related tools and techniques to protect nonsmokers. This invitation-only conference is free to our invited guests, and many attendees will receive $1,000 travel grants, as well as the opportunity to win a $3,000 prize in addition.
 
If you would like to be considered for an invitation to this conference, please send an email to info@nosmokingcontest.org with complete contact information and a brief description of yourself, and your work on behalf of nonsmokers. You will then be considered for an invitation and possibly a $1,000 travel grant. Requests for invitations will be considered in the order received. Please note that preference in extending conference invitations, and in being awarded travel grants, will be given to attorneys who submit a 1000-word summary of a new idea to protect nonsmokers. Early submissions are very strongly encouraged and will be accepted until March 1st.
 
Depending on space and financial limitations, other attorneys who send an email request without a 1000-word proposal may receive an invitation to attend and/or a $1,000 travel grant. However, preference will be given to those attorneys who submitted a 1000-word proposal.
 
If you would like to enter the contest -- with a $3,000 first prize -- for the best new nonsmokers’ rights idea presented by an antismoking attorney, please send a 1000-word summary of your proposal to the same email address. Click for ideas and inspiration.
 
Click to learn more about the Third World Conference on Nonsmokers' Rights, the contest initially only for law students but now expended with a separate category for antismoking attorneys, and related information.

National Public Health Week
April 3 – 9, 2006
The theme for this year’s recognition is Designing Healthy Communities, Raising Healthy Kids. Click for a brochure and more information.

Kick Butts Day
April 5, 2006
Kick Butts Day has now become interactive. The website includes an online KBD activity guide, a photo gallery, activism gallery, and resources. Click for more information.

Help Your Patients Quit Smoking: Become a Tobacco Dependence Treatment Specialist
5-DAY TRAINING: April 3-7, June 12-16, September 25-29; New Brunswick, NJ
The Tobacco Dependence Program of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Public Health has been specializing in providing intensive training for Tobacco Dependence Treatment Specialists since 2000. The 5-day curriculum prepares health care professionals to provide treatment for tobacco dependence. Participants gain an in-depth understanding of Tobacco Addiction as well as essential evidence-based treatment tools necessary to help their patient's achieve freedom from tobacco.
 
The nationally recognized faculty, brings a wealth of expertise in tobacco control, nicotine addiction, medical consequences of tobacco use, treatment of tobacco dependence, program development and evaluation, as well as treating special populations such as those with mental illness, other addictions or young people.
 
The training format allows for an interactive and comprehensive educational experience. This training is based on the US Public Health Service Guidelines for Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence. Participants will learn how to assess nicotine dependence, conduct treatment planning and deliver face-to-face treatment, including counseling and the use of medications. Participants can expect to leave the training competent to effectively treat patients for tobacco dependence with knowledge of the latest research-based medications and behavioral techniques and to provide other services that will help their organizations address tobacco use.
 
This nationwide training is offered four times per year and meets the necessary educational requirements as described in the Public Health Guidelines, ATTUD - the Association for Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence and to become a "Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist" through The Certification Board, Inc. Click to register. You may also contact Joan Maurer at Joan.maurer@umdnj.edu for more information.

Bringing 100% Tobacco-Free Schools to Ohio
April 11, 2006; Dublin, OH
Will your local school district be the next to become 100% tobacco-free? A 100% tobacco-free schools policy – a policy that prohibits smoking or any tobacco use on school grounds and at all school functions – reinforces educational messages about smoking and helps reduce student tobacco use. Although it may sound like common sense, few K-12 schools in Ohio have 100% tobacco-free policies in place.
 
Come learn about the importance of 100% tobacco-free schools and discuss the nuts and bolts of working with decision-makers to adopt and implement this important policy. Hear Mark Ezzell, Tobacco-Free Schools Director for North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund. In the midst of “tobacco country,” more than half of North Carolina’s school districts are now 100% tobacco-free! Hear as well from people working on the ground in Ohio to promote 100% tobacco-free schools.
 
Open to the public. Cost is $25 per person. Click to register online by March 31.
 
RCH and CEU credits offered upon approval. Continuing education contact hours for CHES have been applied for and are pending. SOPHE is a multiple provider of Category 1 contact hours for CHES.

Preventing Youth Access to Tobacco Conference
April 12-14, 2006; Seattle, WA
This conference will focus on developing ideas for effective ways of limiting youth social and retail access to tobacco and effective prevention and cessation strategies for youth. Click for more information.

Driving Program Success: Exploring Innovation in Tobacco Control Web-based Systems
April 26-27, 2006; San Diego, CA
The California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section, and the Florida State University, Center for Information, Training, and Evaluation Services invite you to attend the Driving Program Success conference. Driving Program Success will help jump-start your efforts to harness the virtual environment to support the implementation, management, and evaluation of tobacco control strategies. This timely and one-of-a-kind conference is designed to provide you with the knowledge needed to successfully design and implement Web-based systems. This conference also presents an opportunity to connect and collaborate with state and national tobacco control stakeholders and information technology experts. Click for more information and to register.

SOPHE 2006 Midyear Scientific Conference: Betting on Health Education - Increasing the Odds for Collaboration
May 4 – 7, 2006; Las Vegas, Nevada
SOPHE’s conference reaches out to all professionals and public health partners involved in public health education and health promotion. Collaboration is essential for both practice and research in the profession. Creative collaboration is critical in responding to today’s health challenges. This conference is uniquely planned to provide an opportunity to those involved in the promotion of healthy behaviors to share innovations in practice and research. Participants will explore different paradigms to address and overcome the many challenges facing the health education and public health profession, as well as share ideas with traditional and non-traditional partners. Click for more information.

Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center Conferences
May 15-19, 2006, October 17-20, 2006; Rochester, NY
The Nicotine Dependence Center conducts educational activities oriented toward healthcare professionals who are interested in incorporating nicotine dependence treatment into their practice and/or developing a service to meet the needs of tobacco dependent patients. Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, psychologists, chemical dependency counselors, respiratory therapists, nurses, social workers, and other allied health professionals will find these offerings of interest. The conference includes nicotine dependence counselor training and instructions on program development, with speakers drawn from the research and clinical staff, Mayo support services, and internationally known experts in the field. Click for more information.

24th National Conference on Health Promotion and Health: Advancing the National Health Promotion and Health Education Agenda Through Effective Policies and Practices
May 23-26, 2006; Washington, D.C.
Conference themes include: Developing a Competent Workforce, Innovative Approaches to Health Education and Health Promotion Practice, Collaborating with non traditional partners, Economics of Health Education and Health Promotion, Role of Health Education/Promotion in Public Health Legislation and Policy. Abstracts are being accepted through October 28th. Click for more information.

State-of-the-Science Conference on Tobacco Use: Prevention, Cessation, and Control
June 12-14, 2006; Bethesda, MD
The key questions to be addressed at the State-of-the-Science Conference are:

• What are the effective population- and community-based interventions to prevent tobacco use in adolescents and young adults, including among diverse populations?
• What are the effective strategies for increasing consumer
  demand for and use of proven individually oriented cessation
  treatments, including among diverse populations?

Click for more information. Registration is free!

2006 International Cancer and Tobacco Control Conferences
July 8-15, 2006; Washington, DC
For the first time in history, two of the world’s preeminent conferences, the UICC World Cancer Congress and the World Conference on Tobacco OR Health, will converge in Washington, D.C., in 2006. This unprecedented event will unite the cancer and tobacco control communities in a global campaign against tobacco-related cancer, which threatens to kill half a billion people living today. Please see the conference website for more information.

NACCHO ANNUAL 2006 Conference: "The Local Health Department Story: Know it. Live it. Share it."
July 26-28, 2006; San Antonio, TX
The NACCHO Education Committee invites you to submit "Sharing Session Proposals" for the upcoming NACCHO Annual 2006 Conference in San Antonio, Texas on July 26 - 28. This conference will be the year's largest gathering of local public health officials in the United States. All proposals must be received by NACCHO by Wednesday, January 18, 2006.
 
Sharing session proposals should fall within the scope of one of the following conference tracks:

• Communicating the Value and Contributions of Local Public Health Practice.
• The Local Health Department's Role in Preparing for and Responding to Natural Disasters and Other Public Health Threats.
• Defining and Promoting Local Public Health.
• Highlighting Innovative Core Local Health Department Programs or Strategies.

Please click for submission guidelines and the application form.

The 3rd Annual Spit Tobacco Summit: Advancing Understanding and Building Collaboration
October 16 - 18, 2006; Rochester, MN
This meeting is designed to bring together individuals from a variety of disciplines interested in smokeless tobacco, including tobacco treatment specialists, basic scientists, population researchers, clinical trialists, physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, advocacy groups, tobacco prevention and control administrators, youth advocates, and Native American and Alaska Native tribal tobacco prevention and treatment service providers. Topics that will be discussed include a summary of smokeless tobacco research, clinical approaches to smokeless tobacco treatment, health risks associated with smokeless tobacco use, community approaches to smokeless tobacco treatment and prevention, building partnerships, and addressing health disparities. At the end of this conference, interdisciplinary collaborations will be fostered and critical areas for advancing the field of smokeless tobacco treatment, research, and advocacy will be outlined. Program information will be available in April, 2006. To request a brochure, contact the Mayo School of Continuing Medical Education at 800-323-2688 or cme@mayo.edu. Further information can be found on the Mayo Clinic’s CME website.

SOPHE Annual Meeting
November 1 – 3, 2006; Boston, Massachusetts
Click for upcoming information.

APHA 134th Annual Meeting and Exposition
November 4 – 8, 2006; Boston, Massachusetts
The theme for this year’s conference is Public Health and Human Rights. Click for more information.

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