The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
The third in a series of fact sheets on topics related to children, media and health pulls together the key facts on the amount of time young people spend online; their favorite online activities; how and where young people access the web; and how use varies by age, gender and ethnicity.
Health News Index September/October, 2002
The Health News Index measures public attention to and knowledge about leading health stories covered in the news in August and September. The Health News Index is designed to help news media and people in the health field gain a better understanding of which health stories Americans are following and what they understand about those issues.
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have had a disparate impact across the country, with some regions being harder hit than others. The southern region of the U.S., which includes 16 states and the District of Columbia, has been disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS and STD epidemics. This fact sheet provides an epidemiological overview of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the southern region of the United States.
A broad and informative bimonthly report, the new Kaiser Health Poll Report provides key tracking information, including historical trends and in-depth analysis of public opinion about hot health care topics.
The current Featured Topic contains additional trends in public knowledge and attention to news about seniors and prescription drugs, as well as public opinion about who should be covered by a Medicare prescription drug benefit and what constitutes a good plan.
New Data Source on Hospital Use by California’s Medi-Cal Enrollees
A project sponsored by The Kaiser Family Foundation has resulted in a new source of data that will enhance research on the Medi-Cal program, including the impact of Medi-Cal managed care. The project linked 2 datasets: the Patient Discharge Dataset containing hospital discharge information maintained by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), and a Medi-Cal dataset containing eligibility and health plan information maintained by the California Department of Health Services (DHS). Data from these linked datasets are available for all Medi-Cal hospital discharges from 1994 through 2000.
Two research files were developed from this project a Non-identifiable Research File (NRF) and a Special Research File (SRF):
Rating Sex and Violence in the Media: Media Ratings and Proposals for Reform
The second release in a series of fact sheets and issue briefs on key topics in the field of children, media and health. The Media Ratings issue brief provides an overview of parental advisory ratings for movies, television, music and video games, as well as proposals to reform those rating systems.
Issue Brief: Rating Sex and Violence in the Media: Media Ratings and Proposals for Reform (pdf)
The Health Rights Hotline, a four-year pilot consumer assistance programbegun in Sacramento, California in July 1996, provides health plan enrolleeswith information about managed care and helps them resolve difficulties withtheir plans. The Hotline is a program of the non-profit Center for HealthCare Rights, and has been funded by three private health care foundations:the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, the California Wellness Foundation,and the Sierra Health Foundation.
This demonstration project, located in the Sacramento region in part becauseof its high managed care penetration, is the largest test of an independentconsumer assistance program in the country. To better serve as a model forsimilar programs, the Hotline has systematically collected data on theproblems experienced by its clients and how they are resolved, and will beevaluated as part of the pilot project with results posted on this websitewhen available.
Sources of information related to the Health Rights Hotline include:
What is now known as HIV/AIDS was first identified in the U.S. in 1981. Specific federal funding for HIV/AIDS also began that year with the appropriation of several hundred thousand dollars for biomedical research. Since that time, funding has grown to more than $18 billion in fiscal year 2004 for research, prevention, care and assistance, and international programs and activities.
The Kaiser Family Foundation’s Federal HIV/AIDS Spending: A Budget Chartbook, provides the most recent spending data on federal funding for HIV/AIDS, including information on spending trends since FY 1995 and data on specific programs. The most recent chartbook includes data for FY 2002.
Talking with Kids (and Parents)
Talking with Kids, a partnership of the Kaiser Family Foundation and Children Now, has teamed up with Nickelodeon, the number-one kids’ entertainment brand, to create Talking with Kids (And Parents) About Tough Issues, a campaign to encourage earlier and more frequent parent-child communication. Launched in March of 2001, the on-going effort includes resources to support talks on a range of “tough issues,” including sex, violence, alcohol and drugs, and respect. Under the partnership, Talking with Kids and Nickelodeon also published a nationally representative survey about family communication, based on interview with of over 1500 parents and their children age 8-15.
New Public Service Announcements for Parents and for Kids
Nickelodeon and Talking with Kids created new :30 second PSAs for parents, which encourage them to talk with their kids about sex and puberty, among other issues. They are tagged with an online resource developed especially for the partnership (www.everythingNick.com), and the campaign’s toll-free hotline (1 800 CHILD 44). They air across Viacom networks, including TNN, CMT, and Nick at Nite.
The partnership also created a series of :60 second spots for kids, which show parents and kids in unscripted settings, talking with each other about “tough issues”; like puberty, teasing and bullying. They are tagged with a new resource for developed just for kids (www.Nick.com/your_world), and air on Nickelodeon and Noggin.
Online Resources
At www.everythingNick.com, parents can find age-appropriate guidance and tips for raising difficult topics with their kids. Material is available for parents of kindergarteners, elementary school-age children, and middle school students. The website also offers resources on media literacy.
At www.Nick.com/your_world, kids can take a “Talk Challenge” encouraging them to turn to their parents for and share experiences in a monitored message board.
Free Parent Guide
In conjunction with the website, Nickelodeon and Talking with Kids developed a free parent guide, which offers information on parent-child communication, and includes a “Talk Contract” that kids and parents can fill out together. It is available online, or free of charge through the campaign’s hotline.
Toll Free Hotline: Parents can call 1 800 CHILD 44 to receive the free guide.
Campaign-Related Materials
Awards