News from Federal Agencies

Comprehensive Resource from the Congressional Research Service on Financial Aid for Students

 

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has a report that includes both general and comprehensive financial aid resources, as well as ones targeted toward specific types of aid and circumstances (e.g., non-need-based scholarships; female and minority students; students studying abroad; or veterans, military personnel, and their dependents).  This is a great place for students and parents to begin their research on financial aid and planning for higher education.

 

Please click here to to view the CRS Report.

 

Social Security Field Offices to Begin Closing to the Public a Half Hour Early
Congressional Budget Cuts Force Reduced Public Hours

Press release from the Social Security Administration:

Effective August 15, 2011, Social Security field offices nationwide will close to the public 30 minutes early each day.  For example, a field office that is usually open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will close daily at 3:30 p.m.
“While agency employees will continue to work their regular hours, this shorter public window will allow us to complete face-to-face service with the visiting public without incurring the cost of overtime for our employees,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security.  “Congress provided our agency with nearly $1 billion less than the President requested for our budget this fiscal year, which makes it impossible for us to provide the amount of overtime needed to handle service to the public as we have in the past.”   
Most Social Security services do not require a visit to an office.  For example, anyone wishing to apply for benefits, sign up for direct deposit, replace a Medicare card, obtain a proof of income letter or inform us of a change of address or telephone number may do so at www.socialsecurity.gov or by dialing our toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
 

$500 Million for Race To The Top-Early Learning Challenge

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new $500 million state-level grant competition, the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. Joining Duncan and Sebelius at the announcement were business, law enforcement and military leaders who have advocated for increased investments in early learning to reduce crime, strengthen national security, and boost U.S. competitiveness.

Read more.

 

Uninsured Americans with Pre-existing Conditions Continue to Gain Coverage through Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today made new resources available to the media, consumer groups, states, health care providers, and others to increase awareness of the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), a health plan for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions created by the Affordable Care Act.

 Read more.

 

FEMA's Efforts for Children

Below are some resources provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance and information for children.

• FEMA's Childrens Working Group
• FEMA Youth Prepardness
• U.S. Fire Administration Website for Kids

 

FDA Commissioner's Fellowship Program

The FDA offers a two-year Fellowship Program, which provides an opportunity for health professionals and scientists to receive training and experience at the FDA. Fellows will train at FDA's White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland or at other FDA facilities. Salaries are extremely competitive, and travel funds are available to attend scientific meetings.  The FDA is accepting applications until Midnight EST on February 15, 2011.

For additional information and how to apply, please visit the FDA Commissioner's Fellowship Program website.

 

HHS- Fish Oil and Alzheimer's

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Could fish oil slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease? There has been hope, based on indications that people who ate one fatty acid in fish oil – DHA – had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s. But a closer look in a more rigorous study does not offer hope from DHA for people who already have Alzheimer’s.

Researchers at 51 centers examined data on more than 400 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. At Oregon Health and Science University, researcher Joseph Quinn:

``We were not able to confirm any benefit of this particular omega-3 fatty acid for people who have Alzheimer’s disease.’’ (8 seconds)

The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/healthbeat/2011/01/20110114a.html