FISA funds programs to reduce girls bullying

posted May 12, 2008
From all indications, bullying or "relational aggression" are on the rise among girls. Derry Area Middle School (Westmoreland County) took steps to pilot then adopt the Club Ophelia model for its middle school girls. This model is based upon the work of Cheryl Dellagesa. The Tribune Review provides additional information about the program: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_567035.html.

FISA funds gender-specific programs for girls that promote empowerment, mentoring, health and wellness, issues related to teen pregnancy, and the prevention of and intervention in abuse and violence.

FISA invites you to join the Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania!

posted May 12, 2008
FISA Foundation is one of the founders of The Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania (an emerging network of providers, funders, and community leaders dedicated to improving the lives of girls in our region). The Girls Coalition brings together people and resources to educate, advocate and network on behalf of girls.

If you care deeply about the future of the girls throughout the region, the Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania offers you a unique opportunity to Get Connected to colleagues who share your passionate commitment to the health and well-being of girls.

By becoming a member you will:
* Raise the profile of your organization through a detailed profile in the upcoming Resource Directory of Girl-Serving organizations;
* Post and promote your events on the Girls Coalition website;
* Reach Girls Coalition members with eblasts about your organization's monthly events and special opportunities;
* Learn about the latest information, resources, and trends about girls;
* Receive advanced notice for all Girls Coalition professional development and educational events
* Connect and collaborate with a network of like-minded agencies on projects, and amplify the regional profile of girls and girls' issues

Annual Dues are very reasonable:
$10 Student/low income
$25 Individual/Adult
$50 Organization with budget up to $1,000,000
$100 Organization with budget $1,000,000 and over

Request a copy of the Girls Coalition Membership Application from FISA!

New Links!

posted February 18, 2008
Take a moment to explore the resources highlighted in the "links" section of this website. Some very interesting recent updates include:

A new publication from the Girl Scouts Research Institute that explores girls' perceptions about leadership: Exploring Girls Leadership

Tips on promoting inclusion in children's programs: Including All Kids: Beyond Participation
www.includingallkids.org

And a virtual Museum of Disability History
www.museumofdisability.org

Advances to Dental Care for People with Disabilities

posted February 04, 2008
Adapted with permission from Pitt Dental Medicine Magazine: Making a Difference. Winter/Spring 2008.

Since the early 1970s, the School of Dental Medicine has served as a regional provider to patients with special needs. It was among the pioneers in education of special needs dentistry with the first independent Department of Anesthesiology and a clinic for children with disabilities.

This Spring the school will be dedicating a new Center for Patients with Special Needs, centralizing and increasing the capacity for the treatment of these patients.

The new center is an effort in the making since 2001. As established by Dean Thomas W. Braun, special needs dentistry is a chief priority of the School of Dental Medicine. This effort is aimed at expanding the pool of trained dental providers as well as making special needs dental care more widely available.

“Pitt has a strong tradition in exposing its students to the care of patients with special needs; our emphasis is to inculcate a sense of competency and obligation to every student who graduates from the University of Pittsburgh,” said Dr. Braun. “Our new facility will permit us to increase our capacity for treatment many times over, while permitting each fourth-year student to gain a level of comfort treating and caring for this special group of people.”

Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli, professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and senior associate dean, has organized a series of forums and seminars to increase awareness of special needs dentistry. An in-service, made possible by The Herbert G. Feldman Charitable Foundation in 2005, was conducted with the purpose of preparing faculty and staff for a greater commitment to special needs dentistry. Later that year, the school participated in a health care forum that was funded by Achieva and the FISA Foundation: Oral Health Care for People with Disabilities.

Most recently, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania supported a continuing education course to encourage dentists in the region to adapt their practices for special needs dentistry. The full-day course provided lectures on dental care for infants and children, adolescents and adults, and institutionalized geriatrics with special needs; pharmacological management of dental patients with disabilities; and disability law updates.

“The School of Dental Medicine traditionally has been committed to providing dental services to persons with disabilities,” said Dr. Ranalli.

In addition to renovating clinical space and promoting awareness of special needs dentistry, the dental school has recently hired two leaders and plans to hire additional faculty for the Center for Patients with Special Needs to further increase training and treatment opportunities.

Dr. Erik Scheifele
On December 1, the School of Dental Medicine welcomed Dr. Erik Scheifele as director of the Center for Patients with Special Needs and director of the Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program.

Dr. Scheifele earned his DMD from Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, Pa and attended residency at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colo. He worked as a pediatric dentist in a private practice in Lancaster, Pa. and previously served as an assistant professor in Pitt’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

“My exposure to special needs dentistry during my time at Pitt heightened my interest,” he said. Dr. Scheifele later returned to Temple University to accept a position as director of the Division of Pediatric Dentistry at the Kornberg School of Dentistry and ultimately as program director of Temple University’s Hospital Episcopal Campus Pediatric Dental Residency Program.

Dr. Scheifele assisted Special Smiles, Ltd., in the formation of a rotation for pediatric dental residents to increase the residents’ exposure to special needs dentistry.

“A big issue in education is the lack of knowledge by general dentists in the treatment of patients with special needs,” said Dr. Scheifele. “One of the problems with dental schools is that they have limited finances and a minimal number of faculty members. Students have specific requirements that they need to meet to graduate in a defined amount of time, so it is sometimes difficult to give them adequate experience to treat patients with special needs. That’s where Pitt’s clinic is a huge advantage for their students. By increasing the exposure of postgraduate residents, predoctoral, and dental hygiene students to patients with special needs, we can improve access to care for these patients.”

“Once the dental community realizes the potential of this clinic and the services we can offer, I hope we’ll have volunteers willing to donate their time and expertise to help treat our patients and educate our students.”

Dr. Joseph A. Giovannitti, Jr.
Dr. Joseph A. Giovannitti, Jr. (DMD ’77, BS ’74), was appointed as associate professor and director for anesthesia services for the Center for Patients with Special Needs in 2006.

As a child, Dr. Giovannitti knew he wanted to be a dentist after a visit with his orthodontist. He attended Pitt for his undergraduate education and applied for early admission to the School of Dental Medicine. Upon graduating in 1977, he enrolled in the Anesthesiology Residency Program and earned a certificate in dental anesthesiology in 1979. During this time he worked as an instructor in the Department of Anesthesiology and was appointed to clinical assistant professor in 1981.

He left for Dallas, Texas in 1982 where he operated an anesthesiology for dentistry practice and taught at Baylor College of Dentistry in the Department of Pharmacology. While at Baylor, Dr. Giovannitti developed the anesthesiology curriculum for predoctoral and graduate students at the college. He returned to Pitt in 2004.

Dr. Giovannitti recently reviewed the Commission on Dental Accreditation’s new standards for special needs dentistry education. “I think we’re really going to exceed those standards because of the exposure our students are getting to special needs dentistry,” he said.

Dr. Giovannitti has authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters pertaining to pain and anxiety control in dentistry, has lectured at professional seminars nationally and internationally, and is active in national dental anesthesiology professional organizations.

He is currently working on a handbook in conjunction with a pediatric psychiatrist about how to help families desensitize their autistic children when going to a dental clinic. “I would much rather work with patients with special needs than any other population, because from a personal standpoint, it is very rewarding,” said Dr. Giovannitti. “Some of our pediatric patients and patients with special needs can’t have their dental treatment without people like me and it feels really good to know I can help them.”

Many individuals and organizations have contributed to the growth and support of the Center for Patients with Special Needs. A University capital allocation was provided to renovate a portion of the third floor of Salk Hall for the new center. Among the contributors are Women’s Auxiliary to the Odontological Society of Western Pennsylvania, Islam Grotto, Special Olympics Special Smiles, FISA Foundation, Achieva, The Herbert G. Feldman Charitable Foundation, The Edith Trees Charitable Trust, The International College of Dentists, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, and individual alumni donors.

Side note:
In 2003, during the American Dental Association (ADA) accreditation site visit, the Departments of Pediatric Dentistry and Anesthesiology were awarded a commendation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. ADA accreditation standard defines patients with special needs as “those patients whose medical, physical, psychological, or social situations make it necessary to modify normal dental routines in order to provide dental treatment to that individual” including, but not limited, to people with developmental disabilities, complex medical problems, and significant physical limitations. According to a 2005 Journal of Dental Education article, there are more than 50 million U.S. residents who fit the ADA definition of individuals with special needs.

FISA Empowers Young Women to Combat Sexual Assault

posted January 04, 2008
Three young women from Shaler Area High School were shocked by the frequency of sexual assault and decided to do something about it. Together Jackie Betz, Megan Neuf and Erin Drischler started the M-POWERMENT project to engage other students in raising awareness that one in four girls will be raped or sexually assaulted by Thanksgiving break of their freshman year in college.

Initially the group wore and distributed arm bands that displayed the one in four statistic. As the project gained momentum they added other educational activities including a women's conference. Initial seed funding was provided by Girls as Grantmakers, a project supported by FISA, Women and Girls Foundation, Eden Hall Foundation and Jewish Women's Foundation. FISA is honored to award an additional $1,000 to the group in honor of these three young women who are winners of the 2008 Jefferson Award.

www.post-gazette.com/pg/08004/846512-51.stm