RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation today announced nominees for its 2013 Child Health Recognition Awards program, which is coordinated with the North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA) to showcase exceptional programs that improve the health and safety of North Carolina’s children. Programs ranging from dental screenings to teen pregnancy prevention to childhood mental health evaluations will be recognized in an award ceremony in Asheville, NC, on September 18th during the NCPHA Annual Meeting.

The nominees addressed evidenced-based issues of particular significance to the community being served and work in partnership with others to produce sustainable, improved health outcomes for children.

Nominees in the Lifetime Achievement Recognition category are individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to improving children’s health services through a series of achievements:

• Miriam Labbok, MD, MPH; Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, UNC Gillings School of Global and Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

• Mary Taylor, (retired) Cumberland County Health Department 

Nominees in the Individual Recognition category are individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to improving children’s health services through a single effort:

• Sherrilynn Little, Davidson County Health Department 

• Kristie Marr, Gaston County Health Department 

Nominees in the Public Health Staff Recognition category are full- or part-time employees or retirees of a local health department highlighting their service in preventive health activities in their local community:

• Jodi Massey, Granville Vance District Health Department 

• Susan Mauk, Mecklenburg County Health Department 

Nominees in the Local Health Department Recognition category highlight innovative programs producing measurable, sustainable outcomes:

• Alamance County Health Department, NC Project LAUNCH 

• Avery County Health Department, Children’s Dental Screening Program 

• Cumberland County Department of Public Health, Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Task Force 

• Dare County Department of Public Health, Coordinated School Health Program 

• Guilford County Department of Public Health, School Health Dental Program 

• Henderson County Department of Public Health, School and Community Gardens 

• New Hanover County Health Department, Early Childhood Mental Health Program 

• Wayne County Health Department, Children’s Health Programs 

A selection committee of healthcare professionals determines the award recipients. The 2013 Selection Committee includes:

Cindy B. Evans, RN-BC
Program Manager, Clinical Services
Wake County Human Services

Elizabeth Hudgins
Executive Director
Child Fatality Task Force

Kathleen Shapley-Quinn, MD
Medical Director
Alamance County Health Department

Gerri L. Mattson, MD, MSPH, FAAP
Pediatrician
Wake Human Services

About the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation

The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation is an independent self-funding 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supporting activities that help meet the educational and health needs of today's society and future generations. Since its creation in 1986, the foundation has granted over $61 million to support North Carolina projects and programs that emphasize the understanding and application of health, science and education at all academic and professional levels. Visit us at NCGSKFoundation.org and follow us @ncgskfound.

Contact:
Jennifer Armstrong
(215) 751-5664
Jennifer.L.Armstrong@gsk.com