Autism discussion slated for June 14

Ann Garfinkle, a nationally recognized expert on autism, will present a discussion on building an inclusive community June 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Capital High School auditorium.

The event is intended to help the community determine how to support people with autism and their families in the community.

The talk is free to the public. It is sponsored by Prickly Pear Educational Cooperative, Helena School District, PLUK, St. Peter's Hospital, Child Care Partnerships, Head Start, Carroll College, Developmental Disabilities Program, Department of Public Health and Human Services and Family Outreach.

For information call Brandi at 443-4608 or Helena School District at 324-2005.

Health Department offers eduction on serving food to public

To prevent food-borne illness, state law requires that people who serve food to the public contact their local health department prior to doing so, even for free or nonprofit events.

Sanitarians at the Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department evaluate menus and the plans for preparation of food. The department also provides education on food safety. There is no charge for nonprofit groups or fundraising events.

The Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department also offers a free food-safety class once a month, available to anyone. Call 4-HEALTH (443-2584) for more information. If you plan to provide food to the public, you should attend this class.

In addition to nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, food-borne illness can cause blood poisoning, inflammation of the lining of the brain, kidney failure, paralysis and death, especially in infants and children, elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immunity.

Preparing and serving food for a large group in a location other than what you are used to can be a real challenge. What can seem like an easy and fun activity has the potential to make lots of people sick.

For additional information on food safety and for the application for serving food to the public, click here. For applications to be mailed or e-mailed, call 443-2584.

UM professor to review federal grants for NIH

MISSOULA -- Kari Harris, an associate professor in the School of Public and Community Health Sciences at The University of Montana, soon will help decide which researchers get federal grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Harris has accepted an invitation to serve with the NIH Center for Scientific Review, which evaluates grant applications from across the nation for scientific merit. She will work in the Risk, Prevention and Intervention for Addictions Study Section. Her term will run from this July to June 30, 2012.

"Our rural state is unique," Harris said. "It is critical to have reviewers who understand the special needs and strengths that exist throughout Montana."

Toni Scarpa, director of the Center for Scientific Review, writes that study section members are selected on the basis of their competence and achievements in their scientific discipline as evidenced by their research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals and other significant achievements and honors.

In her own research, Harris holds an investigator award from the National Cancer Institute, which supports her study of smoking-related issues among college students.

New grants have extended this research to focus on Montana health concerns.