Access Update, October 2012

Monthly newsletter for the Iowa Department of Public Health

Access Update, December 2012

Monthly newsletter for the Iowa Department of Public Health

Iowa Highway Research Board FY 2012 Annual Report

This report, entitled ―Iowa Highway Research Board Research and Development Activities FY2012‖ is submitted in compliance with Sections 310.36 and 312.3A, Code of Iowa, which direct the submission of a report of the Secondary Road Research Fund and the Street Research Fund, respectively. It is a report of the status of research and development projects in progress on June 30, 2012. It is also a report on projects completed during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2012. Detailed information on each of the research and development projects mentioned in this report is available from the Office of Research and Analytics, Performance and Technology Division, Iowa Department of Transportation. All approved reports are also online for viewing at: www.iowadot.gov/operationsresearch/reports.aspx.

Immunization Update, Winter 2012

Monthly newsletter for the Iowa Department of Public Health

Iowa School Emergency Procedure Flip Chart, 2012

Basis fill in the blank flip chart for schools to use when planning or implementing an emergency. Produced by the Iowa Department of Education.

Department of Commerce - Iowa Utilities Board, Performance Report, Performance Results Achieved for Fiscal Year 2012

This report highlights the services the IUB provided to Iowans, along with results achieved to ensure reliability, and to improve and expand utility service infrastructure in Iowa. This information is provided in accordance with the State of Iowa Accountable Government Act, Iowa Code chapter 8E. The two basic business functions of the IUB are utility regulation and compliance, and resource management. This report covers performance information for both of these areas.

AMCHP Issue Brief, February 2012

Children and youth with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD) require a comprehensive array of medical, behavioral and developmental health services that are often inadequately covered under the current system of health coverage. This leaves children at risk for missed or delayed care and their families with significant financial burdens. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is designed to increase health coverage, improve benefits, and provide important new insurance protections for all Americans. Many of the law’s provisions will impact children, including those with ASD/DD, and will be implemented over time. This report, developed by The Catalyst Center at the Boston University School of Public Health, offers a brief description of selected provisions in the ACA that have implications for children with ASD/DD. It also describes how state Title V maternal and child health (MCH) programs can maximize opportunities under the ACA to develop and strengthen systems of care for children and youth with ASD/DD.

The Iowa Autism Council, August 7, 2012

Expansion of Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Elder Abuse Task Force Report Pursuant to HF 2387: An Act Relating to Improvements to and Implementation of Laws Concerning Elder Abuse

During its 2012 session, Iowa’s 84th General Assembly passed House File 2387. The bill was signed into law by Governor Branstad and mandated a review of occurrences of and laws relating to abuse, neglect, or exploitation of individuals who are sixty years of age or older. After conducting the review, the twenty-three member Elder Abuse Task Force presents the following recommendations. These recommendations build upon current Iowa law and practice for the purpose of protecting older Iowans from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Report Pursuant to SF 2336: An Act Relating to Appropriations for Health and Human Services

The department shall develop recommendations for an implementation schedule, including funding projections, for the substitute decision maker program created pursuant to chapter 231E, and shall submit the recommendations to the individuals identified in this Act for submission of reports by December 15, 2012.

Visualization Resources for Iowa State University and the Iowa DOT: An Automated Design Model to Simulator Converter, November 2012

This project developed an automatic conversion software tool that takes input a from an Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) MicroStation three-dimensional (3D) design file and converts it into a form that can be used by the University of Iowa’s National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) MiniSim. Once imported into the simulator, the new roadway has the identical geometric design features as in the Iowa DOT design file. The base roadway appears as a wireframe in the simulator software. Through additional software tools, textures and shading can be applied to the roadway surface and surrounding terrain to produce the visual appearance of an actual road. This tool enables Iowa DOT engineers to work with the universities to create drivable versions of prospective roadway designs. By driving the designs in the simulator, problems can be identified early in the design process. The simulated drives can also be used for public outreach and human factors driving research.

Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report - March 2013

Senate File 2314, 84th General Assembly, states the Iowa Department of Transportation shall submit quarterly reports regarding the implementation of efficiency measures identified in the “Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report,” January 2012. This report shall provide details of activities undertaken in the previous quarter relating to one-time and long-term program efficiencies and partnership efficiencies. Issues covered include savings realized from the implementation of particular efficiency measures; updates concerning measures that have not been implemented; efforts involving cities, counties, other jurisdictions, or stakeholder interest groups; any new efficiency measures identified or undertaken; and identification of any legislative action that may be required to achieve efficiencies.

Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report, June 30, 2013

Senate File 2314, 84th General Assembly, states the Iowa Department of Transportation shall submit quarterly reports regarding the implementation of efficiency measures identified in the "Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report," January 2012. This report shall provide details of activities undertaken in the previous quarter relating to one-time and long-term program efficiencies and partnership efficiencies. Issues covered include savings realized from the implementation of particular efficiency measures; updates concerning measures that have not been implemented; efforts involving cities, counties, other jurisdictions, or stakeholder interest groups; any new efficiency measures identified or undertaken; and identification of any legislative action that may be required to achieve efficiencies.

2012 Annual Compliance Report of the Iowa Public Drinking Water Program, June 2013.

This report contains information about Iowa's public drinking water program for the calendar year 2012. Included in the report are descriptions of Iowa's systems, monitoring and reporting requirements of the systems, and violations incurred during the year. This report meets the federal Safe Drinking Water Act's requirement of an annual report on violations of national primary drinking water regulations by public water supply systems in Iowa.

Toolbox of Countermeasures for Rural Two-Lane Curves, June 2012

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates that 58 percent of roadway fatalities are lane departures, while 40 percent of fatalities are single-vehicle run-off-road (SVROR) crashes. Addressing lane-departure crashes is therefore a priority for national, state, and local roadway agencies. Horizontal curves are of particular interest because they have been correlated with increased crash occurrence. This toolbox was developed to assist agencies address crashes at rural curves. The main objective of this toolbox is to summarize the effectiveness of various known curve countermeasures. While education, enforcement, and policy countermeasures should also be considered, they were not included given the toolbox focuses on roadway-based countermeasures. Furthermore, the toolbox is geared toward rural two-lane curves. The research team identified countermeasures based on their own research, through a survey of the literature, and through discussions with other professionals. Coverage of curve countermeasures in this toolbox is not necessarily comprehensive. For each countermeasure covered, this toolbox includes the following information: description, application, effectiveness, advantages, and disadvantages.