Economic revitalization efforts aimed at restoring vitality and improving the quality of life in inner city communities has challenged communities and political leaders for decades. Many revitalization efforts proved successful in bringing business, jobs and cultural life back to inner cities that experienced decline in population, jobs and business opportunities. However, many of these efforts only slowed the urban degeneration and the current fi nancial, political and social challenges make urban revitalization more problematic but by no means unachievable. New tools and approaches are proving that inner city neighborhoods can become healthy, safe and desirable places to live. Main Street Birmingham (MSB) and the City of Birmingham, under the leadership of Mayor William Bell, have partnered with the Jefferson County Department of Health, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the United Way of Central Alabama, the business community and non-profi t organizations to address the economic and public health issues facing residents in Birmingham. A major component of this collaborative approach to urban revitalization is focused on improving public health through improving the environment and providing all citizens with “access to healthy food choices”. A study conducted this summer by Mari Gallagher clearly illustrates the relationship between the food environment and individual diet. Communities with no or limited access to grocery stores and other sources to fresh produce have been termed “Food Deserts”. Research has shown that food desert conditions greatly contribute to poor nutrition for residents and to the rising rates of obesity and diet-related chronic illnesses. The negative effects of “food deserts” are more pronounced in low-income communities where residents often face additional barriers to accessing nutritious foods and other services necessary for a healthy life.

Using examples implemented in other cities Main Street Birmingham (MSB) is working with its partners to utilize the food economy as a catalyst to spur additional economic development and to address the public health issue caused by lack of access to healthy foods. This method has proven successful in providing healthy food access while creating jobs for local residents and investment opportunities for food retailers and other businesses. Neighborhoods in Nashville, Louisville, Oakland, CA, and Charlotte, NC have become more active and revitalized using food as an anchor. As I have been told many times since we embarked on this project, “everybody has to eat”. This fact makes the food economy one of the largest industries in the world. The production, transportation, retail and consumption of food generate trillions of dollars in economic expenditures around the world each year. Over 36% of every retail dollar spent in Jefferson County in 2009 was spent on food. However, these expenditures and the jobs they support are disproportionately distributed. Our goal is to establish sustainable retail food establishments that create jobs for local residents and retain some of the economic benefi ts from those expenditures in the community.

To accomplish this goal, we identifi ed the neighborhoods that are affected by “food desert” conditions and quantifi ed the scope of the problem. The next step is to measure the economic demand and the buying power of the households in the affected communities. All this information will be freely shared with community groups, political leaders, grocers and investors. Armed with this information we will form local partnerships in communities with residents and community leaders to establish the right mix of sustainable retail outlets that can serve the needs of the community. The fi rst step in this process has already been accomplished. With funding support from The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and Wells Fargo Bank, MSB recently completed a Food Desert study. The results from this study helped to verify the existence of “food deserts” in Birmingham and quantify the number of Birmingham residents affected by food desert conditions. We learned that of the 83,000 residents in Birmingham affected by food desert conditions, more than 23,000 are children. We also learned that food desert conditions were not limited to low-income communities but also exist in many of our more affl uent communities. MSB is working with two nationally known non-profi t organizations to eliminate these food deserts and the inequities that result from them. We are now better able to understand the social, demographic and economic dynamics of underserved communities. Birmingham is working with Social Compact, a non-profi t organization that uses its Neighborhood Market “DrillDown” analytic tool to accurately measure community economic indicators. These indicators more accurately describe the size (population), strength (income and buying power), stability (homeownership and residential investment) and investment opportunity of a given market than traditionally used datasets. We are also working with Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a non-profi t organization that works in communities to help people create and sustain public markets. PPS defi nes public markets as markets which operate in or as a public space, feature locally-owned and operated businesses and have a broader public purpose, such as neighborhood revitalization or improving community health. A successful public market is more than just a farmers market and can become a catalyst for economic development and offer a variety of places to shop, live, become more physically active and be entertained in the community. Community participation is the key ingredient to the long-term success for this ambitious city-wide economic revitalization effort. MSB is currently meeting with grocers, neighborhood leaders, farmers and community organizations. Discussions are ongoing with the City of Birmingham to determine how best to incentivize retail businesses to expand into “food deserts”. Other partners are working to improve the built environment with parks, sidewalks and bike trails as well as educating the public on the benefi ts of preparing and consuming a more healthy diet. At the November 12, 2010 Birmingham “Food Summit”, we will discuss our study results, share ideas, consider solutions and set goals for the future. Community leaders, students, residents, political leaders and potential investors are all invited to participate and play a role in this effort to improve the quality of life and insure that all Birmingham residents have access to healthy foods.

White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar, is a great and inexpensive way to clean your home. It is also a greener alternative to chemically-based products because it’s better for the environment. You may begin by buying an inexpensive spray bottle (24-36 oz.) and mix a solution of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water. You can use this solution to clean all most all areas of your home. Vinegar is not only a great all-purpose cleaner, but a deodorizer and disinfectant, as well. Please note: vinegar that isn’t properly diluted can eat away tile grout (remember, it is acidic!) and should never be used on marble surfaces. You may be worried about your house reeking of vinegar. Not to worry! The smell disappears once it dries. Here are some uses of white vinegar for your home, broken down by area.

KITCHEN
Use your “all-purpose” vinegar water solution to clean:

• Stovetop
• Appliances
• Countertops
• Sinks

Other ways vinegar can be used in the kitchen:

• Floor (linoleum and wood)-Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to a warm bucket of water. Remember, the vinegar smell will go away after it dries, but you can add about 15 drops of your favorite essential oil to your bucket for fragrance. My suggestions are: lavender, lemon, pine and eucalyptus.
• Garbage disposal- you can make full- strength white vinegar ice cubes by pouring white vinegar into an ice cube tray. Pour several cubes down the disposal while fl ushing with cold water. This will not only clean and deodorize the disposal, but also kill mold and bacteria.
• Microwave- in a microwave dish, add 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of vinegar and heat i tfor 3-4 minutes. Once you’re done, stuck on grease and food should come off easily
• Dishwasher- you may clean and deodorize your dishwasher by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the empty dishwasher and run the short cycle. You may also add vinegar to your rinse dispenser instead of using Jet Dry!

BATHROOM
Use your “all-purpose” vinegar-water solution to clean hard-water stains and soap scum from:

• Bathtubs
• Sinks
• Shower
• Toilet

Other white vinegar cleaning tips for the bathroom:

1. For stubborn stains, you may use full-strength white vinegar.
2. To make chrome sink fi xtures shine (dulled from lime buildup) use a paste of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
3. Really like scouring cleaners? Make your own by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon of your favorite eco-friendly liquid detergent. Add a few capfuls of white vinegar to give it a creamy think texture.
4. For gunky/stinky drains, clean and deodorize by pouring 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of hot white distilled vinegar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then run hot water down the drain.

CARPETS AND FLOORS
For general cleaning of high-traffi c/problem areas on carpets or rugs, use a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Use a sponge to lightly press the solution into carpet, rinse then blot dry with a towel/rag. Let the carpet dry before using the area. For carpet stains, white vinegar can be the answer to your prayers! Here’s a list of most common stains and how best to remove them:

• Chewing gum: Moms will love this one! To get rid of chewing gum stuck in carpet (or any cloth) saturate the area with white vinegar and let it sit for about 4-5 minutes (you can heat the vinegar for faster results). Then carefully pull the gum off.
• Ink: Immediately treat ink stains by blotting and spraying the stained area with hairspray. Once the ink spot is gone, use a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water on the area to remove the sticky hairspray.
• Red Wine: Immediately blot all moisture up from the spill, then sprinkle the area with salt. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. The salt will absorb the wine in the carpet (turning the stain pink). Next, clean the entire area with a combination of 1/3 cup vinegar and 2/3 cup water.
• Mildew: When mildew gets in a rug, it fl ourishes and grows. Kill it with a half white distilled vinegar, half water solutions. Make sure the rug dries completely. You can use a hairdryer on the low setting to speed up drying time.

HARD-SURFACE FLOORS
You can make hard-surfaced fl oors sparkle by using white distilled vinegar.
Check out the following tips:

1. Wood- Add a cup of white vinegar to a gallon bucket of water and mop hardwood fl oors lightly (don’t saturate). You don’t have to rinse. Now your fl oors will be shiny and greasy buildup will be removed.
2. Ceramic tile- Add 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon water and mop to make these fl oors sparkle.
3. Vinyl/Linoleum- You may scrub these fl oors with a mixture of 1cup white vinegar and 1 gallon of water. For extra shine, use club soda. For extra tough stains on linoleum fl oors, apply full-strength white distilled vinegar and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before wiping it up. For additional cleaning power, add a sprinkle of baking soda over the white vinegar.

For the full article containing more tips on cleaning with vinegar, please visit Life The Green Way at: www.lifethegreenway.org.

THE BUILDING BLOCKS
Stocks have historically delivered a high long-term return, but a very bumpy ride along the way. Bonds don’t fl uctuate as dramatically in the short run, but in the long run they’ve barely outpaced infl ation. Cash is the least volatile investment—it won’t keep you up nights—but it pays the lowest long-term return. The right combination of these assets helps create a portfolio with the potential to provide the long-term return you need without more short-term risks than you can comfortably handle.

SELECT YOUR INVESTMENTS AND ADJUST ANNUALLY
Most investors don’t need dozens of investments in the mix. You can build a well-diversifi ed portfolio with just fi ve or six-well chosen ones. A suitable retirement-savings portfolio might include large- and small-cap US bonds, foreign stocks, short-to intermediate-term bonds and cash holdings. Your allocation changes over time due to the ups and downs of the investment markets. Consider rebalancing at least once a year to get back on your chosen course. Then, just let time, steady contributions and tax-deferred compounding work together to help grow your nest egg.

INVESTING IN SYNC
A couple’s asset allocation strategy should encompass all their retirement investments workplace accounts as well as personal savings and investment accounts. Couples may want to coordinate all their accounts to fi t a single strategy. First, decide on your overall investment mix—for example, 60% stocks, 30% bonds and 10% cash. Then, think about how to implement that strategy using investments offered through your workplace plans. If you and your spouse can’t afford to make the maximum contribution to both your plans, take full advantage of the better plan after evaluating them for such features as company matching contributions and quality of investment options.
Think about your respective job situations, too. For example, a company requires a set length of employment before employer-contributed money to a retirement account is fully owned by the plan participant (a process known as vesting). If only one of you expects to stay in his or her current job long enough to be vested, that 401(k) plan is the one to favor.

DEBIT CARD CAUTIONS
Don’t assume a debit card won’t let you spend more than you have in your checking account. Most banks provide automatic overdraft protection on debit-card purchases. Each time you use the card to spend more than your current account balance, the bank okays a payment instead of rejecting the transaction and may charge you up to $35 per overdraft. Up until now, it’s been easy to incur several charges in one day if your balance is lower than you realized (perhaps because a check you deposited hasn’t yet cleared). All those fees can be budget busters, and that money could be going into your 401(k) account instead. But starting this summer, the Federal Reserve will require that your bank obtain your consent before it adds overdraft protection to your debit card. If you’re worried about overdrafts, consider a cheaper alternative—linking your savings and checking accounts.

More Americans will make a key decision in the coming months on what to do with their retirement funds. Some are retiring, some are switching jobs and others have been laid off during the current economic downturn. If you are a member of this growing group, you have several choices for handling the vested portion of your 401(k) or 403(b) account.

ROLL ASSETS INTO AN IRA
Benefi ts: For most people, this approach has the most advantages. Your money can continue to grow tax-deferred. You may expand investment choices beyond those offered by your employer sponsored plan and are no longer subject to the plan’s rules or restrictions. You also avoid possible withdrawal penalties and have the opportunity to combine multiple accounts. In 2010, you will have the option of converting your assets to Roth IRA without income limitations. Drawback: Unlike some company retirement plans, you cannot borrow money from an IRA.

REMAIN IN YOUR OLD PLAN
Benefits: Your money continues to grow tax-deferred and you avoid possible withdrawal penalties. If you wish, you can keep your assets in the same investments. Drawback: Plan restrictions and rules still apply. If your balance is between $1000 and $5000, it might be rolled into an
IRA selected by your former employer. If your balance is $1000 or less, your former employer may cash out the account.

CASH OUT BENEFITS
You will have money in hand to take care of current needs. Drawbacks: Unless you hold a Roth or other after-tax account, your distribution will be fully taxable and your employer must withhold 20% of the taxable portion of your distribution for federal income taxes. State and local taxes may also apply, as well as 10% early withdrawal penalty if you are under age 55 at the time you leave the company. Roth account withdrawals remain tax-free. If the account was established at least fi ve years before and you have reached the age of 59 and one-half, withdrawals due to disability or death are also not penalized.

NOT JUST FOR KIDS
A 529 plan can help adults going back to school meet the expenses associated with doing so. Even if you plan on enrolling in the near future, a conservative investment approach within a 529 college savings plan may make sense. That’s because earnings on plan investments—unlike earnings on taxable investments or interest on CDs are exempt from state and federal income taxes if used to pay for qualifi ed educational expenses.

NOT JUST FOR COLLEGE
Assets in a 529 college savings plan can be used to pay expenses associated with numerous forms of higher education, not just tuition at four-year universities. You can use proceeds from a 529 plan to pay for tuition, books, supplies, computer equipment and services and certain other fees and expenses at a community college or trade school as well as for technical training and continuing education. The list of eligible educational institutions can be found at the Department of Education’s website.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
Assets in a 529 plan can be moved among family members’ 529 accounts without triggering state or federal taxation. This allows for some fl exibility should changing circumstances call for it. Of course, most fi nancial plans have been developed to meet the long-term goals, so modifi cations should be made only after consulting your fi nancial advisor. Since there are other potential tax considerations, you should also speak with a tax advisor before acting. Economic and market volatility should not cause us to deviate from our long-term
investment strategy. Fortunately, 529 college savings plans can help you meet the needs you planned for as well as those you never expected.

The Wachovia Bank branch on Bessemer Super Highway in Bessemer was donated to Lawson State Community College. This branch will serve the students and neighboring community. The building will be used as a community center offering fi nancial planning, wellness programs and health-care outreach.

Wachovia donated its former Ensley Office to the Birmingham Homeownership Center. This six-year federally–approved housing agency specializes in helping first–time homebuyers purchase and retain
homes. This organization has a successful track record of assisting people with home purchase and foreclosure issues.

This organization also has been supported through the Wachovia foundation for their foreclosure efforts and home purchase efforts. The organization is also a financial education partner for Wells Fargo.

A fi nal property was transferred to Neighborhood Housing Services of
Birmingham. Wachovia was already allowing the agency to use the Centennial Place building in the downtown area. The group has been in operation for 40 years, and helps low-income families build net worth by assisting with the details of securing a mortgage and buying a home.

Neighborhood Housing Services is an official fi nancial education partner of Wells Fargo, and the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation has supported the financial education, pre-purchase education programs and foreclosure efforts through $80,000 in grants in 2008 and 2009. Wachovia also provides volunteer support for fi nancial education workshops in addition to funding.

The Foundation is pleased to report that ‘Mission Africa 2009’ was a great success! The Mission consisted of three parts: Medical Mission Africa 2009, Educational Mission 2009, and Youth Empowerment Mission 2009.

Medical Mission Africa 2009 led by Dr. MgBodile was conducted in December. This marked the foundation’s fi rst project, raising fi nancial and other resources, toward improving access to basic medical care. About half of the resources raised by the foundation were used to provide, among other things, one week of free medical clinics in three villages in Enugu state of Nigeria: Abor, Ukana and Awhum. Medical services were provided to over 1,000 people using existing church buildings, schools, village squares, and other facilities. Activities included free medical screenings, treatment of minor illnesses, and referrals for people experiencing serious medical problems. The MRF used local doctors, nurses and medical students, with most of these professionals providing services at no cost.

Education Mission 2009: The foundation met with the local school offi cials and visited with the children to help understand the challenges these students face every day. It was established that the school needs books, basic supplies, visual aides, windows, a roof over part of the school needs repair, and other basic school equipment. Following this meeting, the foundation decided to concentrate efforts to provide school scholarships; books for core courses (reading, writing, and math ); visual aides for core courses, and other basic school supplies. The foundation’s focus, for children in grades K-6, will be on increasing children’s mastery of basic reading, writing, and math skills; raising student academic expectations and self-esteem; and empowering parents to develop effective mentoring relationships with their children. For children and adolescents in grades 7-12, the focus will be on providing remedial instruction for students performing below grade level. This will help prepare these learners to take the West African Examination Certifi cate (WAEC) and increase the odds that they will pass it. We will assist the teachers in preparing lessons and teaching materials for the children by providing four ‘netbook’ or ‘laptop’ computers and other supplies.

Youth Empowerment Mission 2009: Dr. MgBodile met with nearly 400 youths from the surrounding villages to talk about challenges they are facing with finding work, attending school, and other life issues. They expressed concerns that their villages could not provide
them with a future. There are few local jobs and they are limited options for them to seek higher education due to lack of funds. Given so few choices, these youths have been leaving the villages for the larger cities where they try to fi nd jobs and to attend school. Often they do not secede and have to return to the village feeling disheartened. It soon became clear that these youths felt defeated and trapped. Dr. MgBodile challenged them to become active leaders within their community, to help one another raise funds for school, start their own business, and to be mentors and role models for the younger children in the village. At the conclusion of the meeting these youths had agreed to form a committee to work towards establishing an annual Youth Symposium and to sponsor participation in the annual AYA Pageant (it has been over 2 decades since youths of the village have participated in this Pageant.) The foundation will continue to provide guidance and couching, help them raise funds for the Youth Symposium and Workshop, provide business start-up grants, and work with local business leaders to establish a youth vocational On-The-Job training program.

If the need arises and you have difficulty paying your Alagasco bill, we want to help you. We offer our customers a variety of assistance programs and payment options.

THIRD-PARTY NOTIFICATION allows customers to
designate a person or an agency for Alagasco to contact on behalf of an account holder before disconnecting service for non-payment. Please contact Alagasco via e-mail or call 1-800-292-4008 to speak with a representative to name the person or agency for third party notification.

CUSTOMER CHARGE WAIVERS are available to customers who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).These customers will not be billed a monthly customer charge if eligibility requirements are met. Please call 1-800-292-4008 and a representative will give you instructions on how to apply for this program.

LIHEAP or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federal program that provides financial assistance to help
low-income individuals pay their energy bills. In Alabama, LIHEAP is administered by several community resource agencies and is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. To apply for LIHEAP assistance or to learn more about the program, contact a community resource agency
in your area.

PROJECT SHARE (Service to Help Alabamians with Relief on Energy) is a program administered by The Red Cross and
is co-sponsored by Alagasco. The relief is funded by utility customers’ monthly donations. Project SHARE is available to customers who are age 62 or older on low, fixed incomes with no other source of funds and those with disabilities who, for health reasons, cannot keep up a normal family income. To apply for assistance, please contact the American Red Cross office in your county.

The TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF (TDD) gives speech and hearing impaired customers the ability to communicate with us around the clock. If you need to contact us through this device, call Alabama Relay toll free at 1-800-548-2547 from anywhere in Alabama.

VISUALLY IMPAIRED customers can request large print or Braille bills. This is a free service.

The AVERAGE MONTHLY BILLING PLAN calculates the
amount you pay each month based on an average of your last 12 months of usage. To fully benefit, customers are encouraged to remain on the Plan year-round. Contact Alagasco to see if you are eligible for the Average Monthly Billing Plan.

INDIVIDUAL PAYMENT PLANS are available to customers having difficulty paying their gas bills. Alagasco will attempt
to make payment arrangements that are satisfactory to both the customer and the company. Contact Alagasco on the web or by phone to find out if your account qualifies for payment arrangements.

AUTHORIZED PAYMENT AGENTS Alagasco offers its
customers several options for paying their bill in person. We have contracted with businesses in your community to provide bill payment services. These agents offer customers the ability to pay their Alagasco bill after normal office hours and on weekends.

Your Alagasco bill stub is helpful though not necessary; however, your account number is required. There is a convenience fee for each payment transaction. Alagasco receives no portion of this fee.

To find the location nearest you, go to www.payagent.alagasco.
com. Enter your ZIP code for a listing of agents in your area.

DEFINITION An advocate is someone who speaks on behalf of someone else. In some cases, advocates are simply passionate volunteers, while in other instances, they may have received explicit training, and they are paid by their clients, or by organizations. Working with an advocate can be very valuable for someone who is trying to navigate an experience, with which he or she is unfamiliar, and the advocate may be able to attain more rights and other forms of support than someone would be able to obtain alone.

In households where children are treated with self-respect and justice, their number one advocates are their parents. Parents may mediate at schools, in relationships with friends, or in many other ways. Children are, to a degree, voiceless, and they need the loving safeguard of their parents to get the best care and remain safe. These are the amateur advocates, but many are quite skilled in making decisions in the best interest of their children.

Another group of advocates for children includes teachers, and again, they have to be skilled teachers that are working in the best interest of their students. They may actually advocate for students rights with parents. Both parent and teacher advocates must work hard to fi nd contented mediums where child development and child well-being are synonymous.

At the school setting, others advocate for children too, including those who take part in special education evaluation. A child advocate at this level can examine particular strengths and advocate for or recommend modifi cations to curriculum or accommodations that may help that child learn better in the school setting. There are a number of important people involved in the advocacy process. They are considered stakeholders. This includes family members, guardians, children and educators.

ORGANIZATIONS There are a number of organizations that support children who cannot speak for themselves and families that need help speaking for them. They include the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, the Alabama Association for Young Children, the National Black Child Development Institute, and the Council for Exceptional Children. All of these organizations serve to support children, families, educators and communities in making education and life overall better for children regardless of race, ability or socioeconomic status. Families have help in speaking for their children and these organizations are truly invested in the communities in which they are located.

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT Dr. Ursula Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education and Birth through Age Five Program Coordinator at the University of West Georgia. Her research agenda includes issues of cultural mediation and its effects on instructional choices, the power of teacher educator research on diversity in the classroom, views of social justice in the early childhood classroom, and preservice teachers’ disposition on professionalism and diversity in teacher preparation programs.

REFERENCES De Vita, Carol J., Eric C. Twombly, Maria D. Montilla. 2002. “Toward Better Child Care Worker Compensation: Advocacy in Three States.” Final report prepared for the Foundation for Child Development, Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute, http://www.urban.org.

RESOURCES
http://www.4children.org/
http://www.advocatesforchildren.org/
http://voices4.org/http://www.voices.org/organizations/
http://www.naeyc.org/policy/advocacy
http://www.adap.net/
http://www.alabamaayc.com/
http://www.nbcdi.org
http://www.afcec.org/

The Clinics take an interdisciplinary approach and involve faculty from pediatrics, psychiatry, nursing, psychology, speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, special education, nutrition, dentistry, optometry, and social work. The clinical facility is located in downtown Birmingham on 20th Street South in the Community Health Services Building.
The Autism Psychopharmacology Clinic provides pharmacology management and serves children of all ages with ASD. The initial evaluation includes a review of medical and psychiatric issues that affect the symptomatology of autism.

Dr. LaTamia Green in Autism Psychopharmacology Clinic

Medications are used to decrease aggressive, repetitive and disruptive behavior. Follow-up visits are scheduled every four to six weeks to evaluate medication effi cacy. During each visit a biopsychosocial update is obtained to monitor their progress.

LaTamia White Green, MD is the Medical Director of the Civitan-Sparks Clinics and Assistant Professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division. She has worked with children with various developmental disorders, including autism, for over ten years. Her clinical interests include autism and other developmental disorders with her research focus being on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently, she directs the Autism Psychopharmacology Clinic at the Civitan-Sparks Clinics and participates in the Children’s Behavioral Health Clinic located at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. As the parent of a fi fteen-year-old son with high-functioning autism, Dr. Green speaks at various parent groups as an advocate for children with autism spectrum disorders and works with various organizations to improve services in the mental health fi eld for children with autism.

Valisia Davis with an autism client.

She is a member of Governor Bob Riley’s Alabama Autism Task Force, the statewide Needs Assessment Team, and the subcommittee that examined medical interventions for children with ASD. She is a member of Collaboration for Autism Research, Education, and Service (CARES), consisting of faculty and staff from various departments at UAB who are dedicated to working specifi cally in the area of ASD. Valisia Davis, RN, MSN, CRNP is Pediatric Nurse Practitioner to Dr. Green in the Civitan-Sparks Autism Psychopharmacology Clinic. Her background includes working with children with various developmental disorders over the past three years at the Civitan-Sparks Clinics. She was the primary nurse practitioner in the Sparks Autism Diagnostic Clinic from 2006 to 2009, and worked in the Sparks Pediatric Clinic evaluating the medical needs of children with typical development as well as those with developmental disorders.

Parent and child in Autism Psychopharmacology Clinic

Ms. Davis is a member of CARES. She is a Clinical Instructor for undergraduate students in the UAB School of Nursing and, through the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) which is an interdisciplinary leadership training program federally funded through HRSA’s Maternal Child Health Bureau, she mentors nurse practitioner students at the graduate level who receive stipends. In July 2010, Ms. Davis completed “Diversity in MCH Training: A Peer Collaborative” which was an intensive 9-month collaborative peer learning process in which a small number of highly motivated grantees were provided a structured and safe environment to address challenges to racial and ethnic diversity within their Training Program.

Cynthia Helms, BM is Administrative Associate to Dr. Green, scheduling new patient and return appointments for the Civitan-Sparks Autism Psychopharmacology Clinic. Additionally, she performs administrative duties for the Medical Director and the Senior Staff Leadership Team of the Civitan-Sparks Clinics.