Under Missouri’s Graduated Drivers License Law, seat belt use is required for young drivers. It is a primary offense. Unfortunately 40 percent of Missouri teens don’t buckle up. Law enforcement will be out in full force March 15-31 to crack down on unbelted drivers and save lives.

One in four Missouri traffic crashes involves a young driver. Between 2007 and 2009, 304 teens (15-19) were killed in traffic crashes. Of those killed, 72 percent were unbuckled.
“Many drivers take the attitude that ‘it will never happen to me,’ especially teens, but fatal crashes happen every day to all types of people,” said Leanna Depue, chair of the executive committee of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. “Law enforcement will ticket teens who aren’t buckled up.”

Missouri will also continue to educate teens on the importance of buckling up through statewide seat belt programs, such as the Get Your Buckle On campaign, Battle of the Belt program and Team Spirit.

Sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, the Get Your Buckle On educational campaign encourage teens to visit getyourbuckleon.com and submit a seatbelt dance reminding teens to click it.

“The best way to reach teens is through their peers,” said Depue. “We’re asking teens to help save the lives of their friends by reminding them to buckle up every time they get in a car.”

The Get Your Buckle On campaign begins March 8 and runs through March 28. It will include TV, radio and Internet advertising.

Visit getyourbuckleon.com to hear and download the original song, upload videos of your dance, download additional videos or find out more. Get your buckle on and ARRIVE ALIVE.

Jane Kelly REMAX Lake of the Ozarks Becomes CADV/VOC's Top Supporter Through NAP Tax Credit Program

Through a sizeable donation that utilizes tax credits awarded to Citizens Against Domestic Violence/Victim Outreach Center (CADV/VOC), REMAX Lake of the Ozarks Realtor Jane Kelly has become CADV/VOC¹s largest financial supporter of the 2009 tax year.

When Kelly meets with her accountant each year, she asks for information on local tax credits. This year, she learned that 70 percent Missouri state tax credits from the Missouri Department of Economic Development¹s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) had been awarded to CADV/VOC. Any business owner who owes Missouri state tax and would like to donate $100 or more to the CADV/VOC New Building Fund can claim the credits. The CADV/VOC can give out credits totaling up to $297,518 through the NAP tax credit program.

The credits give back to the giver. With the 70 percent NAP tax credit, a business owner who makes a $1,000 donation to the CADV/VOC receives a $700 tax credit on their state income tax. In addition to claiming the state tax credit, business owners can also claim a Federal Charitable Contribution for the same donation. Depending on what tax bracket the business owner falls under, that $1,000 donation could end up costing less than $300 to the business owner after the tax credits have been applied.

CADV/VOC, a not-for-profit domestic violence shelter and sexual assault response center, serves Miller, Morgan and Camden counties and has been close to Kelly's heart for more than 30 years. During her 20s, a time when people didn't talk about abuse and when most women didn't know where to turn for help, Kelly knew personally of friends who experienced domestic abuse.

When CADV/VOC first opened for business in 1985, Kelly's close friend, a counselor for the organization, constantly reached out to Kelly for resources.

"She would constantly call me and say there is a person who needs help, who needs a home rental, who needs furniture, or appliances," Kelly explains. "She saved so many lives."

Kelly's friend passed away many years ago following childbirth, but Kelly has remained loyal to the organization in order to carry on her friend's legacy. This is the third time Kelly has taken advantage of state tax credits to support a local organization, and she sees it as a way to take care of people in the community.

"I want to be able to direct where my tax dollars go, and that is the beautiful thing about tax credits," Kelly says. "If you plan to pay your taxes anyway, and most people do, this is a way for you to direct your tax dollars into an organization that you know, respect, and have a connection to."

To date, the CADV/VOC has received $120,476 in NAP-eligible donations and awarded $66,334 in tax credits to donors. The CADV/VOC has $213,184 in tax credits left to give to donors.
For more information on claiming a tax credit through CADV/VOC, call (573) 346-9630 or (888) 809-SAFE.

About CADV/VOC: Citizens Against Domestic Violence/Victim Outreach Center (CADV/VOC) is a grassroots organization that was started in 1985 by a group of concerned citizens. CADV/VOC received non-profit status in 1985 and became a member of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence, now Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCADSV).

Over the last 20 years, CADV/VOC has assisted thousands of victims and their children through their shelter and outreach services. In 2008, CADV/VOC provided first-time services to 137 women, one man and 188 child victims of domestic and/or sexual violence, answered 344 hotlines, and provided 1,623 nights of safe shelter. www.cadvshelter.com

Gov. Jay Nixon’s office recognized youth leadership teams from around the state for their contributions to promoting safe driving habits among youth in their communities March 2 at the Capital Plaza Hotel.

A special proclamation was awarded to 11 Missouri high schools. Barb Shimmens, director of constituent services for Gov. Nixon, presented the proclamation. The youth teams were in Jefferson City March 1-2 for a Team Spirit Reunion. The two-day reunion included workshops and presentations about traffic safety.

Team Spirit is a statewide program sponsored by the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division that is committed to empowering youth to take an active role in preventing alcohol and other drug use and the impaired driving that accompanies such use.

After an initial training session, Team Spirit youth create and implement action plans addressing underage drinking, drinking and driving, driver inattention, and promoting safety belt use through events and activities to be implemented within their schools and communities. The two-day reunion provides the teams the opportunity to share ideas with other teams and gain additional knowledge.

“One in four Missouri traffic crashes involves drivers under the age of 21,” said Leanna Depue, director of Highway Safety. “Team Spirit gives students the skills to impact their peers in a very positive way.”

Team Spirit is available to all schools in Missouri. For more information about how your school can become involved in this program call 1-800-800-BELT (2358).

Youngsters around the country will celebrate Endangered Species Day 2010 by
entering the Endangered Species Art contest. The art contest is part of the
fifth annual national Endangered Species Day, celebrated on and around May 21,
2010.

The Endangered Species Day Art Contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/University of New Orleans. The
deadline to enter is March 26.

Winners will be chosen in four age categories (K-Grade 2, Grades 3-6, Grades
7-9, Grades 10-12), and the winning artwork will be displayed at the Ogden
Museum/ University of New Orleans. One national winner will be honored at a
reception in Washington, D.C., and the winner’s name will be engraved on a
special trophy. Initial judging will be conducted by the Ogden Museum of
Southern Art, a Smithsonian Affiliate. The final winners will be chosen by a
national panel of artists, educators, scientists and others.

Artwork should highlight one or more endangered species—mammal, bird, reptile,
amphibian, fish, plant, and/or invertebrate (insect, spider, snail, coral,
crustacean or clam)—found in the United States. Entrants are encouraged to
depict species local species.

Endangered Species Day is a celebration of our nation’s wildlife and wild
places. Started in 2006 by the United States Congress, Endangered Species Day
is the third Friday of May. The 5th Anniversary of Endangered Species Day will
be celebrated on May 21, 2010. Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for
young and old to learn about the everyday actions that people can take to help
protect our nation's disappearing wildlife and last remaining wild places.
For more information on the contest and a list of endangered plants and animals,
visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/

Missouri Receives March of Dimes Award For National Leadership in Newborn Screening
Feb. 23, Jefferson City, MO -- It starts with a small pinprick to a heel of every newborn baby in Missouri. That action is crucial to determining whether each baby could face one or more of 67 primary or secondary genetic and metabolic disorders later in life.

March of Dimes today awarded the state of Missouri its National Award for Excellence in Newborn Screening, recognizing the state’s achievement of the testing milestone in 2009.

The leadership of the Greater Missouri March of Dimes presented the award to Margaret Donnelly, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Testing includes all 29 of the primary disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics and the American Academy of Pediatrics and endorsed by March of Dimes.

“March of Dimes applauds Governor Jay Nixon, Director Donnelly and members of the General Assembly for making Missouri a national leader in newborn screening,” said Deborah Kersting, executive director of the Greater Missouri March of Dimes. “Nearly 600 Missouri babies have been identified with treatable genetic or metabolic conditions through newborn screening,” Kersting said.

“The newborn screening program provides thousands of Missouri parents with the reassurance that their babies are healthy,” Gov. Nixon said. “But even more importantly, it allows other parents in our state to have this vital information so they can take steps to get their babies proper treatment for conditions that otherwise would be hidden.”

About 81,000 babies are born annually in Missouri.

Missouri March of Dimes successfully built a coalition of medical experts and families to convince the General Assembly to expand the number of conditions screened from just five in 2003 to 67 by last year. The tests include cystic fibrosis, hearing loss, and PKU.

A complete list can be found at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/professiona ... _15455.asp
The March of Dimes National Award for Excellence in Newborn Screening is being presented to only seven additional states this year: Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia. This is the third year March of Dimes Chapters have presented this award. So far, only 30 states have achieved it.

The award presentation comes on the day March of Dimes volunteers from across Missouri met with their senators and representatives. They were there urging action to help more moms have healthy babies. Three specific actions include:

• Allowing pregnant women on Medicaid access to smoking cessation programs. Missouri is one of just seven states where Medicaid doesn’t cover smoking cessation.

• Enacting a statewide ban on indoor smoking in public places. Thirty-four states already have such laws.

• Creating a Prematurity Commission to develop action steps to help fight the epidemic of premature birth in Missouri.

The Greater Missouri March of Dimes invested $3.8 million in research and programs in Missouri last year to help give all babies a chance to be born healthy.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

For Missouri news, visit marchofdimes.com/missouri.