National Alcohol Awareness Month  Since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence’s (NCADD) Alcohol Awareness Month (AAM) has encouraged communities to focus awareness on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues. AAM began as a way of reaching Americans with information about the disease of alcoholism: It is a treatable, chronic disease, not a moral weakness, and those who suffer from alcoholism can and do recover. An integral part of AAM is Alcohol Free Weekend, the first weekend of April, which was designed to raise awareness about the use of alcohol and how it may be affecting society and the individual drinker. For more information, contact:

NCADD, Inc. | phone: 212.269.7797, ext. 19 | rlindsey@ncadd.org | www.ncadd.org

National Autism Awareness Month   To highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has celebrated National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The nation recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community. For more information, contact:

Autism Society | phone: 301.657.0881 | info@autism- society.org | www.autism-society.org

Child Abuse Prevention Month   Child Abuse Prevention Month seeks to raise awareness about healthy child development and motivate the public to play a greater role in the prevention of child abuse and neglect, while encouraging local prevention activities and events throughout the country. For more information, contact:

Child Welfare Information Gateway or Prevent Child Abuse America www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth or www.preventchildabuse.org/publications/cap/index.shtml

National Facial Protection Month  The simple act of wearing a mouth guard when playing baseball or other contact sports saves tens of thousands of teeth annually. Other safety equipment such as helmets and face shields can protect wearers from facial injuries. Each April, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Association of Orthodontists, and the Academy for Sports Dentistry team up to enhance public awareness of facial protection and specialized treatment for facial injuries. For more information, contact:

Communications and Publications Division | AAOMS | phone: 847.678.6200 | jdunham@aaoms.org | www.aaoms.org

Foot Health Awareness Month  The aim of Foot Health Awareness Month is to encourage everyone to be mindful that foot health has an overall impact on total body health and that a podiatrist is key to ensuring optimal foot health. For more information, contact:

American Podiatric Medical Association | ahberard@apma.org | www.apma.org

National Humor Month   Humor is an important part of maintaining health! We honor those who make us laugh, professionals and amateurs alike, as well as friends, neighbors, teachers, and relatives, including your Uncle Fred and Aunt Tillie. This is the place where you can come to share ideas about how to celebrate humor, information about the ancient roots of humor and the myriad contemporary expressions of humor. We look forward to encouraging humor in everyone’s life around the world and all year long.

For more information, contact: National Humor Month | phone: 800.NOW.LAFF (669.5233) | info@humormonth.com | www.humormonth.com

National Minority Health Awareness Month   National Minority Health Month (NMHM) is held annually to raise awareness of minority health disparities and to prompt the implementation of initiatives to address these disparities during the rest of the year. NMHM is an inclusive initiative that addresses the health needs of African- Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians. For more information, contact:

Resource Center | Office of Minority Health | phone: 800.444.6472 | info@minorityhealth.hhs.gov | http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov

National Sexually Transmitted Infection Awareness Month   Each April during Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Month, the American Social Health Association (ASHA) loudly trumpets the fact that 19 million new cases of STIs occur in the US each year—about half of them among youth ages 15-24 years. STIs are also increasing among Senior citizens The need to improve oursexual well-being cannot be underestimated, as more than half of all people in the US will have an STI at some point in their lifetime. For more information, contact:

ASHA | frewya@ashastd.org | www.ashastd.org

National March for Babies Month  The March of Dimes is committed to reducing the toll of premature birth by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to families who are affected by it. The funds raised by March for Babies events help women to have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies, reducing health costs to employers. For more information, contact:

Education Health Promotion Department | March of Dimes |phone: 914.428.7100 | alliances@marchofdimes.com | www.marchforbabies.org

April 17 is World Hemophilia Day   Every year on April 17, World Hemophilia Day is celebrated to increase awareness of hemophilia, a genetic bleeding disorder that prevents the blood from clotting normally, and other inherited bleeding disorders. The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) encourages individuals and groups around the world to participate in educational and awareness-raising activities on this day. For more information, contact:

Communications Manager | WFH | sford@wfh.org | www.wfh.org/whd

April 20 is National Walk for Epilepsy Day  The annual National Walk for Epilepsy is a noncompetitive walk to draw awareness to a condition that affects nearly three million Americans. The event raises funds to help overcome the challenges created by epilepsy and find cures. The Epilepsy Foundation continues to lead the fight to stop seizures. For more information, contact:

Special Events | Epilepsy Foundation | phone: 866.433.9255 | walkinfo@efa.org | www.walkforepilepsy.org

 April 27 is YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day   YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day is a national initiative of the Y to improve the health and well-being of kids across the country. On this day, Y’s hold free community events with fun and engaging activities to help families develop healthier habits. Activities vary but may include arts and crafts, relay races, healthy food demonstrations, educational opportunities, and more. For more information, contact: YMCA of the USA | media@ymca.net | http://ymca.net/healthy-kids- day/