News Briefs March-April 2008

Radon Presentation – Free Test Kits still Available ~ March 12

Although winter and radon testing season are winding down, there is still time to test your home for radon.  Remember: all homes should test for radon. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) estimate almost one out of every two homes in our Tri-County area has radon levels at or above EPA’s recommended guide lines. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Testing is easy. Come to a presentation to learn more and get a free kit on March 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds extension building. For more information, call Wendy Rice 382-6461 at CSU Extension office or Marian Schaub, 247-5702, ext 223 with San Juan Basin Health’s Environmental Division.

Over the last two months, eight radon presentations have been given in Durango, Pagosa Springs and Silverton with roughly 250 free test kits distributed.

Lasso Tobacco Coalition Meeting – March 20^th

The next quarterly meeting for the Lasso Tobacco Coalition is Thursday, March 20th.  The public is welcome to attend. There will be a presentation from 9-R School District’s Tobacco Prevention Initiative (TPI). Additionally, members of the Step It Up coalition will be attending to discuss a potential merger of the two coalitions.

Children’s Dental Program Recipient of El Pomar Grant – March 11

Suzanne Heller, Southwest Smile Makers program manager and Lynn Westberg, San Juan Basin Health director will be attending the 2008 Southwest Regional Grants presentation at Fort Lewis College on March 11^th as one of the recipients of an El Pomar Foundation grant. The foundation is one of the largest and oldest private foundations in the Rocky Mountain West. The $20,000 grant awarded to Southwest Smile Makers will help update equipment in the new dental clinic as well increase on-going outreach and follow-up efforts.

Southwest Smile Makers is a dental program for low-income children and pregnant women. Having a regular site (The Commons building) has greatly helped the program reach more children. In a few months, they’ve doubled the number of clinics offered and hope to expand further by the end of May.

National Public Health Week is April 7 to 13^th ~ 2008 Theme: Climate Change: Our Health in Balance

National Public Health week is a time to reflect on and learn more about what your public health agency does. Each year, a new Public Health Week theme highlights a specific aspect of public health. This year’s theme, Climate Change: Our Health in Balance, provides an opportunity to look at how climate change could affect your health and the health of our community.

ServSafe® Program Manager Training National Certification ~ April 21-24

This course provides national certification and is a comprehensive, integrated program of best practices related to food safety. Food safety training is a commitment and a smart business practice for every restaurant and food service operation in our area. San Juan Basin Health Department partners with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation to showcase our commitment to food safety education and training. We strive to heighten awareness about the importance of food safety and encourage additional food safety training for all industry employees.

Please join us April 21^st thru 24^th from 8:00 am to noon daily. Space is limited.

The cost is $150.00 per person which includes textbook, materials and exam processing. Please register in advance so that textbooks and materials can be ordered. 247-5702, ext. 223 or email: mschaub@sjbhd.org The course will be held at San Juan Basin Health Department’s Conference Training Center, 281 Sawyer Drive in Bodo Park. 

HCP Rehab Clinic is April 25^th  

There will be a HCP Rehab Clinic for children who need rehabilitative services on Friday, April 25^th in Durango. HCP is the Healthcare Program for Children with Special Needs. Please call Eileen for more details at 247-5702, ext. 208.

Motivational Interviewing Workshop – April 30

Lasso Tobacco Coalition and San Juan Basin Health’s tobacco program are presenting a Motivational Interviewing (MI) Level II Workshop; Wednesday April 30^th from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at the health department conference room. The presenter, Brian Burke will discuss more ways to utilize Motivational Interviewing and assist participants in honing skills. This in-depth training is only open to those that have attended the previous trainings or have read the Motivational Interviewing book by Brian Burke.

Participants will learn advanced MI skills to help motivate tobacco (and other substance) users toward making a change. MI can influence other employee wellness issues such as weight or exercise and spillover into assisting employees in taking on more responsibilities. The chief goal of these workshops is to help tobacco prevention specialists, wellness coordinators, human resource directors and other health professionals communicate more effectively with their employees or clients regarding their substance use or other problematic behaviors. Contact Caleb at 247-5702, ext. 236 for more information.

In case you missed the March 3rd Durango Herald articles on chew tobacco, you can read both online at www.durangoherald.com. One focused on youth chewers as recent survey results showed that area students have twice the national rate for chew tobacco use. Both articles looked at efforts underway locally to address chew use among youth. 

San Juan Basin Health Department’s Home Health Services welcomes Barbara Ormand, RN to its home health nursing staff. Ormand is also a licensed massage therapist and practiced in yoga. A native of New Zealand, she goes by the nickname of “Kiwi”. Home Health offers a variety of programs. Learn more about their services at: www.sjbhd.org/home-health or reach them at 247-5702, ext. 232.

Please check our website www.sjbhd.org for up-to-date job opportunities.

Jane Looney, Communications; jlooney@sjbhd.org

San Juan Basin Health Department; 247-5702 x1605