Public Health News Sept-Oct 08

Every year, towns, counties, and states around the country observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in September. This year’s theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery," recognizes the impact that real people and real stories have on recovery and seeks to spread the word that addiction is a medical illness and that treatment is effective and recovery is possible.

 

San Juan Basin Health Department and the Durango Police Department have joined together to celebrate local individuals for whom treatment and long-term recovery have provided a renewed outlook on life.  These agencies are co-sponsoring a city proclamation recognizing National Recovery Month that will be presented on September 2^nd at the City Council meeting to Sara Hunt of New Day Counseling. “I am very excited that our community is recognizing the importance and value of recovery with this proclamation,” says Hunt.  “Often when a community recognizes and honors the importance of recovery, it reinforces the work people in recovery are already doing and encourages those who haven’t sought help to do so.”

 

For more information about local alcohol and drug addiction recovery programs, call 1-800-662-HELP or check out the local treatment facility locator at www.dasis3.samhsa.gov

 

City Span’s Talk of the Town featured Regional Air Quality in late August. Mike Meschke, Environmental Health Director at San Juan Basin Health, joined Al Harper of D&SNGRR and James Temte of Southern Ute Air Quality on the program. “Find out how Durango’s air quality has shifted from ideal to endangered” at: www.durangogov.org/cityspan10/tott/index.cfm

Newly hired Immunization Outreach Coordinator, Catherine Adams, R.N., will be working with community partners, such as the La Plata County School-based Health Center, child care providers/centers, Durango Family Center and others, to provide comprehensive immunization services at alternative sites within La Plata County. She can be reached at 247-5702, ext. 213.

 

The Lasso Tobacco Coalition is meeting on Thursday, September 18 from 11:30 to 1:00 in Ignacio at the Sky Ute Casino. This meeting will focus on youth prevention, the Tobacco Prevention Initiative and Tobacco Free Schools Checklist. For more information or to RSVP, please contact 247-5702 ext. 227.

 

San Juan Basin Health continues to offer immunization clinics every Monday, two in September with extended hours, to accommodate the needs of families with school-age children.

These clinics will be held on September 22 and 29th. The clinics will run through 7:00 p.m. to accommodate working parents. All immunizations will be by appointment only. Please call 247-5702 for an appointment.

 

 

Residents throughout La Plata County can host neighborhood gatherings on Sunday, September 21st to celebrate National Neighborhood Day. Held each year on the third Sunday in September, the effort aims to strengthen our country’s neighborhoods by building the neighborhood connectedness that enables many levels and forms of community involvement. In neighborhoods all over La Plata County, residents will be holding block parties, pot-lucks, service projects, or other activities depending on the interests of that neighborhood. See www.neighborhoodday.org for ideas.

 

Please send information about your neighborhood event to Lauren Patterson. For more information or to share your ideas for this annual event that is tied to recommendations for the La Plata County Children, Youth and Family Master Plan, contact Lauren Patterson at 259-1247 or Lpatters@frontier.net.

 

 

 "Watch your Step", a popular local senior exercise class that builds coordination, balance and strength is beginning a new session in early October. During the 12 week session, participants meet twice per week at the La Plata Senior Center. There is no charge and includes lunch; Transportation near Durango is available. To register or get more information, please call Jennifer Kiel at the Senior Center at 382-6428.

 

 

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.

 

Please join us October 6^th through 9th from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon daily. Space is limited. The cost is $150 per person which includes textbook, materials and exam processing. Please register in advance so that textbooks and materials can be ordered. Call 247-5702, ext. 223 or email: mschaub@sjbhd.org  This training will be held at San Juan Basin Health Department’s Conference Training Center, 281 Sawyer Drive in Bodo Park.   

Healthy Lifestyles La Plata presents its 2^nd Annual Worksite Wellness Conference on October 17^th from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fort Lewis College. The focus will be on humor and play. The keynote speaker, Izzy Gesell, will speak to the benefits of laughter. Humor boosts morale, facilitates communication, stimulates creativity and helps manage stress. The conference program will include: micro-financing for worksites, multigenerational workplace and local resources and programming. For more information, call 759-5630 or email: jjustice@sucap.org

 

This four hour food protection class is designed for food service employees. It will take place on Tuesday, October 21^st from 1:00 p.m. to 4: 00 p.m. at San Juan Basin Health Department’s Conference Training Center, 281 Sawyer Drive in Bodo Park.   

 

The cost is $40 and includes all materials and certification card upon demonstration of knowledge. Advanced reservation requested.  247-5702, ext. 223.

A new report has been released by the La Plata County It's About Kids Advocacy Network.  The report summarizes data about child health trends; provides information about child health initiatives already underway; and makes recommendations for change, including findings from a child health forum held in May 2008.  The report builds on and supports the work of the La Plata County Master Plan for Children, Youth and Families. It also offers fairly detailed recommendations for change on the local and state levels around key child health issues.

Read the report at: www.coloradokids.org:80/about_us/personnel/kids.html. Scroll down to "It's About Kids Communities" and report is there under "La Plata County." 

San Juan Basin Health is partnering with Durango School District 9R to bring a nationally recognized expert and speaker on Media Literacy to our community. Peter DeBenedittis, Ph.D. will be conducting workshops for teachers and a presentation for middle school students. Additionally, on Thursday, November 6^th there will be a public presentation on the effectiveness of media literacy in promoting healthy behaviors and as an integral part of school curriculum. For information on Media Literacy for Prevention, Critical Thinking, Self-Esteem, visit: www.medialiteracy.net/. For more information about these events, call 247-5702, ext. 1605.

 

 

Kim Pappas, RN, home health nurse with San Juan Basin Health Department (SJBHD), is now a Certified Wound Care Nurse. Kim completed her training in Salt Lake City, Utah in March of 2008.  She is qualified to evaluate and treat chronic wounds.  We are very fortunate to have Kim as part of the SJBHD Home Health team. To arrange home health care through San Juan Basin Health Department, call 247-5702, ext. 232.

 

Promoviendo La Salud welcomed a new, full time promotora to our staff in August.  Mariana Stump is bilingual, bicultural, and has a strong interest in health promotion and disease prevention.  She will be working with clients throughout La Plata County to support their changes for a healthier lifestyle.  In addition, Mariana will staff the evening chronic disease management clinic, and assist with health screenings.  For more information about the program, or to reach Mariana directly, call 759-1504.

 

The new Community Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program had a successful first month in August.  Joanna Jensen, Community Health Worker at San Juan Basin Health Department, screened 48 uninsured individuals for cardiovascular disease risk.  Screenings took place at the Ignacio Senior Center, the new Ignacio library, Manna Soup Kitchen, SOS temp agency, and the La Plata County Fair.  For upcoming screening dates and locations, or to schedule a private appointment with Joanna, call her at 749-9604.

Research on the Centering model of group prenatal care has documented reduction in preterm labor risk of as high as 41% in a randomized control group study setting. San Juan Basin Health’s prenatal program has made the decision to offer only group care due to the research documenting both medical and psycho social benefits to women. The Centering Pregnancy organization will send a trainer to observe one of our groups and do an advanced training for our staff in October, which will allow us to be listed as a certified site.

Meningitis is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that strikes nearly 3,000 Americans each year. Adolescents and young adults account for nearly 30 percent of U.S. cases. Since the majority of cases among adolescents are vaccine preventable, the CDC recommends a meningococcal immunization for adolescents 11-18 years of age. Given the quick progression and devastating nature of meningococcal disease, it is important for parents and students to be educated about its symptoms and how to prevent infection, including immunization.

 

The National Meningitis Association (NMA) has developed a 25-minute educational video, called Getting It: A Disease…A Vaccine, narrated by Glenn Close and featuring the stories of meningococcal disease survivors and families affected by the disease. The video and guide are designed to help educate school communities and parents about the dangers of meningococcal disease and the importance of prevention. You can download the video at: http://www.nmaus.org/programs/getting-it/

 

 

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