|
|
MEDIA RELEASE
March 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allison Clark, Executive Director
ACTION Health
Phone: (570) 275-9150
allisondclark@verizon.net
ACTION Health program to offer free screenings, educational sessions on cardiovascular health
COAL TOWNSHIP (March 24) – ACTION Health, Family Medical Home Health Agency & Shamokin Area Community Hospital are partnering to provide a free cardiovascular health educational program and screening to area residents. The event will be held at the Shamokin Area Community Hospital cafeteria on Thursday, April 23 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. It is open to the public, and interested persons are asked to call Kelley Morrison, community education coordinator, at (570) 644-4274 to reserve a space.
Free cholesterol screenings will also be provided to registered attendees, who must also schedule a time with Kelley Morrison.
Guest speaker Angela Furca, RN, MSN, Bloomsburg University nurse practitioner student, will hold an educational session titled, ‘Healthy Heart Choices.’
“Knowing how to keep your heart healthy is extremely important in the depths of a recession where people are seeing their retirement funds disappear,” said Allison Clark, executive director of ACTION Health. “Educating yourself now about cardiovascular health will help you prevent unnecessary, expensive complications later.” She added that this program is effective in enabling people to make the right choices that promote long-term wellness.
Members of ACTION Health’s Aging & Wellness Task Force will be in attendance as volunteers and vendors. The Task Force is comprised of local health and human service professionals and volunteers from area agencies.
“The Task Force is really excited to bring this program to the community,” said Lorri Perkins, AmeriCorps volunteer and liaison to the Task Force. “We want to serve as many people as we can–improve their health–, but making a difference in just one person’s life is a success.”
Please call ACTION Health at (570) 275-9150 with additional questions.
About ACTION Health
ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley that provides community health outreach and education. ACTION Health strives to be the recognized leader in providing quality, innovative, easily accessible health programs focused on enhancing community services and developing new initiatives to address unmet health and wellness needs. It is divided into six separate task forces, comprised of volunteers and agency partners, each focusing on a specific health need or population. ACTION Health is also the designated SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan) partner for the five service counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties, working collaboratively with over 65 agencies to meet the unmet health needs and improve the health status of the people in our communities.
The Aging & Wellness Task Force’s mission is to educate and improve the health of older adults in our five counties with an emphasis on the rural population.
###
MEDIA RELEASE
March 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allison Clark, Executive Director
ACTION Health
Phone: (570) 275-9150
allisondclark@verizon.net
ACTION Health announces free educational program and research study on diabetes to be held at the Shamokin Area Community Hospital cafeteria
March 24 is American Diabetes Alert Day, program begins April 8 at 1:30 p.m.
COAL TOWNSHIP (March 24) – ACTION Health, Bloomsburg University and Shamokin Area Community Hospital are partnering to provide a free educational program to the community for people with diabetes and their family caregivers. An associated research study focusing on uncertainty in illness is being conducted in order to improve diabetes education to better help those affected.
The educational series titled ‘Achieving Wellness while meeting the challenges of Diabetes’ begins on April 8 at 1:30 p.m., with guest speaker Joan F. Miller, CRNP, PhD of Bloomsburg University. The purpose of the classes is to help people manage their diabetes.
“Diabetes is a prominent issue for residents in the Central Susquehanna River Valley,” said Allison Clark, executive director of ACTION Health. “Educational programs like the one being offered in Shamokin enable people diagnosed with diabetes to take back control of their lives.”
Anyone interested in attending the program is asked to call Kelley Morrison, education coordinator, at Shamokin Area Community Hospital at (570) 644-4274 to register. The series of two-hour classes that begins on Wednesday, April 8 at 1:30 p.m., will continue each Wednesday until April 29.
Many people diagnosed with diabetes struggle to cope with the disease because they are unable to link an illness-related event to their everyday experiences and choices. Individuals who are uncertain about the causes and effects of diabetes are more likely to have trouble accepting a change in lifestyle or professional treatment and advice. The program is designed to reduce this uncertainty and empower individuals and their caregivers to achieve wellness while dealing with the chronic illness.
March 24 has been designated American Diabetes Alert Day by the American Diabetes Association. The day is to serve as a ‘wake-up call’ for the American public on the seriousness of diabetes.
According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 23.6 million people in the United States diagnosed with diabetes, with an additional 5.7 million who are unaware that they have the disease. Over 1.1 million people in Pennsylvania alone are living with diabetes. Local diabetes educator and nurse practitioner Karen Kepner has dubbed the area as ‘the pierogie belt’ due to the high number of instances of diabetes in order to draw attention to the increased need for diabetes education locally.
ACTION Health has been conducting educational programs on diabetes in local communities since the spring of 2002. In October of 2008, 31 persons successfully participated in a well-received series on diabetes in Berwick.
Schedule:
–April 8, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
–April 15, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
–April 22, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
–April 29, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
About ACTION Health
ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley that provides community health outreach and education. ACTION Health strives to be the recognized leader in providing quality, innovative, easily accessible health programs focused on enhancing community services and developing new initiatives to address unmet health and wellness needs. It is divided into six separate task forces, comprised of volunteers and agency partners, each focusing on a specific health need or population. ACTION Health is also the designated SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan) partner for the five service counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties, working collaboratively with over 65 agencies to meet the unmet health needs and improve the health status of the people in our communities.
The Community Wellness Task Force’s mission is to provide awareness, education and community outreach activities promoting safe and healthy living to residents and organizations in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties.
###
MEDIA RELEASE
March 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allison Clark, Executive Director
ACTION Health
Phone: (570) 275-9150
allisondclark@verizon.net
Research study and free educational program on diabetes to be held at Shamokin Area Community Hospital
COAL TOWNSHIP (March 10) – ACTION Health, Bloomsburg University and Shamokin Area Community Hospital are partnering to provide a free program to the community for people with diabetes and their family caregivers.
The program, titled “Achieving Wellness while meeting the challenges of Diabetes” begins on March 23 at 12:00 p.m. with an educational session about the following series of four classes. Joan F. Miller, CRNP, PhD of Bloomsburg University will speak about the importance of reducing uncertainty in coping with diabetes.
“Diabetes is a prominent issue for residents in the Central Susquehanna River Valley,” said Allison Clark, executive director of ACTION Health. “Educational programs like the one being offered in Shamokin enable people diagnosed with diabetes to take back control of their lives.”
Anyone interested in attending the program is asked to call Kelley Morrison, education coordinator, at Shamokin Area Community Hospital at (570) 644-4274 to register. The series of classes will begin on Wednesday, April 8, and continue each Wednesday until April 29.
Many people diagnosed with diabetes struggle to cope with the disease because they are unable to link an illness-related event to their everyday experiences and choices. Individuals who are uncertain about the causes and effects of diabetes are more likely to have trouble accepting a change in lifestyle or professional treatment and advice. The program is designed to reduce this uncertainty and empower individuals and their caregivers to achieve wellness while dealing with the chronic illness.
According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 23.6 million people in the United States diagnosed with diabetes, with an additional 5.7 million who are unaware that they have the disease. Over 1.1 million people in Pennsylvania alone are living with diabetes. Local diabetes educator and nurse practitioner Karen Kepner has dubbed the area as ‘the pierogie belt’ due to the high number of instances of diabetes in order to draw attention to the increased need for diabetes education locally.
ACTION Health has been conducting educational programs on diabetes in local communities since the spring of 2002. In October of 2008, 31 persons successfully participated in a well-received series on diabetes in Berwick.
About ACTION Health
ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley that provides community health outreach and education. ACTION Health strives to be the recognized leader in providing quality, innovative, easily accessible health programs focused on enhancing community services and developing new initiatives to address unmet health and wellness needs. It is divided into six separate task forces, comprised of volunteers and agency partners, each focusing on a specific health need or population. ACTION Health is also the designated SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan) partner for the five service counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties, working collaboratively with over 65 agencies to meet the unmet health needs and improve the health status of the people in our communities.
The Community Wellness Task Force’s mission is to provide awareness, education and community outreach activities promoting safe and healthy living to residents and organizations in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties.
###
MEDIA RELEASE
February 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allison Clark, Executive Director
ACTION Health
Phone: (570) 275-9150
allisondclark@verizon.net
ACTION Health ‘Save Our Smiles’ program coming to Kelly Elementary Tuesday, Thursday
LEWISBURG, PA (February 24) – ACTION Health’s Dental Task Force will be providing the ‘Save Our Smiles’ (SOS) programs to 1st graders at Kelly Elementary on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month. Thus far, over 1,200 students have participated in the program.
“Save Our Smiles is about helping children become aware that keeping gums and teeth healthy prevents pain and decay before they happen,” said Donna Fritz, RDH outreach coordinator of ACTION Health. Donna is a practicing dental hygienist and has been providing care to our community for many years.
ACTION Health’s Dental Task Force partnered with its member agencies and the Department of Health to develop the unique SOS curriculum that seeks to make children more aware of the importance of healthy gums and teeth. The train the trainer portion of the curriculum was recently presented to the Elks’ Nurses in Gettysburg, Pa, and was well-received in area schools last spring.
The programs, put on at 21 local schools by community volunteers and ACTION Health staff in small classroom-sized settings, aim to plant an early, positive seed in the minds of 1st graders about making the right choices to keep teeth and gums healthy.
“We believe that we can improve dental hygiene in our communities by teaching children early on how to brush properly and eat well, in addition to visiting the dentist regularly.” said Allison Clark, executive director of ACTION Health.
As an added component, students can participate in a coloring contest to win a fun prize basket worth over $35. A student from each school building who demonstrates a creative and thorough understanding of what it takes to keep a healthy smile will be chosen as a winner. Their artwork and descriptions will be featured at ACTION Health events and publications.
2009 marks the 60th year that February has been recognized as Children’s Dental Health Month by the American Dental Association (ADA). Throughout the month, both public and private groups and agencies promote dental health and the ADA’s objectives, and offer support to community-based initiatives to improve the dental health of children.
The vast majority of our five county service area has been designated as a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) by the Department of Health, demonstrating a critical shortage of dentists necessary to care for residents. According to the Dental Task Force, children face an even greater risk; therefore, early education is necessary and beneficial.
The Dental Task Force will also be attending the Evangelical Community Hospital’s annual Children’s Health Fair on January 31 at the Susquehanna Valley Mall in Hummels Wharf. Staff and volunteers will be sharing parts of the SOS curriculum with attending children.
For more information, please contact ACTION Health at (570) 275-9150.
About ACTION Health
ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley that provides community health outreach and education. ACTION Health strives to be the recognized leader in providing quality, innovative, easily accessible health programs focused on enhancing community services and developing new initiatives to address unmet health and wellness needs. It is divided into six separate task forces, comprised of volunteers and agency partners, each focusing on a specific health need or population. ACTION Health is also the designated SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan) partner for the five service counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties, working collaboratively with over 65 agencies to meet the unmet health needs and improve the health status of the people in our communities.
The ACTION Health Dental Task Force provides education and outreach on dental health and hygiene and advocate for access to dental services for all populations in our five counties.
###
MEDIA RELEASE
FEBRUARY 4, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allison Clark, Executive Director
ACTION Health
Phone: (570) 275-9150
allisondclark@verizon.net
ACTION Health Cancer Task Force to provide free informational sessions on HPV and cervical cancer
DANVILLE, PA (February 4, 2009) – ACTION Health’s Cancer Task Force was awarded a grant from the Appalachia Community Cancer Network to conduct Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer awareness programs for parents.
Guest speakers Cindy Rupp from Columbia/Montour Family Health and Lisa Wehr from Family Planning Plus will be visiting community groups to present a PowerPoint presentation developed by the Cancer Task Force containing the latest information about HPV and cervical cancer to today and tomorrow’s parents of adolescent girls aged 9-17.
“These programs are an effective way for parents to get the facts about HPV and cervical cancer,” said Allison Clark, executive director of ACTION Health. “I strongly believe that attendees will leave the sessions fully able to make an informed family decision regarding the vaccine.” Clark added that parents will also learn how to talk to their children about these topics.
Participants are eligible to participate in a gift-card drawing amounting to $25 each session.
Many of the sessions are already scheduled. If you are interested in bringing Understanding HPV to your community group, please call ACTION Health for more details, at (570) 275-9150.
Look for more information from ACTION Health regarding programs coming to your child’s school or community group.
There are between 100-200 types or strains of HPV. According to researchers, nearly 80 percent of women will be infected with some type of sexually transmitted HPV by the time they reach 50 years old. At any given time, there are approximately 20 million Americans infected with genital HPV. It is estimated that about 6.2 million new infections of genital HPV occur each year in the U.S. alone.
According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, “cervical cancer affects approximately 10,000 women in the United States each year. Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer for women worldwide, but because it develops over time, it is also one of the most preventable types of cancer.”
HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Gardasil®, the HPV vaccine, is effective against the four most common high-risk types of HPV that are strongly linked to cervical cancer and other HPV related diseases. Ideally, a person should be vaccinated before they are sexually active.
About ACTION Health
ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley that provides community health outreach and education. ACTION Health strives to be the recognized leader in providing quality, innovative, easily accessible health programs focused on enhancing community services and developing new initiatives to address unmet health and wellness needs. It is divided into six separate task forces, comprised of volunteers and agency partners, each focusing on a specific health need or population. ACTION Health is also the designated SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan) partner for the five service counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties, working collaboratively with over 65 agencies to meet the unmet health needs and improve the health status of the people in our communities.
The ACTION Health Cancer Task Force’s mission is to heighten community awareness about cancer, its prevention and early detection, in order to improve overall quality of life of our five county residents.
###
MEDIA RELEASE
January 27, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allison Clark, Executive Director
ACTION Health
Phone: (570) 275-9150
allisondclark@verizon.net
ACTION Health Dental Task Force brings ‘Save Our Smiles’ dental health programs to area 1st graders
DANVILLE, PA (January 27) – ACTION Health’s Dental Task Force will be providing ‘Save Our Smiles’ (SOS) programs to area 1st graders in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder & Union counties as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month.
“Save Our Smiles is about helping children become aware that keeping gums and teeth healthy prevents pain and decay before they happen,” said Donna Fritz, RDH outreach coordinator of ACTION Health. Donna is a practicing dental hygienist and has been providing care to our community for many years.
ACTION Health’s Dental Task Force partnered with its member agencies and the Department of Health to develop the unique SOS curriculum that seeks to make children more aware of the importance of healthy gums and teeth. The train the trainer portion of the curriculum was recently presented to the Elks’ Nurses in Gettysburg, Pa, and was well-received in area schools last spring.
The programs, put on at local schools by community volunteers and ACTION Health staff in small classroom-sized settings, aim to plant an early, positive seed in the minds of 1st graders about making the right choices to keep teeth and gums healthy.
“We believe that we can improve dental hygiene in our communities by teaching children early on how to brush properly and eat well, in addition to visiting the dentist regularly.” said Allison Clark, executive director of ACTION Health.
As an added component, students can participate in a coloring contest to win a fun prize basket worth over $35. A student from each school building who demonstrates a creative and thorough understanding of what it takes to keep a healthy smile will be chosen as a winner. Their artwork and descriptions will be featured at ACTION Health events and publications.
2009 marks the 60th year that February has been recognized as Children’s Dental Health Month by the American Dental Association (ADA). Throughout the month, both public and private groups and agencies promote dental health and the ADA’s objectives, and offer support to community-based initiatives to improve the dental health of children.
The vast majority of our five county service area has been designated as a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) by the Department of Health, demonstrating a critical shortage of dentists necessary to care for residents. According to the Dental Task Force, children face an even greater risk; therefore, early education is necessary and beneficial.
The Dental Task Force will also be attending the Evangelical Community Hospital’s annual Children’s Health Fair on January 31 at the Susquehanna Valley Mall in Hummels Wharf. Staff and volunteers will be sharing parts of the SOS curriculum with attending children.
For more information, please contact ACTION Health at (570) 275-9150.
About ACTION Health
ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley that provides community health outreach and education. ACTION Health strives to be the recognized leader in providing quality, innovative, easily accessible health programs focused on enhancing community services and developing new initiatives to address unmet health and wellness needs. It is divided into six separate task forces, comprised of volunteers and agency partners, each focusing on a specific health need or population. ACTION Health is also the designated SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan) partner for the five service counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties, working collaboratively with over 65 agencies to meet the unmet health needs and improve the health status of the people in our communities.
The ACTION Health Dental Task Force provides education and outreach on dental health and hygiene and advocate for access to dental services for all populations in our five counties.
###
|
|
