Georgia PH week [May 27, 2014]

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Atlanta Anti-Tobacco Teens Win National Acclaim

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In This Issue
Teens Win National Acclaim Officials Urge Georgians to 'Look
Again' West Georgians Lose 3,200 lbs
DPH Hosts First Employee Recognition Day

Members of the H.E.A.R.T.

Coalition, a Fulton County drug-free

communities coalition, have been

named Youth Advocates of the Year

by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free

Kids for their leadership in the fight

against tobacco. They were honored

with the Group Award at a gala in

the nation's capital on May 15 along

with four U.S. regional winners and

a national winner.

Cantrell Foster, 18, a senior at North Atlanta High School; Deshanda Smarr, 16, a junior at

Sean Smith, Desha Smarr, Deshanda Smarr, Cantrell Foster, Rachel Kelly
and Destiny Brown are members of the H.E.A.R.T. Coalition.

Carver Health Science and Research; Desha Smarr, 15, a sophomore at Carver

School of the Arts; and Joseph Cole, 18, a senior at Carver Health Science and

Research accepted the award.

Taiwan Exchange Program A 'Wonderful Lesson"
PHEVENTS
Looking for DPH events? Visit the Events Schedule
on our website.

The H.E.A.R.T. Coalition has raised awareness of and taken action against tobacco throughout Atlanta and in the African-American community in particular. Last year, the group led a successful campaign for a tobacco-free parks ordinance. They gathered signatures for a petition and attended a city council meeting to inform council members about problems such as secondhand smoke and cigarette butt litter that tobacco was causing in community parks. With the help of a city council member, the ordinance passed with unanimous support. The H.E.A.R.T. Coalition has since conducted surveys and continued to educate the community on the benefits of smoke-free parks.

PHTRAINING



Officials Urge Georgians to 'Look Again'

Two for Tuesdays

Join the Office of Human Resources on the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m.12:45 p.m. for the learning series
Two for Tuesdays. This series provides an opportunity for

Gov. Nathan Deal, first lady Sandra Deal and leaders of several state agencies are calling for parents and caregivers of children to have heightened awareness this summer of the dangers of leaving

programs to explore new ideas, children unattended in vehicles.

share knowledge and highlight teams and their work. On June 10, DPH staff will present on learning and collaboration technologies. To
learn more and to register, click here.

Officials hope a new YouTube video titled "Look Again," featuring Georgia parents who have lost children to vehicular heatstroke accidents, will help raise awareness and prevent similar

incidents in the future.

Excel Basics

Tues., June 3 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

"During Georgia's hot summer months, there is a higher risk of serious injury or death as a result of a child being left alone inside a vehicle," said Deal. "Since

Excel Formatting Tues., June 3 2:00-4:30 p.m.

2010, seven children in Georgia have died due to vehicular heat stroke. I ask that all Georgians join me in preventing future loss of life by being aware of your surroundings and never taking the chance of leaving a child in a car, even for just

a minute. Lives can be saved if we take the time to Look Again."

Excel Formulas and Functions

Thurs., June 5 1:30-4:30 p.m.

"We as parents and grandparents work hard to keep our children safe and out of harm's way," said Mrs. Deal. "By increasing awareness and reminding your family

Excel Graphical Charts Thurs., June 12

and friends to Look Again, together we can prevent future tragedies here in Georgia."

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Excel Working with Multiple Worksheets
Thurs., June 12 1:30-4:30 p.m.

West Georgians Lose 3,200 lbs. in Weight Loss Challenge

Excel Intermediate Functions Tues., June 24
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Hundreds of west Georgia residents celebrated a personal

Excel Data Management and Pivot health victory at this year's

Tables

Mayfest. The Get Healthy West

Tues., June 24 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Georgia 2014 Weight Loss Challenge marked its grand

For employees not at 2 Peachtree, classes can be attended
remotely; however, remote

finale with a Big Reveal awards ceremony at the community festival in Carrollton on May 3.

attendees must be registered 48

hours prior to class. Register for An enthusiastic crowd gathered

all classes through SABA (2 Peachtree attendees register for
"Instructor-Led" and remote attendees register for "Virtual" classes). Contact Lisa Miller if you
have questions.
Free Online Courses Available from Lynda.com
DPH has purchased a limited number of licenses for Lynda.com, an online library of high-quality, easy-to-use instructional videos on

under Tanner Health System's

Get Healthy, Live Well tent for

the announcement of the

challenge winners.

Justin Richards won the individual category for men's highest weight loss percentage. Richards shed an

Since the kickoff in January,

astonishing 21.23 percent of his total weight during the 12-week challenge.

participants across west Georgia

have been tracking their weight, food intake and exercise with the tools

provided through Get Healthy West Georgia's website. A total of 1,738 residents

of Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties weighed in at the start of the 12-week

challenge, and 70 teams of up to 10 members joined the challenge together.

the latest software, creative and

business skills. Licenses are available for check out on a first



come, first served basis. To check out a license, simply email Lisa

DPH Hosts First Employee Recognition Day

Miller from your public health

email account.

The Georgia Department

Submit Calendar Entries to

of Public Health (DPH)

communications@dhr.state.ga.us took a pause to celebrate

the good work and good

PHNEWS

health of its employees. On May 21, the department celebrated its

Home cooking: Schools put new emphasis on locally grown lunches

first annual Employee Recognition and Wellness Day.

CDC launching 50,000-person study of HIV tests
Atlanta the top mosquito city in the U.S.
Drowning Risk Varies by Age and Race
Antibiotics for bronchitis: A widely used bad idea
PHRECIPE

State DPH employees

attended the half-day

event to focus on doing

well and feeling well at DPH. The event also

Employees gathered at the GBA Freight Depot for DPH's first Employee Recognition and Wellness Day.

recognized employees who

embody DPH's core values of excellence. DPH Chief of Staff James Howgate

announced the winners of the first six DPH Value Awards:

Mauri Smith, Award for Excellence in Accountability and Transparency Paula Brown, Award for Excellence in Collaboration and Teamwork Michelle Kirk, Award for Excellence in Commitment and Excellence Shelley Hanson, Award for Excellence in Customer Service and People Jane Kelly, M.D., Award for Excellence in Innovation and Science Michelle Allen, the Fitzgerald Award for Excellence in Leadership

Taiwan Exchange Program A 'Wonderful Lesson," Fitzgerald Says

Roasted Fish Crispy Slaw Wrap Serves 6
Click Here for Full Recipe
PHWEEK
Director of Communications Ryan Deal
Editor Carrie Gann
Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith
Sr. Graphic Designer Ginny Jacobs
Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr.
Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley
Turquoise Griffith Eric Jens
Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts


This month, Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, joined other U.S. health officials in Taiwan as part of an international exchange program of health leaders.

Fitzgerald and heads of

health departments at

state and federal levels,

physicians and executives

of other health-related DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., and other members

foundations or national

of the international exchange program met with Taiwanese

associations spent 10 days

health officials.

in the country. The group

visited local and rural

communities to observe Taiwanese health

systems and customs and spent time in

conversation with the Taiwan Ministry of

Health and Welfare (MOHW), the Taiwan

Centers for Disease Control, Health

Promotion Administration, and the Food

and Drug Administration.

In a rural town near Taipei, Fitzgerald met public health nurses who gave her a tribal
band representing their community.

Georgia Public Health Observances | May 2014

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