The human side [Fall 2001]

G D H R F 2001 EORGIA EPARTMENT OF UMAN ESOURCES u ALL
The mission of the Georgia Department of Human Resources is to assist Georgians in achieving healthy, independent and self-sufficient lives.
Jim Martin New DHR Commissioner

Gary Redding Heads Dept. of Community Health

J im Martin became DHR commissioner in September, after Acting Commissioner Gary A. Redding left to head the Department of Community Health.
Martin, an attorney in private practice until his appointment to DHR, has also represented northeast Atlanta in the Georgia General Assembly since 1983. He chaired the House Judiciary Committee for the past four years, and previously chaired the House Ethics Committee and the Human Services Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He also served on the Children and Youth Committee and the State AIDS Task Force, and chaired the HIV Planning Council for Atlanta. Before his election to the General Assembly Martin was a staff attorney and lobbyist for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and the Georgia Legal Services Program, which represent indigent clients.
Martin has won dozens of awards for his innovative legislation and advocacy, especially for public health and in behalf of children, women, and people with mental and physical disabilities. An Atlanta native, he earned the A.B., J.D. and LL.M. degrees from the University of Georgia and an M.B.A. degree from Georgia State University, and served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army

in Vietnam. He is married and has four children.
"I'm looking forward to building on the strengths of this department and addressing the many issues that still face DHR," Martin said in an interview with the Human Side in August. "I plan to emphasize professionalism, innovation, and respect not only for those who receive our services but also for the people who work for the department. I want everyone here to feel proud that they work for DHR."
Redding, now commissioner of the Department of Community Health, had served as director of DCH's Division of Medical Assistance before becoming acting commissioner of DHR last January. While at DHR he helped complete a strategic plan for the department

and guided DHR's budget proposal for FY 2002 through the General Assembly.
"I know that Jim Martin will do a great job as commissioner of DHR, and I look forward to working with him in my new role at DCH," says Redding. "I wish only the best for Jim and all the staff at DHR."
Barbara Joye
In this issue
West Nile comes to Ga ......pg.2 CSE champ wins car ..........pg.3 Helping young moms ........pg.4 Safety coalitions ..................pg.5
PaintFest brightens lives......pg.6 Who's news ........................pg.7 What's news .......................pg.8

The Human Side Fall 2001

1

West Nile virus comes to Georgia

T wo years after it first appeared in New York City and began to spread south, West Nile virus (WNV) arrived in Georgia. Sadly, the first death from the disease in the United States this year occurred here, when an elderly Atlanta woman died August 11. She was also Georgia's first case of WNV infection in a human. Earlier in June, birds infected with WNV had been found in Lowndes County and in DeKalb County. In the following weeks the virus was found in many more birds and some horses throughout the state.
"We weren't surprised," says Division of Public Health (PH) Infectious Disease Epidemiologist Susan Lance-Parker, D.V.M, Ph.D. "We had predicted that WNV
Prevent mosquito bites
When outdoors, wear long pants, long sleeves, shoes and socks. On exposed skin, use mosquito repellent with less than 30 percent DEET for adults and less than 10 percent DEET on children over age one. Do not use DEET on infants. Get rid of stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed by emptying tires, barrels, planters, pool covers and other objects that hold water. Clean gutters, flat roofs, and air conditioner drains frequently. Change the water in birdbaths, pools, ornamental ponds and animal dishes at least once a week. Repair screens on windows, doors, patios and porches. To reduce mosquitoes' resting places, keep grass and weeds mowed.

would appear in Georgia by this summer. Fortunately, serious illness and deaths from WNV are rare."
Fewer than one percent of people infected with WNV become seriously ill. Others have mild symptoms resembling flu, or no symptoms at all. However, a small number of people -- most of them elderly -- develop encephalitis, a swelling of the brain, which can be disabling or fatal.
People, animals and birds may be infected with WNV only if they are bitten by a mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. People cannot get the disease from contact with an infected bird, animal or person. Only a small percentage of mosquitoes carry the infection even where the virus is known to be active.
What can we do about West Nile virus?
"This is definitely not an emergency," says Lance-Parker, "but we do ask everyone to protect themselves and their family from bites (see sidebar). This will also help control other mosquito-borne diseases that we've had in Georgia for years, such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis."
PH departments in areas where the virus has been found are taking prevention messages to the public. They are also placing chemicals in still water that cannot be eliminated. This measure, called larviciding, kills immature mosquitoes (larvae) but is otherwise harmless. Some counties and cities in Georgia spray adult mosquitoes, and have been doing so for years as a nuisance control. "That's a decision for local

government, and it may be necessary in a health emergency." says Lance-Parker. "However, the effects are temporary, it's expensive, and it also kills other insects that are helpful to the environment."
A statewide task force coordinated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture has been meeting since last year to plan Georgia's response to WNV. An Atlanta metro area task force coordinates the efforts of five PH districts and other public and private health agencies. U.S. Centers for Disease Control staff have helped metro Atlanta and south Georgia health districts conduct research to identify the types of mosquitoes that are carrying the virus in those areas, to guide prevention efforts.
Since last year, PH has been asking Georgians who find recently dead birds to report them to their county health department, to help track the disease. The calls are mapped and some birds are collected to be tested for the virus. So many people called after the news broke about the Lowndes County bird that in late July collections were limited to crows, bluejays and birds of prey, the species most likely to get sick if infected.
For more information about mosquito control and bird reporting, contact your county health department. For more information about WNV, see www.ph.dhr.state. ga.us/epi/vbd.shtml. Click on "mosquito-borne diseases." The resources posted include fact sheets and a map of counties where birds, horses and people with WNV have been found in Georgia.
Barbara Joye

2 The Human Side Fall 2001

Fatherhood champ wins car

E arnest Dixon, Jr., a participant in Child Support Enforcement's Georgia Fatherhood Program, has been awarded a car and a scholarship by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education. Dixon also received a scholarship at the International Fatherhood Conference in May.
Dixon is an honor student majoring in electronics at Heart of Georgia Technical School in Laurens County. This is the first time a Fatherhood Program participant has won a GOAL award and the first time a student from Heart of Georgia Tech has won.
Students at each of the state's 36 technical colleges compete for this award. The winner serves as ambassador for the colleges, traveling and speaking throughout the state for a year.
Dixon has been in the Fatherhood Program for more than a

year. He is also in a

jobs program at

Warner Robins

Airforce Base where

he works six months

and goes to school six

months, according to

Kay Gemmill, a

Fatherhood Program

coordinator.

"He is a joy to be

around. He is very

confident, warm, gra-

cious, and thankful

for the help he has received. He Janet Smith, coordinator for New Connections to

will be a wonderful example for Work and the GOAL Program, with scholarship

everyone," says Gemmill.

winner Earnest Dixon, Jr., in front of his new car.

"We are elated that he won. There are over 100,000 students in Georgia's technical schools, so this is a tremendous achievement. He is a role model not only for the Fatherhood Program, but for all students in technical schools," says Earnest Wade, Fatherhood coordinator for Heart of Georgia Tech.

The Fatherhood Program allows low-income parents who owe child support to go to technical school, learn a marketable skill and go to work. More than 8,000 men have received one or more of the program's services, and over 2,100 are currently enrolled.
--Edna Jackson

Write it right by Marian the Grammarian

DOUBLE TROUBLE

E nglish has a huge vocabulary, with words borrowed from many different languages. That can make for confusion. Here are some pairs of words that have similar but slightly different meanings:
1) Verbal -- oral. A lot of people think these mean the same thing, so if enough of us get them mixed up the difference may disappear. However, right now "verbal" refers to both spoken and written words. So, "she has good verbal skills" can mean she is a good writer and speaker. "Oral" refers only to spoken words. So, if

someone tells you "we had a verbal agreement" you didn't learn much, because just about all agreements are made through words. But if he says "we had an oral agreement," that means it was spoken but not written down.
2) Between -- among. Use "between" when you mean two things or people and "among" when you mean more than two. "My sister and I have no secrets between us, but my friends and I have a lot of secrets among us."
3) Relative -- relevant. Not too different. "Relative" means "connected" in general: "He thinks

what's right is relative to the situation." "Relevant" means having some connection to a subject under discussion, as in "I'm looking for articles relevant to my topic."
4) Ensure -- insure. To "ensure" is to make certain, or guarantee. "To insure" usually means to take out an insurance policy, though it can also mean to make certain.
5) Less -- fewer. Use "fewer" for things you can count. "He had fewer reports to write." Use "less" for time, weight or volume, even when these are measured in numbers. "It weighed less than five pounds."

The Human Side Fall 2001

3

Helping young moms stay in school

T he Childtec program helps teen mothers in Clayton County stay in school by

providing mentoring, family plan-

ning, day care and transportation

services, while their toddlers learn

language skills to prepare them for

preschool.

Childtec is a partnership of the

Clayton County Department of

Family and Children Services

(DFCS); Clayton County

Department of Public Health;

Clayton County Public Schools; the

faith community; and the Clayton County Extension Service, based in Childtec mentor Sarah V. Myers chats with Deondra Greene and her daughter Nija.

North Clayton and Forest Park

gram," said Susie McCray, Work

goals, objectives and timelines.

High Schools. The Christian

Family Program and Childtec spe-

Mentors give 30-minute coun-

Fellowship Baptist Church and

cialist for the Clayton County

seling sessions after school on child

Jones Memorial Methodist Church, Public Schools. "The program is a health and development, job and

which are walking distance from the big success and we have seen

grooming etiquette, decision mak-

schools, donate space for day care. improvements in the girls' grades." ing, resume writing, and cooking.

The school system supplies staff.

To join Childtec, teens must

The teens are also counseled by

DFCS pays for child care and con- receive a referral through DFCS,

health department staff. "This pro-

tracts for transportation services.

the health department, their school gram gives me an opportunity to

"Without this collaboration, the counselor, or the county extension help prevent second pregnancies

needs of these teens could not be office. Once a teen is enrolled, she and teach about sexually transmit-

met. And without reimbursement is matched with a volunteer mentor ted diseases, birth control, healthy

from DHR, there wouldn't be a pro- who helps her develop a plan with pap smears, and HIV and STD test-

ing," said Brenda Tillman, a case-

WIC farmers' market

worker for the Clayton County Health Department Adolescent

Redirection Program.

Teens and their parent or

guardian must sign a contract upon

entering the program. The parent

agrees to support the teen and

grandchild's participation. The teen

agrees to be prepared and prompt

for class, develop parental skills,

adhere to policies and procedures,

participate in life skills seminars,

check on her child's progress daily,

Farmer Kenneth McClendon sells produce to WIC participant Athena King at the WIC farmer's market in Savannah. WIC provided participants with special coupons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables in eight farmers' markets that program

keep all health appointments, and delay a second pregnancy until she has completed high school.

staff organized this summer. They hope to add more markets next year.

-- Edna Jackson

4 The Human Side Fall 2001

Safety coalitions excell

Safe communities

Safe Kids of Columbus

D uring the past few years, several county health departments have received funding from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to form Safe Communities Coalitions of Georgia to promote traffic safety. Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death and disability for children and young adults in Georgia.
DeKalb's pioneering coalition was followed by coalitions in Richmond, Fulton and Gwinnett counties and the cities of Albany and Columbus. The groups hold community meetings and launch a wide variety of safety projects ranging from engineering improvements to education campaigns.
Richmond County has seen a 21 percent reduction in injuries from crashes over the past two years. They also found that for every dollar spent on installing protected left turn signals and traffic islands the community saved $19 to $55.
DeKalb's priorities are pedestrian safety in high-risk locations such

Sarah Morris models safe cycling headgear. This photo by Judy Harrod, nurse specialist for the Carroll County Health Department, won second prize in Public Health's photography contest this spring.
as the Buford Highway corridor, and improving seat belt use. They held a conference on road design and traffic calming and organized the first annual Walk Our Children to School event in Georgia.
-- Barbara Joye, with Priscilla Bence, Safe Communities coordinator, Richmond
County Board of Health

CSE staff to the rescue

S afe Kids of Columbus was named Coalition of the Year by Safe Kids of Georgia and won five Governor's Office of Highway Safety Buckle Up! America awards in both individual and health categories. The five Buckle Up! awards recognize the outstanding work of the Columbus Health Department, the Safe Kids Coalition and their many community partners in promoting child passenger safety, bike safety, home and fire safety, water safety, and poison prevention. Pam Fair, administrative assistant for the Columbus Health Department, won one of the individual awards.
The Columbus coalition also staged a dramatic "DUI reenactment" at prom season, for over 700 high school students. This creative event featured two vehicles crashing, complete with a pretend fatality, mock injuries and emergency medical services rushing to the scene along with the coroner, police and fire departments.
-- Barbara Joye, with Pam Fair and Ed Saidla, Columbus Health Department

C ovington Child Support Enforcement agent Linda Ogburn was taking a break, gazing out past the office parking lot to a neighboring house where she had often seen an elderly man working in his yard. She noticed the man's lawn mower was unattended, with its motor still running. Then she saw the man lying on the ground. She ran out of the office, first asking someone to call 911.
Ogburn and Beverly Farmer, Brenda Sewell, Judy Allen and

Stephanie Bailey climbed over a fence to reach the man, who was unconscious and had no pulse. They administered CPR while Patsy Bass, who had dialed 911, guided an ambulance to the office. Bobby Maddox took over the other phones so customers could continue to receive services.
When the man arrived at the hospital he was given a five percent chance of survival, but he eventually made a full recovery. His doctor said he owes his life to the quick

thinking and efforts of his CSE neighbors. "We have some awesome folks working with us," said Linda Sorrow, CSE regional manager.
-- Barbara Joye

The Human Side Fall 2001

5

Paintfest brightens lives at Central State Hospital

PaintFest organizer John Feight
T he auditorium of Central State Hospital in Milledgeville is decorated in subdued pastels and earth colors, like most public facilities. But three days a year John Feight and his colleagues from the Foundation for Hospital Art bring PaintFest to the hospital. Consumers, volunteers and staff are greeted by blazing turquoise, lavender, fuschia, gold and every shade of green from forest to chartreuse. But John Feight brings more than color to the gym -- he brings hope.
Begun in 1984 as a way to give seriously ill or injured patients a chance to paint and heal, PaintFest has produced over 20,000 works of art for over 500 hospitals of all kinds in 165 countries.
Feight begins by covering a table with paints, brushes, and canvases already outlined with aquarium scenes, jungles with giraffes and cockatoos, butterfly mobiles, or flowers the size of Georgia O'Keefe's. Associate artist Barbara Banta dabs dots of paint onto the areas where people will paint the design of their choice. Each picture may become

part of a larger work that will eventually hang somewhere in the hospital -- in a hall, in the cafeteria, or on a resident's wall or ceiling. The painters are not restricted to "painting inside the lines," but volunteer touch-up artists make sure all efforts are worthy of their respective "galleries."
Feight provides blank canvases for those who wish to express their creativity more freely. On the second day of Central State's PaintFest, a resident named Louie asked for a blank canvas. He then proceeded to paint a detailed set of stereo speakers. Everyone came around to admire the precision of Louie's work. At the end of the day he could take home not only his artwork, but
also praise from the people he lives and works with every day.
"PaintFest presents us with some great opportunities," said James Jackson, assistant to Central State Hospital's facility administrator. "Not only is the hospital's environment brightened with vivid artwork, but also consumers can participate in making that artwork. When staff paints alongside the consumers, a new rapport is built. We find this reduces behavior problems. The interaction with community volunteers also gives consumers a fresh

Louie at work during Paintfest at Central State Hospital.
perspective, and helps to break down stigma about how people with mental disabilities live."
Chief Facilities Administrator Rudy Magnone adds, "We never have trouble getting volunteers to come in for PaintFest. This is the fifth year we have participated. Everyone enjoys it and looks forward to it."
Currently, John Feight brings PaintFest to the state hospitals in Augusta and Savannah and to places like Shepherd Spinal Center and Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. For more information about PaintFest, go to the Foundation for Hospital Art's web page at www.hos pitalart.com. To volunteer during a PaintFest at one of the state hospitals, contact Betty Purcell or Linda Barnes at Central State Hospital, 912/445-4128; Martha Ness at Augusta Regional Hospital, 706/792-7151; or Cindi Colley at Savannah Regional Hospital, 912/356-2045.
Iris McIlvaine

6 The Human Side Fall 2001

Who's news
Sylvia Kidd Swiney became director of the Office of Adoptions on July 9. She has served as executive director of the Atlanta Metropolitan College Foundation and as director of academic support for the college's at-risk students. Formerly she was director of instructional support and adjunct instructor of English as a second or other language (ESOL) at Georgia Perimeter College; and also taught ESOL in public schools in Virginia and New Jersey and at Passaic County College in Paterson, N.J.
Swiney says her goal is to increase Georgia's adoption finalization rate by 100 percent and find good quality, safe and permanent homes for all children in the permanent legal custody of the state. She has a son of her own, Gordon Maurice Swiney, III, from a former marriage.
kkkkkk
J ane Perry, M.P.H., was named Member of the Year by the Georgia Environmental Health Association. Perry chairs GEHA's editorial, website and grant applications committees. She is a program consultant with Public Health's Chemical Hazards Program, where she investigates the nature and

T he Georgia Public Health Association honored several public health employees at

its annual conference in September:

Jules S. Terry Memorial Award:

Lynne Feldman, M.D., Valdosta

health district;

Dorothy Barfield Award: Gene

Godfrey, Valdosta health district;

Environmentalist of the Year: Bob

Dehart, Rome health district;

Georgia Dental Public Health

Award of Merit: F. Allen Shaw, Columbus health district; Janet Stancliff Award: Antonio Lawrence, Columbus health district;

Lynne Feldman, M.D., director, Valdosta public health district, accepts the Jules S. Terry Memorial Award from GPHA President J. Paul Newell, M.D.

Larry W. Miller Health Information Specialist Award: Rick Klapper,

Cobb-Douglas Boards of Health;

Maggie Kline Nursing Award: Debra Adams, Lowndes County Health

Department;

Nutrition Extra Mile Award: Rosemarie Newman, Rome health district;

Office Personnel Outstanding Service Award: Rose Hill, Macon-Bibb

County Health Department.

The GlaxoSmithKline Child Health Recognition Awards were also pre-

sented to these individuals and public health departments: Louis I. Levy,

M.D. and Lynne Feldman, M.D., co-chairs of the Advisory Committee for

Newborn Hearing Screening; Clarke County Health Department; Maleata

Ann Carter, Floyd County Board of Health; E.J. Dailey, Office of

Emergency Medical Services; Catherine Morris, Heart of Georgia, Healthy

Start Coalition; Rockdale County Health Department; and Janice Pardue,

Lugenia Thomas and Farah Cecil, Walker County Teen Resource Center.

extent of exposures to hazardous substances released into the environment and helps educate Georgians about these substances and their health effects.
kkkkkk
P ublic Health's Vital Records office has won an award from the National Center for Health Statistics, for exceeding expectations in providing year 2000 data to the federal Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Georgia was the highest ranking state and had the largest population among five states receiving similar awards. The VSCP allows NCHS to measure birth outcomes and mortality in each state and nationally.

kkkkkk
At its August meeting the Board of Human Resources honored Oscar Jordan, Georgia's longest-serving active state employee. Jordan, a field coordinator with the Office of Vital Records, recently completed his 56th year with the State of Georgia. At age 83, he still travels the state recruiting and training vital records custodians and training funeral directors, court clerks, attorneys and hospital staff to properly collect and report vital statistics. Jordan served in the U.S. Navy and worked at Bell Aircraft before joining the Department of Public Health in 1945 at a salary of $165 per month.

The Human Side Fall 2001

7

What's news

The Office of Child Support Enforcement has a new 30minute video on its fatherhood program, "The Father's Side," produced by Georgia Public Broadcasting. The video profiles three Georgia Fatherhood Program participants who have problems with visitation and transportation, have criminal backgrounds and are substance abusers. To order a copy (cost: $3) call toll free: 1-888-4-FATHER (1-888-432-8437).
kkkkkk
A ll eight of MHMRSA's mental hospitals recently passed accreditation surveys with scores among the highest in the nation. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations survey team leader

called Georgia's hospital system the best state system he has seen. The survey covered areas such as patient care, staffing, record keeping and incident reporting, quality improvement and corrective action.
kkkkkk
G eorgia public school and state employees can now purchase home computing products from IBM at a 10 percent discount. You will need an access code to view a list of the products and place an order. To obtain the access code, view the products, place an order or for further information, email gtainfo@gagta.com.
kkkkkk
T he new DHR Atlanta Training Facility on the seventh floor at 2 Peachtree Street is nearing com-

Flu shots: High-risk go first
T he supply of flu vaccine was slow in coming to some Public Health clinics again this year, but there will be enough to protect everyone before flu season. The delay is due to the fact that it takes longer to grow the vaccine for the type of flu that has been most common last year and this year. Also like last year, high-risk people were immunized first. People age 65 years and older and those with health problems such as diabetes have been served at PH clinics since September, and there is enough vaccine in Georgia to protect all high-risk people. This is very important, because people whose resistance is low can have serious complications from flu.
Healthier people are also encouraged to get their shots, starting in late October. Even as late as early December there's enough time to develop immunity before flu season peaks in January.
In Georgia each public health district works out its own contract with one of the three vaccine manufacturers. As a result, health districts will have different amounts of vaccine at different times. Call your county health department to find out when you and your family can get flu shots, and who qualifies as high-risk. For information about other places in your area where you can get flu shots, such as drug stores, supermarkets and hospitals, see www.immunizeadultga.org.
-- Barbara Joye

pletion. The Office of Human Resource and Organization Development is scheduled to move in on October 19. The facility has two 800 square foot classrooms with the capacity to seat about 30; a 1,400 square foot classroom that can either be divided into two rooms or used as a single room to seat more than 120; a 2,000 square foot video-conferencing room; and a conference room that seats 15.
For more information or to schedule meeting space, contact Henry Carter, 404-463-6252.
kkkkkk
T he Brooks County Child Health Network recently won the Georgia Hospital Association's 2001 Community Leadership Award. The network is a collaborative effort by the county's Family Connection, hospital, school system, and health department, supervised by public health staff. The network obtained a rural health grant, established school-based health clinics, and provides physical and occupational therapy to children.
The purpose of The Human Side is to provide interesting and important information related to DHR employees and their jobs.
Published by the DHR Office of Communications
Supervising editor - Andy Boisseau Managing editor - Barbara Joye Graphic designer - Eddie Reddick Editorial and production staff Dianne Phillips; Rene Huie; Barbara Joye; Angel Rodriguez; Edna Jackson; Lola Russell Wilkinson; Iris McIlvaine; and Bill Gwynn. Please send your letters and ideas to: The Human Side, 2 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 29-426, Atlanta, GA 30303 404/656-4937 FAX 404/651-6815 DHR GroupWise e-mail - brjoye Internet: brjoye@dhr.state.ga.us.

8 The Human Side Fall 2001