Follow Us! DPH and Partner Up! for Public Health Announce Public Health Heroes Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! In This Issue Partner Up! for Public Health District Trained in SNS When to Buy Organic Beat Type 2 Diabetes Shoebox Party for Needy Promoting Fresh Food The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Partner Up! for Public Health campaign today unveiled a new initiative recognizing Georgia organizations and individuals who make important contributions to the health of their communities. The programs first three honorees are: the Good News Clinics in Gainesville, former Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson, and the Decatur Farm to School Initiative. Named as the first "Partner Up! for Public Health Heroes" for 2012, the three honorees were selected for effectively addressing different public health challenges in their communities. The Heroes Program is being co-sponsored by DPH and the Partner Up! for Public Health campaign, which is funded by the Healthcare Georgia Foundation and is aimed at building public awareness of the challenges facing the state's public health system. Get Your Plate in Shape PHEVENTS Board of Public Health Meeting Mar. 13 1 p.m. 5th Floor Board Room 2 Peachtree Street DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., "The energy and the effectiveness exhibited by these first three Partner Up! for Public Health Heroes is exciting and inspiring to those of us who work in public health. The Department is pleased to join the Partner Up! campaign in recognizing these honorees and hope that their efforts will inspire leaders in other communities to follow their examples. Local leadership and engagement is vital to protecting, promoting and advancing public health at a community level." Superpuff Saturday: Asthma Day Camp Apr. 21 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta For children 6-12 years old and their parents Sponsored by Children's Medical Services & South Health District Camp offers a fun-filled day of games, food and prizes while increasing your knowledge about asthma, its treatment, how to cope with the illness and special needs associated with asthma. For more information contact CMS at 800848-5728 or 229-245-4310. Submit Calendar Entries to askdph@dhr.state.ga.us North Central Health District Trained in SNS If there were an aerosolized anthrax attack and masses of people required prophylactic medication, who would provide it? If there were a smallpox outbreak and a vaccination center had to open, who would open it? CGMC Volunteer, Marilyn Halaska, trains this group on For years, public dispensing medication. health departments and health districts have been planning for a worst case scenario requiring that every resident receive medication in a 48 hour time period. That medication would come from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's (CDC) Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Program. The SNS program guarantees that during a Public Health event, stockpiled medication will arrive in a timely manner to try to prevent as much illness as possible. After the medication is delivered, what next? On February 21 and PHPOLL If you made a New Year's Resolution, are you sticking with it? February 23, 2012, the North Central Health District (NCHD) held trainings to answer that question. Approximately 210 people representing the 13 counties in the NCHD attended the training to better understand the purpose and flow of a mass dispensing site (also known as a Point of Dispensing or POD). The trainings were held in actual sites that would be used for mass dispensing in a real event. Tell us about it at askdph@dhr. state.ga.us PHRECIPE Almond-Crusted Chicken with Rainbow Slaw Servings: 4 Total Time: 30 min Prep Time: 20 min Click Here for Full Recipe Report: When to Buy Organic It is common knowledge that a healthy diet is one that includes five to six servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and many people are becoming more aware of the health benefits of reaching these numbers. Fruits and vegetables promote good health by containing essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that help protect people from chronic disease, but, according to a report from the Environment Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy group, many fruits and vegetables also contain pesticides. EWG analyzed pesticide residue testing data from the USDA and the FDA to come up with rankings for popular fresh produce items. The organization released a report in 2011 listing the top contaminated fruits and vegetables. EWG calls the top 12 contaminated fruits and vegetables the "Dirty Dozen" and encourages consumers to buy these items organic (vs. conventionally grown) in order to avoid the pesticides. Some items indicate whether the item to which it refers PHBRIEFS March is Endometriosis Awareness Month Endometriosis, for which there is no absolute cure, affects over 176 million women and girls globally with staggering societal costs soaring past $100 billion annually. "We continue to find endometriosis is routinely misunderstood, under-diagnosed and ineffectively treated, despite being one of the most prevalent causes of hysterectomy, infertility and pelvic pain in women and girls around the world," said Michelle E. Marvel, Endometriosis Research Center (ERC) Founder and Executive Director. "Despite hallmark symptoms, the average delay in diagnosis remains an astounding 6 or more years, and a woman will seek counsel from at least 5 physicians on average before her pain is adequately addressed," she added. ERC strongly advocates for early intervention, timely diagnosis and efficacy of treatment. To get involved and learn more, visit the organization at www.endocenter.org Food Safety Alerts Now on Twitter The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection serviced just launched Twitter accounts for specific states that can share news of recalls on poultry, meat and other food products for those specific regions. "These new Twitter feeds provide yet another mechanism for us to provide consumers with critical updates and relevant information they need to protect their families from foodborne illness," USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen, M.D., said in a is imported or grown in the U.S. For example, imported grapes make the list but domestically grown grapes do not. The fruits and vegetables that make up the "Dirty Dozen" are: How I'll Beat Type 2 Diabetes: A Story of Change Standing at 6'4", there are very few things that are above his height or beyond his reach. That is until he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He found himself in uncharted waters according to his life plans. As a retired Petty Lawsey S. Thomas Sr., MSHRM, Deputy Director of Human Resources has his blood drawn for InSTEP (Insulin Support, Tips and Exercise Program) by Fulton County Public Health Nurse, Marva Monroe. Officer of the U. S. Navy, an Eagle Scout, and an area coordinator for north Georgia Pathfinders, Lawsey S. Thomas Sr., MSHRM, Deputy Director of Human Resources, has always been prepared for his greatest challenges and seized opportunities to develop as a leader for his country and community. "Type 2 diabetes was totally avoidable," said Thomas, the youngest of 11 children. "My two sisters had type 2 diabetes but I did not know until I was diagnosed," he said. The Georgia Department of Public Health(DPH) is urging people like Thomas to know their health risks of diabetes and to take steps to better manage their health - to avoid diabetes or manage the disease. People living with diabetes can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk complications according to the National Diabetes Education Program. statement. "The immediacy of information-sharing through social media is unparalleled, and we believe these timely, targeted updates will better protect public health." Every state will now have its own Twitter alert handle using the state's two-letter abbreviation followed by "_FSISAlert." Georgia's handle is @GA_FSISAlert "I was first diagnosed in 2000," Thomas said. "My first doctor told me that I would be on medications for type 2 diabetes for the rest of my life. But, after speaking with my new primary doctor and attending a recent lunch-n-learn for employees at 2 Peachtree, I now know that I can manage my diabetes with a healthier diet, daily exercise, and medication," said Mr. Thomas. PHTRAINING Community Needs Assessment for the Public Health Practitioner Mar. 15- Mar. 16 Macon Training Center Macon, GA This two-day course focuses on the basics of community needs assessment. RSVP: March 12, 2012 For complete training details and to register click here. Click on Upcoming Events. Email Tara Redd with questions Performance Management Process Mar. 22 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 2 Peachtree St., 7th floor, room 2 1-day course for new supervisors and managers to learn the four phases of the Performance Management Process (PMP) To register in SABA, click here Health Communications Skills for the Public Health Practitioner Mar. 29-30 Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree Peachtree City, GA This hands-on two-day training course will provide practical tools and strategies Shoebox Party for Needy Moms and Children - A Good Deed It has been said that, "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." That's exactly what the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programs (HPDPP) staff, employees from Chronic Disease HPDPP employees and staff decorated 50 shoeboxes filled with toiletries for needy women and children. Epidemiology Section and the Office of Training & Workforce Development did on Valentine's Day at the Georgia Department of Public (DPH). They filled shoeboxes to bring love and needed supplies to the lives of needy mothers and their children. They held a shoebox party to support the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta's Shoebox Project. This event allowed staff to continue their monthly teambuilding activities and help some of Georgia's needy families. There were lots of decorative boxes, toiletries, laughter and Valentine's treats. The Shoebox Project began in 2007 by Women's Legacy, a United on how health communication can be used in public health practice. RSVP: Mar. 23 For complete training details and to register click here. Click on Upcoming Events. Email Tara Redd with questions Larval Mosquito ID class Apr. 16-17 Chatham County Mosquito Control facility, Savannah Free mosquito ID classes open to environmental health specialists, mosquito control techs, PCOs, and anyone else with an interest in learning to ID mosquitoes To sign up, email Rosmarie Kelly Submit Calendar Entries to askdph@dhr.state.ga.us PHTECHTIP Some VISIO Tips When the Connector Tool is enabled, dragging Shapes in from a Stencil will also automatically join them. Alternatively, to join Shapes, click the workspace shape, click the other shape in the stencil, then click the blue arrow on the workspace shape. If you anchor a connector to the shape core rather than an anchor point, dragging the shape around also moves the connector. Right click on a connector (a line) and set to Straight or Curved. Straight lines have their "jumping" of crossed connectors enabled via the Format -> Behavior dialog. When using the Ellipse Tool, hold down Shift to draw a regular circle. If you group shapes together (Shift+Ctrl +G, very useful) but want to edit the group, go to Edit -> Open Group. Way affinity group. The annual service project is aimed at providing basic needs for homeless women and children, while raising awareness about the alarming growth of this often overlooked segment of the homeless population. Last year, over 18,000 shoeboxes were collected and distributed to more than 60 agencies. Families with children are among the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population. More than 45,500 children experience homelessness each year in Georgia. Incentives Vital in Promoting Fresh Food A program in Georgia is seeing rapid growth, and with that growth, Georgians who receive federal and state nutrition benefits are seeing an increase in their access to fresh produce. Wholesome Wave Georgia (WWG) creates a simple incentive to encourage federal and state nutrition benefit recipients to spend their dollars at producer-only farmers markets. All WWG partner markets are producer only, with emphasis on local and organic farming practices. We strive to connect farmers to all consumers, regardless of income. We work to protect local, sustainable, family farms and allow them to benefit from our incentive program. WWG leverages existing government food nutrition programs to encourage shopping at farmers markets. Every state and federal nutrition benefit dollar spent at WWG partner farmers markets becomes two dollars for patrons and for local food producers. WWG collects private, or other, funds and distribute them to WWG's network of partner farmers markets, who use the funds to double the value of benefits for those receiving them. Ctrl+D will duplicate your selection on the Workspace. Replace Sodium and Empty Calories -by Lisa Miller, Human Resources Information Systems, DPH PHNEWS with Wholesome Foods to 'Get Your Plate in Shape' during National Nutrition Month American Cancer Society seeking participants in prevention study CDC: Deadly and preventable C. difficile infections at all-time high Immaturity Mistaken for ADHD? Augusta, Macon hospitals build health information exchange Salad bars coming to US to combat obesity FDA approves first influenza vaccine that protects against 4 strains Moms' Antidepressants May Affect Babies' Head Size: Study GIS siting of emergency vehicles improves response time PHWEEK Grocery store shelves and restaurant menus are often crowded with foods containing solid fats, added sugars and high levels of sodium. During National Nutrition Month, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) is helping Americans understand how to get the most nutrients they need from the foods they eat, all surrounding this year's theme: "Get Your Plate in Shape." "When people eat foods that have added sugars and solid fats, they are consuming extra calories they don't need," says registered dietitian and Academy Spokesperson Angela Ginn. "These 'empty calories' are found in a number of foods and drinks and offer littleto-no nutritional benefits." Foods high in solid fats (like sausage, shortening and cream) and added sugars (such as regular soda and pastries) should be considered occasional treats rather than regular options. Eating these foods on a regular basis can cause you to consume more calories than your body needs in one day. Editor Kimberly Stringer Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith Graphic Designer Jimmy Clanton, Jr. Digital Properties Manager Bobbi Powell Editorial & Design Team Charles Gary Ginny Jacobs Sandra Roberts Suleima Salgado Director of Communications Ryan Deal Public Health Observances for March 2012 Workplace Eye Wellness Month Click Here for more information National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Click Here for more information National Nutrition Month Click Here for more information Forward email This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by askdph@dhr.state.ga.us | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. Georgia Department of Public Health | 2 Peachtree Street, NW | Atlanta | GA | 30303