Don't see graphics and text from DPH?Click here Follow Us! New Video Production Studio to Connect DPH with Live Audiences Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! For just a few moments in time at the Atlanta headquarters of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the ordinary noise of work was interrupted, replaced by something almost foreign - the sights and sounds of a busy television studio. "Stand-by. We're on in 30 seconds," a In This Issue staffer from the division of communications announced to those Video Production Studio to gathered, marking an imminent Connect DPH with Live inauguration of the department's new Audiences broadcast studio and an end to months Georgia DPH Honored with of preparation. National Award Georgia's First Lady Delivers Proclamation "Thank you for joining me and welcome," DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., announced to Public DPH Division of Communications prepares new television studio. Georgia's First Lady and Georgia Health practitioners statewide. "It's a pleasure to talk about our important public SHAPE hit the Road health work with you." Commissioner Leads Charge for SCCP WIC Recognizes Champions for Women, Infants and Children DPH Honored with National Award for Improving SHBP - DPH Gets Ready for Annual Open Enrollment Health Outcomes App of the Week: Quitter PHEVENTS Looking for DPH events? Visit the Events Schedule on our website. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and United Health Foundation announced that the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is a winner of the 2014 America's Health Rankings Champion Award. PHBRIEF The America's Health Rankings Champion Award recognizes state and Chris Kumnick Named Deputy Director of EH Chris Kumnick has accepted the territorial health departments that use data from United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings reports to develop DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., Accepts Champion Award from Kevin Kandalaft, President, initiatives and programs that improve United Healthcare Community Plan of New Mexico. position of deputy director of health outcomes in their Environmental Health (EH) with the jurisdictions, including addressing health disparities and building stronger Georgia Department Public Health relationships with local health departments and other partners. DPH has (DPH), effective Sept. 16. Kumnick demonstrated continuous success in using the rankings to improve health in has moved up through the EH ranks Georgia. working and managing all EH programs at the County and District DPH was selected for its consistency in improving health outcomes over the past levels. In addition, Kumnick has worked closely with DPH staff at the 24 years. From 1990 to 2013, Georgia's infant mortality ranking improved 13 spots, from 47 to 34. The New York State Department of Health also was recognized for improving its cancer mortality ranking by 24 spots. District and County levels as the Land Use program director over the past few years. He will continue in this role. Kumnick brings a wealth of EH knowledge and experience to Georgia's First Lady Delivers Proclamation succeed in his new position. PHTRAINING 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 programs to explore new ideas, share knowledge and highlight teams and their work. To learn more and to register, click here. Check out Saba for these September Courses Manager Fundamentals for Success Wednes. - Thurs., Sept. 17-18 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Introduction to Public Health in Georgia Tues., Sept. 23 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Heartsaver CPR/AED (DeKalb) Thurs., Sept. 25 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. True Colors Tues., Sept. 30 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal presented a proclamation from Governor Nathan Deal at last week's Board of Public Health meeting, proclaiming the month of September, Georgia SHAPE Month. Georgia SHAPE is a statewide, multiagency, multidimensional initiative that brings together governmental, philanthropic, academic, and business communities to address childhood obesity. First Lady Sandra Deal presents Georgia SHAPE proclamation to the Georgia Board of Public According to the proclamation, 1 in Health. every 5 children in Georgia is obese. Thirty-six percent of adults in Georgia are overweight and another 29 percent are classified as obese. Combined, nearly two-thirds of Georgia's population is considered to be at an unhealthy weight. Introduced in 2013, Power Up for 30 is part of the Georgia SHAPE initiative. The goal of this voluntary program is to increase physical activity before, during or after school for at least 30 minutes every day. This physical activity is in addition to structured physical education classes -- not a replacement. So far, 342 elementary schools in Georgia have taken the Power Up for 30 pledge and 178 of those schools have completed staff training. Georgia's First Lady and Georgia SHAPE hit the Road Computer Training Access Advanced Queries Thurs., Sept. 18 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Last week, Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal made several stops throughout Atlanta to talk about Georgia SHAPE. Access Tables & Database Design Tues., Sept. 23 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For employees not at 2 Peachtree, classes can be attended remotely; however, remote attendees must be registered 48 hours prior to class. Register for all classes through SABA (2 Peachtree attendees register for "Instructor-Led" and remote attendees register for "Virtual" classes). View monthly training calendars on PHIL. Contact Lisa Miller if you have questions. Look for Outlook and PowerPoint classes in October and Excel classes in November. Free Online Courses Available from Lynda.com Free On-Line Courses Available Through lynda.com DPH has a limited number of licenses for lynda.com which is an online library of highquality, easy-to-use instructional videos on 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 Miller from your Public Health email account. On her first stop, she visited Garden Hills Elementary School to discuss the importance of good nutrition and physical activity for children. Garden Hills Elementary is currently implementing Power Up for 30, Georgia SHAPE's Physical Activity program encouraging elementary schools to integrate 30 more minutes of physical activity into the school day. Students showcased some of the fun ways to implement Power Up for 30, and the First Lady read from one of her favorite children's books. Students and faculty at Burgess- Peterson Academy were eager to greet First Lady Deal as she toured their organic garden and orchard. Burgess First Lady Sandra Deal Reads to Students at Garden Hills Elementary School Peterson is currently working with Georgia Organics and the Captain Planet Foundation to implement various Farm to School initiatives. Students use gardening as a tool to learn about nutrition, science, and even math. Burgess Peterson is also a Power Up for 30 school. Commissioner Fitzgerald Leads the Charge for the 2015 State Charitable Contributions Program Submit calendar entries to communications@dph.ga.gov by 12 noon on Wednesday. PHNEWS Study: Exercise Emphasis is Making Kids Healthier Report ranks Georgia No. 18 in adult obesity Georgia children hit by mystery illness affecting 1,000 kids across 10 states Children's hospital-linked infections fall sharply PHRECIPE Every year, employees throughout the state demonstrate their compassion and generosity through the official workplace giving campaign for state employees and the university system. The 2015 State Charitable Contributions Program (SCCP) Annual Campaign runs Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, 2014. During the campaign, employees will learn how to address critical needs in Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald (right), Kenyata Arnold (left) and Reggie Cason (seated) kick-off the 2015 State Charitable Contributions Program (SCCP) for DPH. Georgia, across the nation, and around the world. The overall campaign goal for Georgia agencies is $1.5 million. This year, the Georgia Department of Public Health's (DPH) SCCP goal is to win the award for most improved giving by encouraging each DPH employee to pledge a donation of at least $20. Georgia WIC Recognizes Champions for Women, Infants and Children Cabbage Fruit Salad Serves 6 Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes Click Here for Full Recipe PHWEEK More than 400 county, district, state and federal WIC staff attended the Georgia WIC Customer Service Conference at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, where nationally renowned motivational speakers Adolph Brown, III Ph. D and Kit Cummings were guest presenters. Director of Communications Ryan Deal Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith-Lindsey Graphic Designer Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr. Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Eric Jens Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts Stefan Harvey, a national WIC champion who advocated for the program from 1973 until 2001, breathed life into conference theme, "40 Years of WIC-Valuing the Past, Embracing the Future." Harvey presented Saving Our Children: The Story of WIC to highlight the program's history and impact. Virginia Simmons is surrounded by her family as she accepts the 2014 Georgia WIC Employee of the Year award. SHBP - DPH Gets Ready for Annual Open Enrollment Oct. 27 - Nov. 14 Open Enrollment will start in six weeks. There are some basic housekeeping items that each employee of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) will need to review prior to Open Enrollment for the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP): Verify your mailing address and email address in Employee Self Service (ESS). It is important that information is updated accurately because all correspondence including W2s will be sent to your mailing address or email. Update beneficiary information for Retirement, last paycheck, 401K/457, and life insurance. Access both State Health Benefits and Flexible Benefits website to determine that passwords work for each open enrollment system. Link for State Health Benefit: http://www.myshbp.ga.gov/ Link for Flexible Benefits: http://www.gabreeze.ga.gov/ App of the Week: Quitter Is it finally time to drop that bad habit you've been trying to conquer for so long? The Quitter app for iPhone and iPad can help you quit any bad habit. The main focus of the app is to show you how long it has been since you last indulged and how much money you have saved as a result. Quitter is a continuous reminder of your success. On launching it for the first time you set the date of quitting a bad habit and every day look at the clock or at the board to record the number of days past. Georgia Public Health Observances | September 2014 Forward email This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by communications@dph.ga.gov | Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. Georgia Department of Public Health | 2 Peachtree Street, NW | Atlanta | GA | 30303