Press Releases
Year
ACA Enrollment Deadline Nears
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2014
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Jeffrey Kemp-Rinderle, Lead Agent Illinois Region 6 Implementation Program
(217) 531-1219
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
ACA Enrollment Deadline Nears
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Extends Office Hours for Affordable Care Act Sign-up
Champaign, IL –The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will extend hours starting next week to assist individuals with Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment. The current open enrollment period will end on March 31, 2014. CUPHD will have staff available from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM March 25th through March 31st with additional hours on Saturday, March 29th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
“Meeting the Affordable Care Act enrollment deadline is particularly important if someone is purchasing insurance through the Marketplace. While people can still sign up for Medicaid after the 31st, plans through the Marketplace can only be purchased if a significant life event occurs. The next open enrollment period begins November 15, 2014,” said Jeff Kemp-Rinderle, Lead Agent, Illinois Region 6 Implementation Program.
For more information on services at CUPHD, visit www.c-uphd.org.
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Free Dental Exams and Cleanings for Children on Saturday, March 8 at the Fluid Events Center in Champaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2014
Contact
Alicia Ekhoff Dental Program Coordinator (217) 531-4538
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Free Dental Exams and Cleanings for Children on Saturday, March 8 at the Fluid Events Center in Champaign
The Illini District Dental Society, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, Parkland College Dental Hygiene and SmileHealthy Participate in “Give Kids a Smile”
Champaign, IL – The Illini District Dental Society will sponsor Give Kids a Smile®
(GKAS) Day on Saturday, March 8, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Fluid Events Center located at 601 N. Country Fair Drive in Champaign. The event is part of the Children’s Dental Access Program through the American Dental Association® (ADA) that provides free oral healthcare services to children of low-income families.
On March 8, local dentists and hygienists are taking the opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering time and services for GKAS and providing free dental exams, cleanings and fluoride varnish treatments to any child between the ages of 1 and 17. The oral health fair will offer a wide range of services and activities for everyone including: dental hygiene education; free toothbrushes; face painting; and visits and pictures with Flossie from the Illinois State Dental Society, the Tooth Fairy, and the Delta Dental Tooth Wizard. The Twin City Derby Girls will also be on hand to talk about their sport and the importance of wearing mouth guards. Appointments are not necessary; however, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child. There are no income or residency requirements to receive services at the fair.
According to Michael Ruffatto, DMD, local General Dentist and Secretary for the Illini District Dental Society, “The goal of the event is to create a fun atmosphere where children, and their parents, gain a greater understanding of the importance of good oral health. It also is an opportunity for local dental professionals to give back to their community. The need for affordable dental care continues to grow. Basic dental care is such an important part of a child’s overall health care, and all children deserve the opportunity to receive regular, preventative dental care and restorative dental care when needed. No child should have to suffer with tooth pain.”
For more information about the Give Kids a Smile® Oral Health Fair, please contact SmileHealthy at (217) 359-7404 or the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District at (217) 531-4538 or at www.c-uphd.org. Follow event updates on facebook at Illini Give Kids a Smile 2014.
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The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Housing Property Owners to Go Smoke-Free
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2014
Contact
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Housing Property Owners to Go Smoke-Free
Smoke-free multi-unit housing is healthier for tenants and saves property owners money
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) sent a mailing on Monday, February 24th to Champaign County multi-unit housing property owners detailing the benefits of smoke-free rental properties.
The mailing describes the cost savings to landlords of smoke-free rental units. The expense to clean a smoking unit after a smoker moves out can be anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000. The expense to clean a smoke-free rental unit is generally under $1,000. Cigarettes are also the leading cause of residential fires.
Beyond the risks and costs to property owners, smoking in multi-unit housing puts nonsmokers at risk for inhalation of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke drifts into non-smokers’ apartments through ventilation systems, light fixtures, electrical outlets, doorways, and windows. Secondhand smoke can remain in the air for hours after a cigarette is extinguished. Of the 4,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke, 250 are known toxins, and 50 are known carcinogens. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20-30 percent. Secondhand smoke can also cause or worsen illnesses such as heart disease, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, and ear infections.
There are many multi-unit housing property owners in Champaign County that have already adopted smoke-free policies. CUPHD has a directory of smoke-free housing on its website. Known smoke-free Champaign County properties include:
217 Midtown, 309 Green (American Campus Communities), 75 Armory (Next Chapter Properties), Atrium Apartments (Green Street Realty), Campustown Rentals (American Campus Communities), Capstone Quarters (Green Street Realty), Eastview Apartments, Kellner Rental Properties, Loft 54 (American Campus Communities), Marshall Apartments, Parkside Apartments, Parkview Senior Homes, Roland Realty, Smith Apartments, Stone Ridge Square Apartment Community, Taylor Realty (RE/MAX), The Point at UI, The Tower at 3rd (American Campus Communities), The University Group, and Windsor West (Regency Apartments) has two smoke-free buildings.
Mike Kellner, owner of Kellner Rental Properties in Champaign said, “Removing smoke residue from an apartment is expensive and the cost is nearly impossible to recover from the previous residents. This process is necessary however, since nonsmokers shy away from apartment that smells like smoke. We also have less litter to clean up outside since there are no cigarette butts.”
Tara McCauley, CUPHD Special Projects Coordinator said, “Nonsmokers should be able to breathe clean air in their apartment buildings. We hope to increase the number of Champaign County multi-unit housing options that are healthy for tenants and staff.”
CUPHD has resources to support property owners in their transition to smoke-free housing, including no-smoking signage, smoking cessation classes, sample no-smoking lease language, organization of tenant meetings, and sample communications with tenants. One CUPHD cessation resource, the Freedom from Smoking class, begins on Monday, February 24th. The class is offered regularly.
Property owners can contact Tara McCauley at CUPHD (contact info above) if they are already smoke-free and want to be added to the CUPHD smoke-free housing directory, or if they are interested in exploring a smoke-free policy.
CUPHD’s smoke-free multi-unit housing campaign is part of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s We Choose Health initiative, which is made possible by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For more information: http://www.c-uphd.org/wechoosehealth
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