Press Releases
Year
Local Agency Partnership Provides Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Local Agency Partnership Provides Resources
New Community Resource Guide for Human & Social Service of Champaign County Provides Options for those in Need
Champaign, IL – A partnership of Family Service, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), and the United Way of Champaign County has released a new and improved 2008 Help Book for Champaign County. The new Help Book contains over 50 pages of listings for a variety of community resources available for citizens living in Champaign County.
Services are listed by category and include, but are not limited to:
- Adoption / Foster Care
- Adult Education / Family Literacy
- Car Seats
- Child Care
- Community Services Consumer Education
- Counseling / Mental Health
- Dental Care
- Drug / Alcohol / Addictions Treatment
- Education
- Emergency Crisis & Information
- Employment & Job Training
- Financial Help & Information
- Food, Clothing & Furniture
- Health Care Services
- Housing
- Immigrant, Refugee & Migrant Services
- Information & Referral Services
- Legal Services
- Library Services
- Parent Education
- Recreation / Cultural Activities
- School District & Regional Offices
- Senior Services
- Shelters / Homeless Services Social Services
- Special Needs Services Support Groups
- Transportation Services
- Vision / Eye Care Vital Records
- Volunteer Services
- Youth / Teen Support & Intervention Services
- Worship Services
Help Book listings include current addresses, phone numbers, and a brief description of services.
The Help Book is available free of charge at the Family Service office at 405 South State Street in Champaign, and at CUPHD at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. The Help Book may also be accessed on-line at www.helpsource.org and www.famservcc.org.
“The Help Book is a wonderful community resource,” said Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health Management for CUPHD. “The current economic challenges have many families struggling to make ends meet, and many are forgoing health and wellness services in order to provide the basic necessities. Some families are not even able to provide those basic necessities, and do not know where to turn for help. CUPHD, Family Service and United Way of Champaign, hopes that this publication will not only provide help, but also hope to those in need in Champaign County.”
CUPHD, Family Service, and the United Way of Champaign County would like to encourage local organizations and services to be listed in future editions of the Help Book. Listings are free of charge, and be added by contacting Annie at Family Service at 352-0099. Advertising opportunities are also available, and help to defray the cost of publication.
For more information about the Help Book or any CUPHD programs and services, call (217) 352-7961 or visit the CUPHD website at www.c-uphd.org.
###
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Appoints New Administrator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Public Health Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Appoints New Administrator
Julie A. Pryde Becomes First Female Administrator in CUPHD’s 70 Year History
Champaign, IL – At the monthly Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) Board of Health Meeting on Monday, November 10, 2008, Board members unanimously appointed Julie A. Pryde as the new Public Health Administrator. This announcement was met with a round of impromptu applause from audience members attending the meeting. Pryde had been serving as Acting Administrator for over 1 ½ years, since the previous Administrator, Vito Palazzolo, was placed on administrative leave.
“We as the Board are honored to announce that Julie Pryde has been appointed as the permanent CUPHD Administrator.” said Carol Elliott, Chair of the CUPHD Board of Health. “Ms. Pryde has the support of the Board, the staff at CUPHD and the community and has already proven her ability to lead. We are lucky to have her.”
The CUPHD Board of Health released a public advisory on Friday, November 7, 2008 encouraging community leaders and members to attend Monday’s meeting to discuss the appointment of the Public Health Administrator and provide public commentary. Board members received many letters, emails, and phone calls requesting that Pryde be formally appointed as Administrator, and many community members, CUPHD staff and State officials attended Monday’s meeting to give personal testimonials on Pryde’s behalf.
“I was immensely touched by all the support I received at the Board of Health meeting.” said Julie Pryde, Public Health Administrator for CUPHD. “Public health is what I want to do, and I am thrilled that I can do what I love in a community as open, diverse, and progressive as Champaign-Urbana. CUPHD has had many challenges in the past, but I am confident that the future is very bright. We have a group of employees who are dynamic, passionate, and dedicated.”
Julie Pryde started at CUPHD in 1989 as a social work intern working under Joan W. Lathrap. After graduating with her Masters in 1992, Julie worked as Program and Policy Consultant for “Hope for the Children”, as a Senior Research Associate for the National Mentor Project, UIUC; and as an Adjunct Faculty in “Social Welfare Policy” and “Contemporary Social Work” at the UIUC’s School of Social Work.
Julie Pryde joined the staff of CUPHD in June of 1995 as a Program Consultant in the Division of Social Services and as the Project Director for the IL Region 6 HIV Prevention Implementation Group. In 2001, she was hired as the Director of the Division of HIV/STD/TB Prevention and Management at CUPHD. In 2005, the Division expanded to include communicable diseases and adult immunizations and was renamed the Division of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management. In May of 2007, Julie was appointed Acting Public Health Administrator.
Julie Pryde is an accomplished grant writer, researcher, and speaker. She has been published in three professional journals and has presented at such national conferences as the International Mobile Health Conference in Las Vegas, the US Conference on AIDS in Anaheim, and the National Harm Reduction Conference in Seattle. She has also been a consultant and speaker with the Illinois Department of Public Health. Julie was awarded the “Joan Severns Award” by the Greater Community AIDS Project, the “Red Ribbon Award for Takin It ToThe Streets” from the Illinois Department of Public Health, and was a member of the Leadership Circle with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. She also served as an Investigator for the the Home Access’ FDA Post-Marketing Surveillance Study. She currently serves on the Community Advisory Board for the Illinois Morbidity Monitoring Project, and as a Board Member of MobileOutreach.info.
For more information on CUPHD and its many programs, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.Stock2forFlu or www.c-uphd.org.
###
Local Prevention Specialist Recipient of “Red Ribbon” AIDS Service Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Local Prevention Specialist Recipient of “Red Ribbon” AIDS Service Award
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Prevention Specialist Receives State Award for Service to the Community
Champaign, IL – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) Prevention Specialist, Joe Trotter, was recently named the first recipient of the newly renamed “Beth Wehrman Award – Takin’ It To The Streets” at the 17th Annual HIV/STD Conference held in Springfield, IL on October 28 – 30, 2008. This award will be given annually to the individual whose actions best address the needs of underserved HIV/STD citizens in the State of Illinois, and best address the ongoing issues of infectious disease prevention and management.
Joe Trotter has served as a Prevention Specialist at CUPHD for 2 years. Despite the relatively short time, Joe has made great strides in addressing the needs of injection drug users engaging in behavior that might lead to the contraction of HIV or viral Hepatitis. Joe has spent countless hours learning about the needs of the IDU community in Central IL often on his own time, while continuing to perform the duties of his “real job” at CUPHD. He works directly with underserved populations on the streets.
“Joe has a need for life to be fair and equitable, and for all people to be respected and served.” said Candi Crause, Acting Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at CUPHD. “Over the past two years, Joe has been able to give a voice to those who are traditionally not heard. Through Joe, many people are able to find the resources to live longer and healthier lives. His compassion has truly made a difference in our community.”
The 17th Annual HIV/STD Conference focused on “A New Frontier – Integrating Medicine, Services, and Technology”. Conference attendees believe that a comprehensive approach must be used to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The ultimate goal of the conference was to provide new ideas and practical information to assist IL professionals in achieving this end in everyday work. The conference focused on fostering connections across disciplinary lines to share effective prevention approaches and research findings, to examine state-ofthe-art medical management of HIV and STDs, to strategize the best ways to get services to those in need, and to learn about current and emerging policy issues.
The Takin It To The Streets was renamed to honor Beth Wehrman for her tireless efforts in infectious disease prevention and management and pioneering work in the field of HIV. Beth advocated taking messages out of the traditional setting and to the people most at risk and in need. Beth’s dedication gained her the reputation and respect admired by others. Beth recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. This award was renamed in her memory.
Four other CUPHD employees received “Red Ribbon Awards” at previous HIV/STD Conferences: Arlene Valentine, Sonya Kuykendall, Jeffery Erdman, and Julie Pryde.
For more information on HIV or STD awareness, prevention or testing, or any other CUPHD program, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
###