Press Releases
Year
Area Students Will Watch Their Promises Bloom and Grow with the Help of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2007
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Area Students Will Watch Their Promises Bloom and Grow with the Help of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Partners with Local Schools to Promote Tobacco-Free Lifestyles for Students
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has partnered with Leal Elementary School and Ludlow Elementary School to promote tobacco-free lifestyles for both the students and their communities. Each school is committed to planting 500 red tulips in gardens on school grounds. Each tulip will represent a student who made a promise to lead a tobacco-free lifestyle.
“Many people think it is hard to live tobacco-free”, said one student. “I hope they see our garden (in the spring) and see how many of us are living tobacco-free. Maybe it will help them.”
“Plant a Promise” is a state-wide initiative in conjunction with Red Ribbon Week, a national movement memorializing Kiki Camarena, a DEA agent murdered in Mexico City by drug traffickers in 1985. Red tulip bulbs are planted to celebrate those who have chosen to be tobacco-free and to honor those whose lives have been touched by a tobacco-related disease.
Last year CUPHD and local schools planted over 1200 red tulip bulbs in ChampaignUrbana communities. CUPHD hopes for more participation this year, and encourages community members to plant tobacco-free gardens at work, with a club, or at home.
CUPHD will happily present an official “Plant a Promise” sign for these gardens. Participants may request these free signs by calling 217-531-2915.
“Creating a tobacco-free community starts with awareness”, said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator at CUPHD. “Often people are so inundated with commercials and advertisements about the benefits of living tobacco-free, that they “tune them out”. “Plant A Promise” gardens are hard to miss, and they always generate a positive response not only from participants, but from the public at large.”
“Plant A Promise” is funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and is a statewide event involving several Illinois counties. Champaign County’s “Plant A Promise” is being organized by CUPHD, The Champaign County Health Department, and The Champaign County Tobacco Prevention Coalition.
For more information on this or any of the many other CUPHD programs, please call 217-352-7961 or visit our website at www.c-uphd.org.
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Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Offer Preservative-Free Flu Shots to Children Ages 6 Months to 18 Years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2007
Contact
Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health
(217) 531-4297 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Offer Preservative-Free Flu Shots to Children Ages 6 Months to 18 Years
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Recommends Flu Shots for ALL Children ages 6 Months to 5 Years to Minimize Disease Contraction Among High Risk Population
Champaign, IL – Beginning Monday, October 15, 2007, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be offering flu shots through the Vaccines For Children (VFC) Program. Flu shots will be available by appointment during standard CUPHD clinic hours – Monday, 8:00am – 4:00pm; Tuesday, 9:30am-5:30pm; Wednesday, 8:30am – 4:30pm; Thursday, 9:30am – 4:00pm; Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm. CUPHD currently has several hundred doses of the influenza vaccine, and appointments may be made by calling 217-531-4304. It should be noted that children younger than 9 years old will be required to receive 2 doses of the influenza vaccine in order to provide optimal protection. The second dose will be received in a follow-up visit one month from receiving the first dose, pending availability. The flu vaccine is not recommended for children under the age of 6 months.
Thanks to the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, flu shots and vaccines are free to all children who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid recipients, participants in All Kids, American Indian or Native Alaskan. CUPHD will charge a small administration fee of $6.00 for each dose which can be billed to Medicaid, some private insurance, or paid privately. Donations are welcome for those customers unable to pay the amount in full.
“Influenza is a serious, and sometimes life-threatening disease,” said Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health Management for CUPHD. “Children are an especially high risk population, and complications stemming from exposure to influenza infections can have farreaching effects, especially for children suffering from chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and assorted immune suppression factors.”
It is estimated that more than 200,000 U.S. citizens are hospitalized each year due to influenza infections. Over 36,000 of these citizens are estimated to have died due to complications of the influenza infection. Immunization is an easy and effective way to keep everyone healthy and safe during flu season – make an appointment for you and your family members today!
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Maternal & Child Health Management Division offers a variety of services at the new location at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. Services include, but are not limited to: Women, Infants & Children (WIC), Family Case Management / Healthworks, Teen Parent Services, Childhood Immunizations, Breastfeeding Support, Blood Lead Tests, and All Kids Applications.
For more information about these and other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217-3527961 or visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Celebrates Healthy Smiles Week by Offering FREE School Dental Screenings for Illinois Children!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2007
Contact
Alicia Ekhoff, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4538
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Celebrates Healthy Smiles Week by Offering FREE School Dental Screenings for Illinois Children!
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Partners with U of I Dental Students to Provide FREE Dental Screenings and Oral Education.
Champaign, IL – On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be providing FREE School Dental Screenings for Illinois school children at the Marketplace Mall in Champaign. These screening will be available from 10:00am – 6:00pm in the Marketplace Mall at the intersection of Macy’s, The Finish Line, and the Mall Food Court. Healthy Smiles, a group of dental students from the University of Illinois will be presenting a short entertaining children’s oral education presentation every hour from 11:00am – 5:00pm.
The simple 5 minute screening will be available for all children ages 3-18 that are still enrolled in school. This screening can be used to satisfy the State of Illinois mandated exam, due by May 15, 2008, required for all children in grades Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th. Children identified with dental issues will be referred to the CUPHD Dental Division, other partnering agencies, or their personal dentist for appropriate treatment. All participating children will receive a free toothbrush courtesy of IFLOSS. Appointments are not necessary; however, a parent or legal guardian must accompany their child.
“Oral health is a good indicator of a child’s overall health,” said Alicia Ekhoff, Dental Program Coordinator for CUPHD. “Many diseases and deficiencies can be readily identified through a routine oral health screening. Simple daily attention to oral health will produce a healthy body as well as a healthy smile!”
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Dental Division offers preventative and restorative procedures and simple extractions at their new location at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-531-4279. Children enrolled in the Urbana School District may also be seen at the Urbana School Health Center located in the Urbana High School. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-239-4220.
For more information about this and other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217-3527961 or visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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