Press Releases
Year
Champaign-Urbana Has Vision Care Access Challenge - Local Partnership Creates Program to Help
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2007
Contact
Allison McLaughlin, Carle Foundation Hospital
217.383.4602
Champaign-Urbana Has Vision Care Access Challenge - Local Partnership Creates Program to Help
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services, Illinois Department of Public Health’s STD Section, and Carle Foundation Hospital have combined their efforts and resources to create the “Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Vision Cooperative”.
Champaign, IL –
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), Illinois Department of Public Health’s Minority Health Services, Illinois Department of Public Health’s STD Section, and Carle Foundation Hospital have joined together to address the challenge of Medicaid covered children and adults without vision care access in Champaign County. The alliance, titled Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Vision Cooperative, will work to secure funding, manage referrals, optimize volunteer hours, and case manage clients who receive the services.
Starting July 2, 2007, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Vision Cooperative will be officially accepting a limited number of referrals for children and adult patients. Local optometrists and ophthalmologists have generously donated 64 appointments per month to the program, and during the short trial period in May and June, have helped 71 Medicaid patients receive optical prescriptions. Persons referred through the CUPHD Vision Cooperative must be residents of Champaign County, and have a current Medicaid card.
“The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and its partners are committed to providing programs to our communities that will not only enhance the well-being and quality of life of our citizens, but can afford them the tools to assist others. Only by working together can we hope to effect change.” said Julie A. Pryde, Acting Administrator of CUPHD. “CUPHD is grateful that our partners share this vision and have furnished us with the financial means to help so many in need in our community.” The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Vision Cooperative is looking for additional partners in the Champaign County community to assist in further developing this endeavor, including local optometrists and ophthalmologists who will volunteer time, and accept a limited number of clients with Medicaid referred to them through this program. The CUPHD Vision Cooperative is an exciting necessary program, and CUPHD and its current partners are committed to its successful expansion. “We are hopeful that other local businesses will take our partners lead in providing financial and volunteer support so that this program will thrive,” added Ms. Pryde.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Vision Cooperative program includes a mobile outreach branch to grant better access to CUPHD programs for communities with transportation challenges. A 40 foot “wellness on wheels” vehicle will soon be visiting communities and schools offering a variety of programs including the CUPHD Vision Cooperative. The CUPHD mobile unit will be a “one-stop health service shop” which will include such services as vision care, dental services, immunizations, communicable disease prevention, testing and management, and basic health check and education programs. “CUPHD is thrilled to be able to bring these mobile services to those community members that truly need them.” said Tamie Nagrodski, Mobile Program Manager at CUPHD. “Too often people forgo utilizing necessary services due to scheduling constraints, transportation challenges and the lack of awareness of program opportunities. We hope the CUPHD mobile program, including the CUPHD Vision Cooperative, will alleviate many of these issues.”
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Vision Cooperative will go a long way towards helping to fill a tremendous need in the Champaign County community. CUPHD, Illinois Department of Public Health’s Minority Health Services, Illinois Department of Public Health’s STD Section, and Carle Foundation Hospital have recognized and responded to this need and have proven that “Together We Can SEE Things Better!”
For more information about the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Vision Cooperative program, please contact the following:
CUPHD – Julie Pryde, Acting Administrator, CUPHD; (217) 239-5369
Carle Foundation Hospital - Allison McLaughlin, Specialist; (217) 383-4602
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Wednesday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2007
Contact
Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease
(217) 531-5372 /
Wednesday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to “Take the Test and Take Control of Your Health!”
Champaign, IL – June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, an annual observance meant to draw attention to a disease which effects over an estimated 1 million individuals living in the United States. Of these, between 252,000 and 315,000 do not know they are infected, and may unknowingly be spreading the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- Over 30,000 new estimated HIV cases are reported each year.
- 68% of the total estimated AIDS deaths have occurred in persons between the ages of 25 and 44.
- Among the diagnosed AIDS cases from the beginning of the epidemic through 2004; 80% were men, 19% were women, and 1% were children less than 13 years of age.
- 40% of diagnosed AIDS cases were among African-Americans, 40% were Caucasian, 19% Hispanic, 1% Asian and less than 1% other.
- Women most commonly reported heterosexual contact or injection drug use as their primary modes of exposure to HIV.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is part of a national effort to encourage HIV Testing to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. HIV testing is offered every week at selected CUPHD locations, and CUPHD works in conjunction with local healthcare agencies to provide follow-up testing and care for clients with active HIV. CUPHD will host National HIV Testing Day events locally that will focus on those persons at increased risk for HIV infection that include testing, risk reduction education and supplies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), of the more than 1 million Americans are now estimated to be living with HIV, one-quarter do not realize they are infected. As a result, they do not receive medical care that could help them live longer, fuller lives. And without knowing it, they may also be transmitting HIV to others. It is estimated that the majority of sexually transmitted HIV infections are transmitted by people who are unaware of their infection.
The CDC recommends routine HIV screening for all persons aged 13 to 64 if you are sexually active, have multiple partners, have unprotected sex, or have other sexually transmitted diseases. Men who have sex with other men or persons who share needles to inject drugs are highly encouraged to seek HIV testing.
CUPHD has a series of innovative programs that take HIV testing and counseling services directly to the people at risk, in their own communities. From testing events at local clubs and nightspots to outreach with mobile vans and testing at community events, efforts are underway to better educate citizens on HIV.
National HIV Testing Day offers an excellent opportunity to be tested for HIV. But an HIV test can be taken on any day. Resolve to take the test and take control of your health. “Know the Facts and Educate, Motivate and Mobilize against HIV/AIDS!”
For more information on HIV testing including confidential locations and schedules of CUPHD testing sites, please call the CUPHD Division of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at 217-239-7827 or visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Centennial High School Students “Commercialize” The Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Life to Peers & Public
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2007
Contact
Jennifer Jackson, Health Educator
(217) 531-2912
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Centennial High School Students “Commercialize” The Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Life to Peers & Public
Champaign, IL – Centennial High School students had their first taste of Hollywood–Illinois-Style when they volunteered to assist the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and REALITY Illinois in making two commercials to be broadcasted on Insight Media cable and the local CW. On April 17, 2007 the commercials entitled “Sucker” and “Voicemail” were recorded at Centennial High School using scripts provided by REALITY Illinois. These commercials are currently airing throughout the month of June on Insight Media Cable on such youth popular stations as “Comedy Central”, “FX” and “MTV”.
“Being in a commercial was really hard work,” said one Centennial High School student, “We had to shoot one part 8 times because we kept laughing and messing up, but you can’t tell on the final commercial. Since the commercial has been on TV, kids I don’t know me stop me and say “Hey, I saw you on TV last night – that’s cool.” I just hope they remember smoking isn’t cool.”
“Kids are a powerful part of the solution to reducing youth tobacco use,” said Jennifer Jackson, Health Educator for CUPHD, “Centennial High School students are sending the message that smoking is not acceptable and the consequences are both dire and preventable.”
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people each year. Everyday, more than 4,000 kids try their first cigarettes; another 1,000 kids become addicted smokers, one-third of whom will die prematurely as a result.
For more information about CUPHD's programs and services, visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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