Press Releases
Year
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Helps the Students of Dr. Howard Elementary School “CATCH” the Spirit of Good Health!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2007
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Helps the Students of Dr. Howard Elementary School “CATCH” the Spirit of Good Health!
Champaign, IL – Dr. Howard Elementary School has partnered with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) to implement the Coordinated Approach To Child Health (CATCH) Program. The CATCH Program is a multi-component program that promotes positive healthy behaviors in students and emphasizes the need for a healthy lifestyle to improved both living and learning. CATCH has three core components – nutrition, physical activity, and health education.
On Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Dr. Howard Elementary School will be celebrating the success of the this year’s CATCH program with a Field Day. Field Day will encourage the students at Dr. Howard Elementary to engage in physical activity by making physical activity FUN! Students will be able to participate in a variety of relays, activity stations and the ever-popular inflatable bounce house. Field Day will be open to all Dr. Howard Elementary students during their physical education period.
“CATCH is a fun, well-rounded program that affords students the ability to excel through a series of consistent messages from a variety of sources.” said Nikki Hillier, Program Director of Health Promotions for CUPHD. “CATCH builds an alliance of children, parents, teachers, and school staff to teach skills and behaviors associated with maintaining healthy lifestyles.”
As part of CATCH, students were encouraged to participate in and complete a “Homework Health Journey”. This journey consisted of a series of activities for students to complete at home with the assistance of their parents. This journey further expands awareness by incorporating the new lifestyle behaviors at home as well as at school. 15 students at Dr. Howard Elementary School have completed all the lessons and will receive a tennis racquet and tennis ball to promote the start of a new physical activity.
For more information about CUPHD's programs and services, visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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April Showers Bring May Flowers and the Need for Hand Washing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2007
Contact
Awais Vaid, Epidemiologist
(217) 531-5360
Rachella Thompson
217-531-5361
April Showers Bring May Flowers and the Need for Hand Washing
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges the Public to Wash Their Hands Often to Prevent the Spread of Disease
Champaign, IL – Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick and spreading illnesses. Cleaning your hands gets rid of many germs that are picked up from other people, touchable surfaces and animals. Teaching the importance of proper hand washing, as well as, frequent, supervised hand washing by adults for all young children should be encouraged. If soap and water are not available, the use of an alcohol based wipe or hand gel is recommended.
Proper hand washing should include the following steps:
- Wet your hands and apply soap.
- Rub hands together vigorously to lather and scrub all surfaces.
- Continue washing for 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”- twice!).
- Rinse hands well under running water.
- Dry hands using a single use paper towel or air dryer.
- If possible, use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the bathroom door to avoid contaminating your clean hands.
Hand washing is an important step to good health. Children are particularly susceptible to picking up germs and bacteria. They can unknowingly become infected simply by touching infected objects or surfaces. An infected child or adult can easily spread the disease among other family members.
Good hand washing is your first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses, not just the common cold. For example, many types of infectious gastroenteritis are spread person- to person via fecal-oral route by improper hand washing technique.
To minimize the germs passed around your family, make frequent hand washing a rule for everyone, especially:
- before eating and cooking
- after using the bathroom
- after cleaning around the house
- after touching animals, including family pets
- after visiting or taking care of any sick friends or relatives
- after blowing one's nose, coughing, or sneezing
- after being outside (playing, gardening, walking the dog, etc.)
Don't underestimate the power of hand washing! The few seconds you spend at the sink could save you a costly trip to the doctor's office.
For more information, please contact CUPHD, Division of Infectious Disease Prevention & Management, (217) 531-5361 or visit our website at www.c-uphd.org.
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Urbana School Health Center Supplies Local Resource for State Mandated Dental Exams and School Physicals
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
Contact
Heidi Britton, Program Coordinator
(217) 239-4220
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Urbana School Health Center Supplies Local Resource for State Mandated Dental Exams and School Physicals
Urbana, IL – The Illinois State Board of Education requires that all children in grades K, 2 and 6 have an oral health exam. This exam must be completed prior to May 15, 2007. Students entering the Early Childhood Program, K, 5th or 9th grade must complete a physical exam and have the physical exam on file with the school district by the first day of school. The Urbana School Health Center (USHC), located at the Urbana High School at 1002 South Race Street, offers parents of students in the Urbana School District a convenient way to accomplish these exams. Parents may elect to have these exams completed during the school day by the professional staff at USHC. Parents interested in taking advantage of this program are encouraged to complete a consent form, available at USHC and call 217-239-4220 to arrange for an appointment.
USHC has been instrumental in improving the health focus and quality of life for the students at the Urbana School District. Since opening its doors in 2004, the USHC has not only been seeing Urbana School District students daily, but has seen an increase in the number of students using the service. The USHC has potentially saved lives by preventing and treating chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma; substance abuse counseling; providing critical mental health services, like grief therapy, crisis intervention and suicide prevention; providing acute care for upper respiratory infections, colds and flus; making available necessary preventative measures such as physicals, immunizations and nutritional education; and ensuring proper oral health by supplying necessary dental examinations and treatments.
“Today’s parents often feel overwhelmed. Schedule conflicts, transportation challenges and financial burdens often keep the personal health care of their students from being a priority.” said Heidi Britton, Program Coordinator for the Urbana School Health Center. “USHC provides a comprehensive individualized care package for each student, which can be utilized during the school day, alleviating many of these conflicts.”
Currently 60% of the Urbana School District students are enrolled in the USHC program. A signed consent form, available at the USHC, from a parent or guardian is all that is necessary to gain unlimited access to these professional healthcare services. USHC accepts most private insurances as well as Medicaid. A sliding fee scale based on income is available for those individuals without health insurance.
Demand for convenient and affordable medical and dental healthcare is high. The USHC is dedicated to being receptive to the community’s needs. In January 2007, in response to the higher demand for dental access for minors, USHC increased dental services availability for all students to five days a week.
USHC has also observed an increased request for mental health services. USHC currently provides a full time student health center therapist who not only carries a full caseload but also has an active wait list. “The demand for mental health services in the Urbana Community at large is high, particularly for those individuals that are low income or Medicaid eligible. A limited number of providers accept Medicaid and those that do have long wait lists,” added Ms. Britton.
National and local studies have shown that school health centers decrease school absenteeism, reduce emergency room visits and lessen unhealthy behaviors in students that compromise academic success.
The Urbana School Health Center is committed to enhancing the Urbana School District students’ academic and healthy lifestyle choices. For more information about Urbana School Health Center’s programs and services, visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org/urbanacenter.html.
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