Press Releases
Year
Dr. Howard Elementary School Partners with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Fight the National Crisis of Obesity in Children
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2007
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Dr. Howard Elementary School Partners with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Fight the National Crisis of Obesity in Children
Second Year of Partnership Promotes Progressive Healthy School Changes – Including Annual Fundraising Efforts
Champaign, IL – Dr. Howard Elementary School has partnered for the second year with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) in the implementation of the highly successful 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.
“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 Coordinator 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. Dr. Howard Elementary School has been a great partner and we look forward to building on our joint successes this year.”
In the spirit of CATCH, Dr. Howard Elementary School is incorporating the ideals of healthy living in all school functions, including this year’s annual fund-raiser. Dr. Howard Elementary students will be asking family members and friends to donate money to the Dr. Howard Walk-athon. On October 17, 2007, students will walk for 90 minutes to raise money for their school. Typically, schools sell assorted foods and merchandise to raise money for school programs. A leading product in these fundraising drives is candy. Dr. Howard Elementary does not wish to support “junk food habits”, and is excited by the walk-a-thon. Students will be showing that fitness is easy and fun while walking to raise funds.
“Our kids know what foods are and aren’t healthy, but we are sending them mixed messages when we promote candy sales at school,” said Wendy Starwalt, Teacher, Dr. Howard Elementary.
The Walk-a-thon is just one of several programs implemented by the CATCH partnership to promote a more healthy school environment. Dr. Howard Elementary has also started a walking club with foot charm incentives awarded for each mile a student has walked, and “Fitness Friday”, an interactive physical activity component that allows selected 5th graders to demonstrate fitness activities to lower grades and encourage increased participation by everyone.
For more information about CATCH and other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217352-7961 or visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Creates Changes in Services to Better Serve Customers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2007
Contact
Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease
(217) 531-5372 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Creates Changes in Services to Better Serve Customers
Adult Services and Division of Wellness & Health Promotions Develop Partnership to Increase Customer Satisfaction
Champaign, IL – Beginning October 1, 2007 the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) re-organized divisions to provide better services for CUPHD customers. The Division of Wellness & Health Promotions (previously Chronic Disease Prevention & Management) will now be conducting Adult Immunizations and Health Check Clinics, duties which until now were completed by Adult Services. The goal of this service expansion has been to decrease the wait time of CUPHD customers, while affording them the opportunity to access additional educational and prevention opportunities and information.
“At CUPHD, our customers are our primary concern,” said Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease Prevention & Management for CUPHD. “We discovered that many customers require relatively quick procedures, such as immunizations or educational materials. Due to the appointment and “order of arrival” policies, these customers were required to wait while other customers ahead of them were assisted, often with lengthier procedures. This new partnership with the Division of Wellness & Health Promotions will help streamline these customers and increase customer satisfaction overall.”
Additional changes in Adult Services have included:
Expanded hours for TB Skin Testing: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm
STD Testing will be available: Monday 4:00pm – 5:30pm (Men Only); Tuesday 1:00pm – 5:00pm; Thursday 9:00am – 11:00am & 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Pregnancy Testing will also be available: Monday 8:00am-5:30pm; Tuesday 8:00am-11:00am & 1:00pm-5:00pm; Wednesday 8:00am-4:00pm; Thursday 9:00am-11:00am & 1:00pm-3:00pm; Friday 8:00am-4:00pm
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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Avoid the Flu Fast – Just Drive Thru!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2007
Contact
Julie Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Avoid the Flu Fast – Just Drive Thru!
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Provides a Fast Alternative Way to Receive a 2007 Flu Shot – A Mass Immunization Drive Thru.
Champaign, IL – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be providing annual flu shots from the parking lot of their new building at 201 West Kenyon Road on Wednesday and Thursday, September 26th and 27th from 8:00am – 8:00pm. Vaccines will be available for everyone ages 3 and up for only $25.00. CUPHD will accept Medicaid, Medicare, Visa, Master Card, cash, and personal checks. This year’s flu clinic will be a “drive-thru”. Customers wanting flu shots will not have to leave the comfort of their car, but rather be able to “get the shot and go”.
CUPHD hopes that by offering such a convenient and speedy delivery of service, that more people will take advantage of this year’s flu shot, thus reducing the number of people susceptible to illness this flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5-20% of the population gets the flu annually, more than 200,000 are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from the flu each year. Some people, such as the elderly, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
“The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get a flu vaccination each year.” said Julie A. Pryde, Acting Administrator at CUPHD. “The sooner you get your flu shot the better. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus. The flu season can begin as early as October and can last as late as May.”
Different side effects can be associated with the flu shot. Some minor side effects could include soreness, redness or swelling at the inoculation site, low grade fever, or body aches. If these problems occur, they will begin soon after the shot, and usually last 1 to 2 days. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccine can cause severe allergic reactions, and is not recommended for people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, or who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination in the past. People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should not be vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
For those interested parties that may be unable to attend the annual drive-thru flu clinic, flu vaccinations will be available during regular CUPHD business hours, Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm, at the 201 West Kenyon Road location. No appointment is necessary.
For more information about flu vaccines and other CUPHD programs and services, call 217-352-7961 or visit the CUPHD website at www.c-uphd.org.
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