Press Releases
Year
Health District to Celebrate “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” by Teaching Children About “Making Choices for a Better World”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2008
Contact
Patricia Robinson, Director of Human Resources
(217) 531-4257,
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Health District to Celebrate “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” by Teaching Children About “Making Choices for a Better World”
Kids to Design Public Health Education Campaign, Learn about Caring Professions and how their Everyday Choices Contribute to a Better World
Champaign, IL – April 25 is “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day,” and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will offer a full day of activities to educate children about Public Health and other “caring professions.” The children will focus on interactions designed to exemplify how their everyday choices contribute to a better world and each will participate in designing a public health education campaign, to be presented to parents and media at the end of the day.
“This is the fourth year we have offered this interactive program for the children of our associates.” said Julie A. Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator. “Many times we find that the children know what their parents do, but they do not understand the scope of services and assistance that CUPHD offers the community. It is always interesting to see what program each child identifies with and how they translate the information to their everyday activities. This program is truly mutually beneficial to both the children and the CUPHD staff alike.”
Over 30 children, ranging in age from 5-16, will join their dedicated CUPHD parents at work and will participate in this progressive interactive event. The day will begin with breakfast, an “ice-breaker” to help the kids get to know one another, and an overview of public health programs and services. Just before a “business lunch” the group will tour the new CUPHD facilities, and explore the fascinating world of bacteria and germs, including a practical application in dental health.
In the afternoon the children will participate in a Bacteria Fair, where the Petri dish samples they collected the previous month will be displayed and identified by CUPHD staff members. The children will also take the time to talk with various CUPHD staff members about “caring professions,” including jobs in public health. This discussion will introduce the children to different kinds of work – paid, underpaid and unpaid – and will emphasize the intrinsic value that all work has on society and how these choices help create a better world.
The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to the creation of both individual and team oriented public health education campaigns. Participating children are encouraged to create campaigns about the public health issue that is most important to them. The children will present their ideas and campaigns to parents and the media at the end of the workshop.
The Ms. Foundation for women launched “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” 16 years ago in 1993, to allow parents to share their work lives with their children, specifically with their daughters, and to stimulate discussion about the challenges of finding meaningful work while also dedicating time to address the needs of both family and community.
Nearly 14 million employed parents are gearing up to bring their children to thousands of workplaces across the country. An estimated 10 million girls and 6 million boys will learn about traditional and non-traditional employment in government, nonprofit and forprofit workplaces.
For more information on CUPHD’s “Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day”, please contact Patricia Robinson, Director of Human Resources, (217) 531-4257.
For more information on other CUPHD programs and services, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Illinois Department of Public Health and Local Partner CUPHD Sponsor Life-Changing Stage Play at University of Illinois
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Illinois Department of Public Health and Local Partner CUPHD Sponsor Life-Changing Stage Play at University of Illinois
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Partners with the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide FREE Screenings and Bring a Greater Awareness of HIV/AIDS through an Entertaining Stage Play
Champaign, IL – On Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 4:00pm guests at the Foellinger Auditorium will have the opportunity to see a live production of the hilarious stage play “What You Don’t Know Can KILL You” – the college tour. “What You Don’t Know Can KILL You” tells the stories of how the wrong choices of three different individuals affect their lives. Admission is free, and guests will have the opportunity to have a free HIV/AIDS screening on location by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District from 12:00pm – 3:30pm in the University of Illinois Foreign Language Building. Guests participating in HIV/AIDS screenings will be entered into a raffle to win a laptop computer.
Purposed One Entertainment and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) have partnered together in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the state of Illinois. Together with local partner Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), Purposed One Entertainment and IDPH hope to send the message “get tested so your mind can be rested” to the students of the University of Illinois.
The “What You Don’t Know Can KILL You” Tour is an event of purpose. Knowing your status can save not only your life, but also the lives of your partners. “What You Don’t Know Can KILL You” hopes to offer knowledge, awareness and enlightenment about HIV/AIDS, the preventable disease that is plaguing our community.
“What You Don’t Know Can KILL You” has been on a 10-college / university tour in Illinois since February 2008. The playwright is Angela McGee, President and CEO of Purposed One Entertainment, a company whose goal is to produce quality entertainment with a purpose through film, stage plays and television programs. Ms. McGee is currently a producer on the “Judge Mathis Show.
“What You Don’t Know Can KILL You” is a hilarious stage play that will make you laugh and cry. Audiences should come expecting to be entertained and leave inspired.
For more information on this or any other CUPHD program, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Joins Nation in Responding to STD Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2008
Contact
Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease
(217) 531-5372 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Joins Nation in Responding to STD Crisis
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Promotes National STD Awareness Month by Encouraging Citizens to be Routinely Tested for STD’s
Champaign, IL – April 2008 marks the annual observance of National Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is responding to the impact of STD’s in local communities by offering STD clinics at its 201 West Kenyon Road location: Tuesdays, 1:00pm – 5:00pm; Thursdays, 9:00am – 11:00am and 1:00pm – 3:00pm. CUPHD also offers a Men’s Clinic on Mondays from 4:00pm – 5:30pm. CUPHD emphasizes that testing is a key component for good sexual health, and encourages all sexually active citizens to be routinely tested for STD’s.
“Many STD’s do not have any visual symptoms,” said Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease for CUPHD. “Often people who contract an STD are unaware that they are infected, and thus risk spreading the disease to their partners. If left untreated, STD’s will get worse, and may effect fertility, pregnancy, and in extreme cases, may even lead to death. There are many effective ways to diagnose and treat STD’s, but perhaps most importantly, there are many ways to prevent STD’s as well.”
Approximately 19 million new sexually transmitted diseases occur every year in the United States – and almost half of those are among young people aged 15 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). STD’s pose a serious public health threat to our communities, particularly young women, African Americans, men who have sex with men (MSM), and individuals living in poverty or who have limited access to healthcare.
The CDC recommends routine Chlamydia testing for women under age 26, and for women who are pregnant or have new or multiple partners. CDC also recommends routine HIV testing for all those sexually active from the ages 13-64.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Infectious Disease Division offers STD education, prevention, testing and treatment at their new location at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. All tests are confidential. STD testing is available for anyone ages 12 years and older. Those between the ages of 12-18 may be tested for STD’s without parental permission. United States citizenship is not required for STD testing.
CUPHD services include screening, medical exams, and treatment for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infections (genital warts), Syphilis, HIV, Trichomonas, Yeast, Bacterial Vaginosis, and NGU (Non-Gonococcal Urethrititis). Hepatitis A and B immunizations are offered to all STD clients. A simple blood test is also available to screen for genital herpes for people with no symptoms for a fee of $7.00.
For more information on STD education, prevention, testing and treatment or any CUPHD programs please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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