Press Releases
Year
Local Prevention Specialist Recipient of “Red Ribbon” AIDS Service Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Local Prevention Specialist Recipient of “Red Ribbon” AIDS Service Award
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Prevention Specialist Receives State Award for Service to the Community
Champaign, IL – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) Prevention Specialist, Joe Trotter, was recently named the first recipient of the newly renamed “Beth Wehrman Award – Takin’ It To The Streets” at the 17th Annual HIV/STD Conference held in Springfield, IL on October 28 – 30, 2008. This award will be given annually to the individual whose actions best address the needs of underserved HIV/STD citizens in the State of Illinois, and best address the ongoing issues of infectious disease prevention and management.
Joe Trotter has served as a Prevention Specialist at CUPHD for 2 years. Despite the relatively short time, Joe has made great strides in addressing the needs of injection drug users engaging in behavior that might lead to the contraction of HIV or viral Hepatitis. Joe has spent countless hours learning about the needs of the IDU community in Central IL often on his own time, while continuing to perform the duties of his “real job” at CUPHD. He works directly with underserved populations on the streets.
“Joe has a need for life to be fair and equitable, and for all people to be respected and served.” said Candi Crause, Acting Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at CUPHD. “Over the past two years, Joe has been able to give a voice to those who are traditionally not heard. Through Joe, many people are able to find the resources to live longer and healthier lives. His compassion has truly made a difference in our community.”
The 17th Annual HIV/STD Conference focused on “A New Frontier – Integrating Medicine, Services, and Technology”. Conference attendees believe that a comprehensive approach must be used to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The ultimate goal of the conference was to provide new ideas and practical information to assist IL professionals in achieving this end in everyday work. The conference focused on fostering connections across disciplinary lines to share effective prevention approaches and research findings, to examine state-ofthe-art medical management of HIV and STDs, to strategize the best ways to get services to those in need, and to learn about current and emerging policy issues.
The Takin It To The Streets was renamed to honor Beth Wehrman for her tireless efforts in infectious disease prevention and management and pioneering work in the field of HIV. Beth advocated taking messages out of the traditional setting and to the people most at risk and in need. Beth’s dedication gained her the reputation and respect admired by others. Beth recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. This award was renamed in her memory.
Four other CUPHD employees received “Red Ribbon Awards” at previous HIV/STD Conferences: Arlene Valentine, Sonya Kuykendall, Jeffery Erdman, and Julie Pryde.
For more information on HIV or STD awareness, prevention or testing, 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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Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Provides Funding to Local Agency to Increase Pandemic Preparedness & Awareness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Provides Funding to Local Agency to Increase Pandemic Preparedness & Awareness
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Create Communitywide Pandemic Planning Task-Force
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has received $578,000 from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to help increase pandemic flu awareness and preparedness in Champaign County. Illinois is one of only nine states and areas in the nation to receive funding for the “Collaborative Planning for Delivery of Essential Healthcare Services” project sponsored by the CDC. Other recipients include Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York City, Oregon, and Virginia.
CUPHD will use this grant to build on the outcome of its workshop with the CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion / Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education that occurred in Indiana earlier this year. CUPHD plans to work with a collaboration of community partners and leaders to develop practical strategies to deliver healthcare to those at home, within the community, and in the hospital in the event of a pandemic flu. The collaboration will begin by identifying the issues and obstacles in the current healthcare system’s response and in any existing area pandemic flu preparedness plans.
“A coordinated approach among state, county and local health departments is essential to ensuring the health and safety of our communities during a pandemic influenza as well as other health emergencies.” said Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director. “The Illinois Department of Public Health was pleased to help the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District secure funding to assist with the creation of a local pandemic flu response plan, exercises and other preparedness efforts that can be applied to other communities and benefit the entire state.”
CUPHD has proposed to utilize the grant in the following ways:
- Form, support, and lead a Task-Force for Pandemic Flu Response that will plan and assist CUPHD with project activities to improve Champaign County’s response in the delivery of essential healthcare services during a pandemic.
- Plan, execute and evaluate table-top exercises with appropriate Champaign County healthcare partners to test the delivery of essential healthcare services during a pandemic.
- Contract with expert consultants to assist at least fifteen Champaign County healthcare agencies or other identified critical infrastructure entities, write continuity of operation plans.
- Contract with the University of Illinois’ National Center for Supercomputing Applications to develop and successfully test a syndromic surveillance system specific to the needs of the Champaign-Urbana and make this application freely available to all local health departments in Illinois.
- Plan, host, and conduct a seminar in collaboration with Toronto Health Department to discuss the lessons learned from Toronto’s experience with the 2003 SARS outbreak.
- Aggressively market and conduct Town Hall meetings and community events about pandemic flu for the public to both educate and solicit public comment on pandemic flu and other public health emergency preparedness planning.
“In today’s global society, it is no longer a question of “if” there will be a full scale pandemic disaster that will affect Champaign County, but a matter of “when.’” said Julie A. Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator. “This grant is providing an incredible opportunity for our community leaders to work together to provide a comprehensive pandemic plan. It is better to have a plan and no pandemic, than a pandemic with no plan.”
For more information on the Champaign County pandemic preparedness, basic emergency preparedness or any other CUPHD program, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.Stock2forFlu or www.c-uphd.org.
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CUPHD Encourages Local Community To Go To The Polls For Voting And Vaccination!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
CUPHD Encourages Local Community To Go To The Polls For Voting And Vaccination!
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Hold Flu Shot Clinics at Polling Places as Part of National Initiative
Champaign, IL – On Election Day 2008, those who go to polling places in Champaign-Urbana may find that they can do more than vote – they can also get a flu shot. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be having three mobile flu shot clinics at local polling places as part of a nationwide pilot program to help improve the health of all Americans. CUPHD is one of a growing number of health organizations across the county participating in “Vote & Vax”, a national project to encourage the hosting of flu clinics at polling sites on Election Day. As an added value service, CUPHD will also be offering FREE blood screenings for prostate cancer (PSA) for all interested men over 40.
CUPHD will be at the following polling sites this Election Day from 7:00am – 7:00pm:
- Meadowbrook Community Church; 1902 South Duncan Road, Champaign
- Sunnycrest Mall; Urbana
- Olive Baptist Church; 808 East Bradley Avenue, Champaign
“This is a great opportunity for everyone, but particularly adults age 50 and older who are especially vulnerable to illness during flu season, to safely and conveniently receive a flu shot from a friendly CUPHD team member, while also voting,” said Candi Crause, Acting Director of Infectious Disease Prevention & Management for CUPHD. “This Election Day, more than 100 million Americans are expected to vote at their local community polling places. The “Vote & Vax” project provides a good solution to help our community protect its health during the upcoming flu season.”
Each year, as many as 60 million people in the United States come down with the flu. Hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and more than 36,000 people die as a result of the flu. The majority of those who die are adults age 50 and older.
It is important that people take all precautions to ensure they stay healthy. This is why CUPHD is providing voters and other community members with easy access to flu shots at polling places to help protect their health and the health of their community.
“Election Day represents a good opportunity for us to make contact with a large cross section of the community,” said Julie A. Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator. “Great effort is expended on Election Day to get people to the polls. Because of this, CUPHD can potentially vaccinate many people who may otherwise not be reached.”
For more information on the Vote & Vax Program, the CUPHD Mobile Program 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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