Press Releases
Year
CUPHD Invites Local Children with Asthma to Take a FREE Ride to Adventure!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2009
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
CUPHD Invites Local Children with Asthma to Take a FREE Ride to Adventure!
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Offers Travel Scholarships for Asthma Adventure Camp 2009
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) in collaboration with the East Central Illinois Asthma Partnership and the Illinois Department of Public Health will be accepting applications for “travel scholarships” from local children ages 7-14 that would like to attend the Asthma Adventure Camp 2009, August 7-9, located at the Lake Williamson Retreat and Conference Center in Carlinville, IL. Travel scholarships will assist with gas money, drivers, and if enough children apply, a charter bus ticket to camp. Applications for “travel scholarships” are available at CUPHD at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign, or on-line at www.c-uphd.org . The deadline for applications is July 15, 2009. Additional information regarding the “travel scholarships” may be obtained by calling 217-531-2915.
Asthma Adventure Camp is an annual event provided by the American Lung Association in Illinois and the United Way. Asthma Adventure Camp is for children ages 7-14 who suffer from asthma. Camp activities include swimming, crafts, archery, basketball, volleyball, waterslide, blow-up obstacle course, 25-foot climbing wall and much more.
“Asthma Adventure Camp is a great experience for children suffering with asthma,” said Trisha Gillespie, Health Educator for CUPHD, “The camp provides a safe, fun environment for participants to learn how to enjoy everyday athletic events while controlling their asthma. CUPHD hopes that more children will be able to take advantage of the “adventure” this year through these scholarships.”
Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children. Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers. Environmental triggers can include, but are not limited to, mold, dust mites and tobacco smoke.
Asthma can be controlled by knowing the warning signs of an attack, staying away from things that trigger an attack, and following the advice of a doctor or other medical professional.
Asthma affects a large number of people in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that there are currently 16.2 Million adults and 6.7 million children diagnosed with asthma in 2008. Many more remain undiagnosed.
For more information about the CUPHD Asthma Adventure Camp 2009 Travel Scholarships, asthma programs at CUPHD, or any other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217-352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Champaign- Urbana Public Health District to Provide Meals to Local Children Ages 18 and Under
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2009
Contact
Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health
(217) 531-4297 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign- Urbana Public Health District to Provide Meals to Local Children Ages 18 and Under
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Participates in Summer Food Program
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be providing FREE meals and snacks to children ages 18 and under this summer through the Illinois State Board of Education administered Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Meals and snacks will be provided in both the CUPHD Champaign and Rantoul locations. All food will be provided at no cost to the participating children. Food will be available during designated times only, and all children will be required to eat the food on-site.
The Summer Food Service Program schedule is:
CUPHD Champaign located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign –
Monday thru Friday
June 10 – August 19, 2009
BREAKFAST: 8:00am – 9:00am
LUNCH: 11:00am – 12:00pm
SNACK: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
CUPHD Rantoul located at the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County WIC Office located at 520 East Wabash in Rantoul –
Tuesdays & Fridays
June 12 – August 14, 2009
BREAKFAST: 9:30am – 10:30am
SNACK: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Breakfast will include milk, fruit and cereal; Lunch will include milk and sandwich with juice, fruit or vegetable option; Snack will include milk and a healthy snack item. Menu is subject to change without notice.
“The summer months can be nutritionally challenging for many children,” said Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health for CUPHD, “In these difficult economic times, many children that may have depended on free or reduced lunches at schools to meet daily nutritional needs may have to make due with less when school is out. CUPHD hopes that by providing the Summer Food Program, all local children will have the opportunity to get a nutritionally balanced meal free of cost in a safe environment.”
The intent of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is to serve nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session. The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administrated by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
For more information about the Summer Food Service Program at CUPHD or other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217-352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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Local Grade School Children Take a Stand Against Tobacco Use and Win Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2009
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Local Grade School Children Take a Stand Against Tobacco Use and Win Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District REALITY Illinois Program Announces Winners of Annual Contest
Champaign, IL – Local grade school children received prizes for the winning entries in the 2009 REALITY Illinois poster contest. Awards for students grades Kindergarten – Fifth were chosen from 200 entries by REALITY Illinois students at JW Eater High School on April 6th. All entries were on display at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) for the Kick Butts Day Health Fair on March 28, 2009.
Champaign-Urbana grade school children recently participated in an annual anti-tobacco workshop provided by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD). Sponsored by Reality Illinois, this workshop is designed to educate children on the dangers of tobacco use, and provide them with the tools necessary to make the best possible decisions in the future regarding tobacco use. At the end of the workshop, participants were encouraged to create posters that best represented their thoughts on tobacco use, and the messages that they would like their peers to know when considering the use of tobacco products.
“Over 60,000 children in Illinois under the age of 18 become new daily tobacco users each year,” said Trisha Gillespie, Health Educator for CUPHD, “It is estimated that one third of those will become regular tobacco users as adults, and suffer health problems related to tobacco use in the future. It is imperative that young children are presented with tobacco information before they are tempted to try a tobacco product.”
Winners of the REALITY Illinois 2009 Poster Contest are:
KINDERGARTEN – SECOND GRADE -
- 1st Place: Will Delaney, 1st Grade, Fisher Elementary, $100 worth of gift cards & their poster on a t-shirt for their entire class.
- 2nd Place: Kiley Chancelor, 2nd Grade, Unity West, $50 worth of gift cards
- 3rd Place: Sandy Howe, 2nd Grade, Ludlow Grade School, $25 in gift cards
THIRD GRADE – FIFTH GRADE -
- 1st Place: Gavin Schrader, 5th Grade, Dr. Howard Elementary, $100 worth of gift cards & their poster on a t-shirt for their entire class.
- 2nd Place: Jack McDonald, 4th Grade, Carrie Busey Elementary, $50 worth of gift cards
- 3rd Place: Sophia Wallis, 5th Grade, Dr. Howard Elementary, $25 in gift cards
REALITY Illinois is an anti-tobacco movement created by and for Illinois teens. With help from the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments, REALITY Illinois encourages teens to take a stand against tobacco by educating their peers and communities about the adverse health effects and deceptive marketing practices of tobacco companies. The teens also work to make their communities tobacco-free and communicate with decision makers on issues related to tobacco prevention and control.
The REALITY Illinois program was launched in the summer of 2002. Local chapters form a teen advisory panel to plan activities and events that range from conducting peerto-peer tobacco prevention education to membership recruitment and advocacy projects.
For more information about the REALITY Illinois program at CUPHD or other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217-352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.cuphd.org.
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