Community Health Network Area 12



	Check here each time you visit to see what changes have taken place. We will update as necessary. MEETING SCHEDULE CHANGES Beginning Fall of 2007, CHNA 12 meetings will now take place every month from 9:00AM to 11:30AM. Location: Atrium Conference Room Merrimack Valley Hospital 140 Lincoln Avenue Haverhill, MA 01830 978-374-2000 The next scheduled meeting will be November 14, 2007. Please note this change. June 2006 - Avian Flu Information Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide for Individuals and Families January 2005 - Mini Grant Information CHNA 12 is giving mini-grants focusing on Healthy People 2010 regarding: Physical Activity (Objectives 22-2 & 22-7) Overweight and Obesity (Objectives 19-2 & 19-3c) $5,000 is available to award the grants in the amount of $1,000-$2,000. Priority will be given to those applications that show sustainability. Click here to learn how to apply. October 2004 - Influenza Information Statement of DPH Commissioner Christine C. Ferguson Regarding Influenza Vaccine Availability: The Department of Public Health learned today that Chiron, the manufacturer of the bulk of the influenza vaccine purchased by the Department for this year's influenza vaccination program, will not be able to release the vaccine the Department ordered because of regulatory action taken in the United Kingdom where the vaccine is manufactured. DPH ordered 462,000 doses of the flu vaccine from Chiron for this year's flu session. This purchase represents 73 percent of the state's public supply. Chiron supplies almost 50 percent of the country's total supply of influenza vaccine. This development presents a challenge to our efforts to reduce the spread of the flu in Massachusetts. The Department has already received approximately 50 percent of the 168,000 doses of FluZone, manufactured by Aventis which is the only vaccine approved for use in young children as well as adults. The Department has distributed 42,000 doses to providers, so far. Additional doses of the vaccine (41,000 doses) are now temporarily being held as we assess overall supply and await for national guidelines on priority groups for vaccination. We will do everything possible to ensure that the individuals in the highest risk groups - generally children six to 23 months old and the elderly - receive the vaccine. Even though the current situation presents an increased risk, there are many things that people can do to reduce their risk of influenza and other respiratory illnesses and prevent spread of viruses to others. It is critical that everyone take care to cover all coughs and sneezes, use tissues, and discard them properly. Hand washing is extremely important in preventing the spread of viruses like influenza virus. Wash with plenty of warm water and a good soapy lather for at least 20 seconds. If individuals are sick, they should not go to work or school until they get better. August 2004 - Arbovirus Information West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV). Please follow the links below to learn more about WNV and EEEV and how to protect : http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv/wnv1.htm August 2004 - FYI Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction Frequently Asked Questions about Meningitis Injury Prevention and Control Program: Training, Educational Materials and Resources Handwashing Information Web Page July 2004 - Smoke Free Workplace Law As of July 5th, 2004 the Massachusetts Smoke-free Workplace Law prohibits smoking in workplaces in order to protect employees and the public from secondhand smoke. Click here for employer and general public information. Click here to read the full text of the law. March 2004 - WIC news The Massachusetts Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) improves the health status of families by providing nutrition and health education, breastfeeding education, nutritious foods, and referrals to other health and social agencies. Click here to view WIC's breastfeeding recommendations. Click here to view WIC's information on children's tv viewing. January 2004 - Cancer Resources CHNA12 would like to inform the public of two programs to help people in the struggle with cancer. 'I Can Cope' is an American Cancer Society education program for people facing cancer – either personally, or as a friend or family caregiver. I Can Cope offers help – in the form of reliable information, peer support, and practical coping skills – so that you can meet this challenge. Click here to view their meeting schedule. 'Look Good... Feel Better' is a free program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Click here to view their meeting schedule. June 2003 - Updated Meeting Schedule, New Links The CHNA12 meeting schedule for 2003/2004 is now available on the meeting page. Also, many new links have been posted on our public resources page. June 2003 - CAI and Monkeypox Community Action, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the causes and consequences of poverty in the Greater Haverhill, Newburyport, and Amesbury area. To learn more about their programs, please visit their website. Also, with recent monkeypox cases in the United States, CHNA12 would like you to read CDC's monkeypox facts and tips for pet owners. April 2003 - MAPP Workshop The National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has developed Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP). MAPP is a community-wide strategic planning tool for improving community health. Facilitated by public health leadership, this tool helps communities prioritize public health issues and identify resources for addressing them. To learn more about the workshop and how to register, please view the MAPP flyer. April 2003 - SARS Response Please visit http://www.state.ma.us/dph/cdc/epii/sars/sars.htm for the Massachusetts DPH response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The site includes a fact sheet, guidelines, the case definition, and Massachusetts clinical alerts. March 2003 - Support our troops The American Red Cross is sending quality of life items to deployed U.S. troops to give them a touch of home. Troops would greatly appreciate the following: Individually wrapped pieces of hard candy (Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls and Toosie Roll Pops; Bubble Gum; Skittle;lollipops; Life Saves; Candy Sticks; Sweet Tarts, Mary Jane; Bit O' Honey; etc.) NO HOME MADE ITEMS Microwave popcorn Peanuts, pretzels and other snack foods Sweetened Kool-Aid, Gatorade, and other sweetened drink mixes Instant coffee, sugar, creamer, tea bags, instant hot chocolate, hot cider Toiletry items such as shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shower soap/gel Hand Sanitizer, hand lotion Wet wipes Sunscreen Wrap-around sunglasses Batteries (Assorted sizes) Blank greeting cards Small board games such as Chess, Checkers, Dominoes, Parcheesi, Yahtze, Uno, Cribbage, and jigsaw puzzles; playing cards. Recent paperback books Puzzle books, comic books Also, as the cost of postage will be high for the Red Cross, monetary donations are welcome as well. For more information, read their instructions, visit www.arcmv.org and www.redcross.org, or call Gary Whitten at 978-458-6385. Packages may be taken to: Ward Hill 177 Ward Hill Ave Ward Hill, MA 01835 978-372-6871 Or Lowell 391 Pawtucket St. Lowell, MA 01854 978-458-6385 February 2003 - Bio-Terrorism Update Thought you'd like to know... That since I’ve had to be kept up to speed about what happening with emergency preparedness and bio-terrorism, the time has come to share some of the information with you all. When Peggy asked me about all the concerns over smallpox vaccinations as I was leaving for a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) satellite broadcast the other day, I decided that would be a sensible topic for this month’s column. Most of you that are reading this have received at least one smallpox vaccination already many long years ago. (I’ve had two; one before starting school and another before nursing school.) The question haunting everyone, is there still immunity after all these years? Unfortunately, no one really knows because there has been no cases of smallpox any place in the world since 1972 when the last people were vaccinated. Hence, there has be no way to test anyone’s long-term immunity. Another factor to be considered is that people back then did not experience as many allergic conditions or have all the immuno-compromised illnesses as exist now. Currently, if you have eczema or are pregnant, you can’t receive a smallpox vaccination. There are several other contraindications but those are two of the most obvious. The current plans are to vaccinate those most likely to become exposed to smallpox and ironically never vaccinated before because they were born after 1972. This group includes most of the acute care hospital employees and the first responders employed by our emergency services. The risks of receiving the vaccine are worrisome and present many unknown risks for others. The personal and economic concerns have created major stumbling blocks for both the workers and the employers. However, every state has specific plans in place for administering the vaccine prior to an actual case. If and when one occurs, everyone gets vaccinated. It’s unfortunate that mankind was come to the point that we have to be held hostage by fears; either real or imagined; of illness, death, or destruction had the hands of other humans with so little regard for the gift of life. But knowledge can counteract fear. There’s an old adage that the only thing to fear is fear itself. That’s why I hope I bring you more knowledge each month so that fear does not win out here in Merrimac. Charlotte E. Stepanian, BS, RNC Merrimac Public Health Nurse February 2003 - Youth Advocacy Training The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is putting on a one-day youth advocacy training on March 15, 2003 at the Worcester Centrum. There will be room for 200 teens across the Commonwealth. Participants may range in age from 13-18. They can be familiar with tobacco control or rookies! This is a great resume builder for future college applicants looking for community service experience! The attached documents are all you should need to get the word our and make sure your kids are included: Letter that you can personalize to high school principals RSVP form (get 'em in soon!) Parent Release Form A list of things to do in Worcester while your teens are becoming advocates General invitation for organizations with youth members This is going to be a top-notch high energy training featuring "Revolution" a group of seasoned youth activists who led Florida's youth tobacco control movement. Ideally, all teens who participate in this training will also be able to join us at the State House in Boston on April 2nd for Kick Butts Day. Some important links include: Directions to Worcester Centrum Learn more about Revolution Kick Butts Day Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Massachusetts Coalition for a Healthy Future For more information contact: Lori J. Fresina Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Regional Advocacy Representative P.O. Box 266 Wilmington, MA 01887 phone: 978-694-9988 fax: 978-694-9980 December 2002 - Listserve Added & New Employment Available Please visit fill out the listserve to join the CHNA12 mailing list. Also, the town of Gloucester is seeking a Dental Director. Please visit our employment page for more information. September 2002 - New Community Resources & Employment Added Please visit our Public Resouces page (linked from our Related Sites page) for links to information on topics such as toxic substances, emerging infectious diseases, lead poisioning, the NALBOH, tobacco resources, and the U.S. EPAUS. In addition, revised CHNA 12 bylaws are online, and employment information will be posted. July 2002 - Updated CHNA 12 Meeting Times and Agendas Please visit our CHNA 12 Meetings page for General Meeting minutes and agendas up to June 2002, and General Meeting and Steering Comitte Meeting dates and times for September 2002 through June 2003. Also, please be sure go give us your feedback. Your information and comments will help us improve the quality of our website. October 2001 - FAQs about Biological Terrorism and Anthrax Answers to frequently-asked questions (FAQ) are provided for both biological terrorism, or bioterrorism, and anthrax. September 2001 - Tragedy Relief Information In response to the recent tragedies here in America, we are providing information on how you can contribute to relief causes or provide information and tips to local and national authorities. There is also need-to-know information provided for those directly or indirectly affected by these events. July 2001 - CHNA 12 Survey 2001 Results We recently tabulated the responses in a survey mailed to CHNA members and compared those results with last year's survey where applicable. This is a sampling of some of those results. To view this file, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to read these. We hope very soon to have these results in HTML format as well.
	Copyright ©1998-2002. All rights reserved. Questions? Comments? E-mail info@chna12.org.