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Gettysburg Times Columns 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 Domestic Violence Awareness in Adams County - October 2007 Adams County Health Summit Creates Open Dialogue - July 2007 Community Study Focuses on Underserved Populations - June 2007 Adams County Health Summit to tackle numerous challenges - May 2007 A special invitation to the Spring Walking Parties! - April 2007 Youth Quest to be Smoke-Free - March 2007 Promoting the Health of People with Disabilities - February 2007 Housing bubble, or housing crisis? - January 2007 Helping the Homebound One Volunteer at a Time - July 2006 But Where Are They Supposed to Live? - June 2006 Summer Water Safety - May 2006 Preventing Teen Pregnancy: What Works? - April 2006 Adams County is Kicking Butts - March 2006 It’s Time for Inclusionary Zoning - February 2006 Join “SHAPE UP” PA and Improve your Health! - January 2006 New Year’s Resolution to Quit Smoking - December 2005 World AIDS Day is December 1st - November 2005 Lower Your Teens Chances of Becoming Pregnant - October 2005 What’s Up After School! - September 2005
Home Ownership: The First Step Toward Building Wealth - August 2005 Let's "SHAPE UP"for Better Health! - January 2005 Season fo Thanks - December 2004 Homelessness in Adams County - November 2004 Keeping Lights On After School - October 2004 Protection Against Domestic Violence - October 2004, El Diario Child Sexual Abuse, Even Here in Adams County! - September 2004 You Are Invited to a Walking Party! - August 2004 Protection from Unfair Debt Collection Practices - August 2004, El Dario Task Force Makes Impact on Latino Community - July 2004 If Someone Asks You to a Meditation... - June 2004 Adams County Safe Kids Coalition and Summer Safety - May 2004 Popular Speaker Returns - April 2004 Dating Violence Program Returns to County - March 2004 Quality early child care and education - February 2004 Housing Assistance for the Homeless - January 2004 Seven A's of Looking at Adams County - December 2003 Collaborating For Youth – Do it now …for tomorrow - November 2003 Tools for Successful Diabetes Self-Management - October 2003 School Nurses Part of Community Partnership - September 2003 Ensuring Children's Health - August 2003 Domestic Violence Task Force Establishes Goal Plan - July 2003 Being Fit Is Not As Hard As You Might Think - June 2003 Aging Services Task Force - May 2003 Teaching Teens about Love - April 2003 Families First - March 2003 Youth Resource Network – Connecting Youth to Community - February 2003 Latino Services Task Force-Making a Difference in Adams County - January 2003 Tobacco Prevention Tops Task Force Agenda - December 2002 Task Force Tackles Tough Housing Issues - November 2002 Caregiving Can Be a Spiritual Journey - October 2002 Task Force Gears Up For Domestic Violence Awareness Month - September 2002 Education Key to Breast Cancer Fight - August 2002 Preventing the Top Five Problem Behaviors for Youth - July 2002 Partnership Changes Name - June 2002 Meet the Partnership - May 2002
Healthy Adams - October 2007 As many are aware, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The month is filled with activities that specifically target the issue of domestic violence in Adams County and strive to educate the community on the impact battering has on individuals, families, and our community as a whole. Many events have been successfully implemented this month, and several more are scheduled to occur over the remaining weeks of October. Education is a critical part of the work to be done this month, and letting folks know what services are available and how or where to access them is a crucial part of that awareness message. Another part of the work to be done is to educate residents of the problem of domestic violence and battering in Adams County. Being a smaller, rural and a more interconnected place, folks often assume that interpersonal violence occurs elsewhere, anywhere, specifically not here- an assumption that would be wrong. From July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 Survivors, Inc. served 528 (new and unduplicated) individuals whose lives were tainted by domestic violence. Nearly 2,600 counseling and service hours were provided, and over 3,900 days of emergency shelter were provided to people fleeing abuse. Domestic violence is typically under-reported and many do not seek help, but it is estimated that one-in-three women have been in a violent/abusive relationship in their lifetime. The statistics boggle the mind, and often with a problem so large, people struggle with where they can make a difference, how they can help. Gifts of time and resources to the agencies working directly with survivors of domestic violence are essential and appreciated, but are not a ‘one size fits all’ for everyone. Many would like to get involved at the larger/macro level, and Adams County has a wonderful and meaningful vehicle to make a difference in the struggle against domestic violence. Through Healthy Adams County, a group of interested, invested, dedicated people meet monthly to reduce the incidence of domestic violence through collaborative efforts that focus on raising awareness, educating the public, prevention, and collaboration. That group is the Domestic Violence Task Force, and together, the group makes an impact by collectively working to provide and update protocols, provide suggestions to improve unmet need and to bridge gaps in existing infrastructure, and plan for community events that meet their purpose and mission. If you are interested or would like more information about the Domestic Violence Task Force and how you can participate, you may contact the co-chairs directly. Kate Colgan, Supervisor of Direct Services at Survivors, Inc. may be reached at 717-334-0589 or Kate@survivorsservices.org, or Jesse Miller Director of NOVIS may be reached at 717-339-0222 or at NOVIS@planetcable.net. Terri Hamrick Kessel is Executive Director of Survivors, Inc. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns Index)
Healthy Adams - July 2007 When it comes to openly discussing health care related issues, a recent community event proved there’s no shortage of interest in Adams County. Nearly 100 people participated in the first Adams County Health Summit in late June at Gettysburg College. Health and human service professionals and community residents gathered for the daylong event that covered several issues people of the area are facing today. Sponsored by Healthy Adams County, Community Health Improvement of WellSpan Health and Gettysburg College, the health summit provided a forum for information and open dialogue on people living at or near poverty, an aging population, childhood overweight trends, tobacco cessation, and diversity. Beyond the benefits of discussing the issues, the summit created an opportunity to attract individuals to take the next step and decide to become actively involved in a task force or committee to address some of the health needs in our county. The free event began with a keynote address by Kevin Mosser, M.D., president of Gettysburg Hospital. Dr. Mosser discussed trends in health care, how they affect Adams County in light of the county’s growth and changing demographics, and the plans of WellSpan Health to adapt to the changes. The address was followed by the choice of six workshop sessions on several key health initiatives currently impacting Adams County. Presenters included Steve Niebler, director of the Adams County Office for Aging and Dr. Mosser on ten reasons you should care about aging in Adams County; Jennifer Hobbs, tobacco cessation counselor at Gettysburg Hospital presented on the importance of tobacco prevention; Eve Gardner, program director for Healthy York Network, discussed access for the uninsured; Megan Shreve, executive director for the South Central Community Action Program, discussed understanding economical differences; Kevin Alvarnaz, director of WellSpan Community Health Improvement, discussed growing healthy in an unhealthy world; and Michele Marchese, director of HealthConnect, and Heather Kreitz, PHO coordinator at Gettysburg Hospital, led a session on respecting cultural differences. For its first year, one real success of the event was the level of interest among community members to hear about health-related issues occurring in Adams County. The level of engagement in individual sessions was very good as participants were responsive to questions and genuinely interested in improving health care and related issues.” The evaluations from the summit participants provided a wealth of information about what people gained from the event and what they would like to see provided at future summits. We plan to use the information we gained from the various workshop discussions to enhance our planning for future events and also to add to next year’s planned community health status assessment. Kathy Gaskin is Executive Director of Healthy Adams County and can be reached at (717) 337-4137. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - June 2007 Healthy Adams County is a collaborative partnership of community members dedicated to continuing assessment, development, and promotion of efforts toward improving physical, mental and social well-being. As stated in our mission we are committed to assessing the health needs in our community. The most recent assessment that was conducted for Healthy Adams County was completed by the Drexel University School of Public Health. The focus of the study was the underserved populations in Adams County. The Drexel researchers particularly focused on the health status and health service needs of the county’s uninsured and underinsured residents and workers; the county’s Latino population; and other specific disadvantaged populations in Adams County whose needs were identified during the course of the research. There are currently 6,000 to 7,000 individuals living below the Federal Poverty Level in Adams County and more than 20,000 individuals who are unable to be self-sufficient or support themselves without some type of assistance from the government. In 2004 there were approximately 6,500 individuals in the county who were uninsured and another 6,000 individuals receiving Medicaid. The study pointed out that there is approximately 15 percent of our population who do not have access to adequate health care services. Drexel completed an assets inventory of existing entities serving the community’s health needs and then moved forward with a needs assessment which identified issues and needs in the community. They pulled their information from existing documents such as the PA Department of Health Data and past community health needs assessments for the county. They also elicited information through key interviews with individuals and Healthy Adams County task forces and 115 written surveys that were returned to the researchers. The following recurring themes appeared throughout their findings and helped drive their recommendations for change.
Recommendations for change included increasing direct ambulatory, urgent care and follow-up services for low-income people at all ages, regardless of race, ethnicity or immigration status; creating a community health center or expanding the services of a current community health center into Adams County and finding creative solutions for transportation issues. Other recommendations include creating more interface between Healthy Adams County task forces and updating and enhancing a service provider directory for the county. The access committee of Healthy Adams County has committed itself to studying these recommendations and developing an operational plan to address and meet most of the selected recommendations. The outcome of those plans will be to effectively address the needs of the uninsured, underinsured and special populations in our county so that every person will at least have adequate access to quality health care. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - May 2007 About 20 percent of individuals who live in Adams County can’t meet their basic living expenses … There are hundreds of people in Adams County who have a great need for health care services and medications but can’t afford to pay for them because they don’t have health insurance … An alarming number of children in our county have been identified as at risk of overweight or obesity, primarily as a result of poor eating habits and physical inactivity. Whether it’s people living at or near poverty, adequate insurance coverage, an aging population, childhood overweight issues, tobacco cessation or cultural differences, people in our communities are faced with a variety of increasing health-related challenges. To explore and create open dialogue on these and other issues, Healthy Adams County, Community Health Improvement of WellSpan Health and Gettysburg College’s Center for Public Service are co-sponsoring a first-ever community health summit on Tuesday, June 19, 2007. The event will take place at the Gettysburg College Union Building with breakout sessions in the college’s Science Center. The free, day-long event will feature breakout sessions on six key health initiatives currently impacting Adams County. Representatives from area agencies will help lead the discussions. The event will begin with a keynote address from Kevin Mosser, M.D., president of Gettysburg Hospital. Dr. Mosser will discuss the changes in health care, how they affect Adams County in light of the county’s growth and changing demographics, and the plans of WellSpan Health to adapt to the changes. Presenters for the breakout sessions include Steve Niebler, director of the Adams County Office for Aging and Dr. Mosser who will present a workshop on ten reasons you should care about aging in Adams County. Jennifer Hobbs, tobacco cessation counselor at Gettysburg Hospital will be presenting on the importance of tobacco prevention. Access for the uninsured will be covered by Eve Gardner, program director for Healthy York Network. Megan Shreve, executive director for the South Central Community Action Program, will present on understanding economical differences. Kevin Alvarnaz, director of Community Health Improvement at Wellspan Health will be leading a discussion on growing healthy in an unhealthy world. Michele Marchese, director of HealthConnect at Wellspan Health, and Heather Kreitz, PHO coordinator at Gettysburg Hospital, will lead a session on respecting cultural differences. After two morning breakout sessions a buffet lunch will be provided to attendees. During lunch the third annual Healthy Adams County Apple Awards, recognizing outstanding volunteer effort and leadership, will be presented.
The event is aimed at health and human service professionals, community leaders and anyone interested in learning more and discussing these important issues. Registration by Monday, June 11 is required to attend the event. For registration and event information, please call Healthy Adams County at (717) 337-4137. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - April 2007 Get in the habit of being physically active! It’s estimated that approximately 250,000 deaths occur annually in the United States because of a lack of being physically active. Physical activity boosts your immune system and your energy level, prevents bone loss, helps manage stress, improves sleep, increases muscle and endurance, and counters anxiety and depression. You could be on your way to being physically fit by engaging in moderate physical activity (gets your heart pumping faster) for at least 30 minutes per day! Here are a few tips to make physical activity a part of your regular routine:
If you want to be more active, come join weekly group walking parties sponsored by the Physical Fitness Task Force of Healthy Adams County. Groups of walkers leave various locations throughout Adams County. These walking parties will continue weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. through June 27. For a schedule of the starting locations, please call Community Health Improvement at WellSpan Health at (717) 337-4264, ext 1. I hope you will join us! Holly Cookerly, RN, M.Ed is the Coordinator of Community Health Improvement at Gettysburg Hospital, Wellspan and the co-chair of Healthy Adams County Physical Fitness Task Force. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - March 2007 Every year, Adams County students campaign in Harrisburg to promote smoke-free ordinances for Pennsylvania. This year the students’ goal is close in sight. Since last year’s Youth Quest event, three local communities have passed smoke-free ordinances. Philadelphia, Allegheny and Scranton are all implementing new clean indoor air policies to protect workers, families and children from harmful tobacco smoke pollution. On January 31, 2007 the State Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee approved Senate Bill 246, also known as the Clean Indoor Air Act. The General Assembly now looks to review the issue of mandating this policy for the entire state of Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 246 is designed to protect the workforce and patrons of local businesses and organizations. This bill does not affect private residences, hotel rooms (up to 25 percent of which may be “smoking”), wholesale and retail tobacco shops or tobacco manufacturers. Seventy-seven percent of Pennsylvanians do not smoke, yet are subjected to the over 4,000 chemicals found in cigarette smoke when eating at their favorite local restaurants or working in a smoking environment. Members of the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and local Adams County youth believe that residents should not have to choose between their job and their health. If a person is to work in an environment exposed to secondhand smoke, such as a restaurant or bar, they will inhale over a full pack of cigarette smoke in one eight-hour shift without even lighting up. The local teens involved with the Bermudian Springs High School Honor Society’s T.A.T.U. (Teens Against Tobacco Use) group and members of the Penn Laurel Girl Scout Council know that smoking is the number one most preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking is a personal choice. They also know that secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and that exposure can be controlled. On April 25, the students plan to visit their local legislators to discuss Senate Bill 246 and its importance to local families. Then youth from all 67 counties in Pennsylvania will unite in Harrisburg for a march from the Keystone Building to the capitol steps where they will rally for a smoke-free state. The Youth Quest 2007 Rally hopes to increase awareness regarding the dangers of tobacco and smoke to our environment. Other efforts to communicate this message in Adams County are being implemented. The Gettysburg campus of Harrisburg Area Community College will be holding a tobacco cessation information fair on National Kick Butts Day, March 28. This event will provide an opportunity for community members to speak with local experts on smoking cessation, physical activity, nutrition and non-traditional therapies. The event will be held in the college’s Commons Room from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. and is open to the public. In addition, smoking cessation classes will be held at Gettysburg Hospital in May at no cost to those adults who want to quit. Register for the cessation classes by calling 1-800-840-5905. The Healthy Adams County Tobacco Prevention Task Force continues to coordinate efforts to provide education to youth, support the enforcement of illegal sales to minors by local tobacco retailers, and communicate tobacco cessation programs and local chapter events to raise awareness.
Jennifer Hobbs is a tobacco education and cessation counselor for Gettysburg Hospital Community Health Improvement. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - February 2007 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are nearly 50 million Americans who have some type of disability. In Adams County we estimate that over 15,000 of our citizens have some type or level of disability, The Citizens with Disabilities Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, recognizes the importance of promoting health and well-being of people with disabilities. It is well known that there are several factors that influence health outcomes among people with disabilities, including the environment, behavioral practices, and access to routine preventive care services. The Surgeon General with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has asked for the public to have an understanding on how challenges to a person’s health can happen to anyone, at any age and at any time as a result of any number of different causes. When limitations related to a medical condition arise and begin to have a negative effect on essential life functions such as walking, talking, seeing, hearing, or working (functions often referred to as ”Activities of Daily Living (ADL), a person is said to have a disability. No one is immune from the potential onset of a disability: An infant can be born with profound deafness; a child can become paralyzed from a playground injury; a young adult can develop depression and drug abuse; a man in midlife can develop Type II diabetes; an athlete can have a traumatic head injury and an older adult can lose vision because of glaucoma. The need to ensure health and wellness for persons with disabilities has not always been recognized in health care policies and programs, funding, or training. Similarly, the overall health and well-being of persons with disabilities have not always been acknowledged as a public health issue. Less than a century ago little research was conducted on disabilities and little attention was paid to how people with disabilities or their families fared. Most often, at best, individuals with disabilities received acute care services while some may have received brief rehabilitation services. Some individuals with disabilities associated with considerable stigma, such as mental illness, neurological disorders, or developmental challenges were closeted in institutions; others with visible physical impairments remained at home. Most were pitied; some were feared; few were expected to play an active role in the life of the community. As a result of advances in public health and the imperative of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landscape has been changing. Increasingly, research in health care is being directed toward preventing conditions that can give rise to disability in the first place and toward increasing access to health and wellness services for individuals already living with a disability. Part of the new focus is evidenced by such public health initiatives as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010 Initiative and the Administration’s Healthier US Initiative. The Citizens with Disabilities Task Force is a collaborative group of local citizens who are dedicated to improving the quality of life and health of citizens with disabilities in Adams County. We welcome agencies, local organizations and individuals with disabilities to join and take an active part in our goal to improve the quality of life and health of citizens with disabilities. For information on our meetings, please call 337-4137. Fred J. Krause is the Acting Chairman of the Citizens with Disabilities Task Force (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - January 2007 With the increased cost of homeownership, many working families cannot afford to purchase a home in Adams County, which drives up the demand for rentals. Over the last five years, the increase in rent for a two-bedroom apartment exceeded inflation by 15 percent. In April, the Adams County Housing Authority adjusted its payment standard for a modest two-bedroom apartment to $663 per month. For what it costs to rent a newly constructed two-bedroom apartment today ($800 to $1,200 per month), you could have purchased a median-price home in Adams County five years ago. Instead, a household would need to earn $12.75 per hour – or $26,520 annually – just to afford an apartment at Fair Market Rent. Another indication of the extent of the housing crisis here: 45 percent of all households in Adams County are experiencing a housing cost burden, which means their income is less than 80 percent of the area median income, and they pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing. In fact, half of them have a severe housing cost burden, which means that pay more than 50 percent of their income on housing. To better understand the need for workforce/affordable housing in Adams County, the Housing Task Force is commissioning a study to determine the current status of affordable housing activities, and to project the resources necessary to increase the affordable housing stock beyond what may be currently in the planning stages. Specifically, the study will: 1) take an inventory of affordable housing units currently planned; 2) identify the organizations involved, the costs and revenue; 3) analyze the feasibility and current capacity to expand workforce/affordable housing; and 4) recommend ways to raise the number of housing units rehabilitated or built in the next five years. We hope this study will be completed by the end of April. A public meeting will be held at the Ag Center to present the results when the report is final; the tentative date is Wednesday, April 25. A side effect of the housing crisis is the alarming increase in predatory lending. Predatory lending includes mortgages with very high interest rates and unnecessary fees which are made by a lender with the expectation that the borrower will not repay the loan, allowing the lender to seize the property and sell it for a profit. There was a 57 percent increase in the number of such incidents in south-central Pennsylvania just between 1997 and 2002. Two public Predatory Lending forums are scheduled for Tuesday, February 20. The first will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., and the second from 6 to 8 p.m., also at the Ag Center. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – July 2006 Recent studies have shown that loneliness affects one in four individuals in our society. In the elderly population, loneliness is a way of life for the great majority of people who live alone and who have no family members close by. At a time when the need to reach out to someone is tremendous, Faith in Action volunteers stand ready to help. Faith in Action of Adams County, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is an interfaith care giving program which matches volunteers and people with long-term health needs or disabilities. The goal is to help the elderly maintain their independence for as long as possible. According to data from Georgetown University, more than 12 million Americans have serious long-term health conditions which may force them to seek assistance with everyday activities in order to remain independent. Faith in Action addresses this need by working with elderly or disabled care recipients to provide transportation to medical appointments, shopping, yard maintenance, minor home repairs, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and friendly visits. “A neighbor’s independence depends on you,” is the national slogan for Faith in Action (FIA). The real meaning of this message is illustrated by the impact on individual lives. Consider the 80-year-old man with cancer who believes FIA volunteers’ caring trips to chemotherapy helped put the cancer into remission; or the 92-year-old widow who can now look out her kitchen window and see a beautiful garden full of pansies and begonias which were planted by caring volunteers; or the 62-year-old woman who can now leave her home since FIA volunteers built a handicapped ramp. “The new ramp has increased my mobility and flexibility and overall health and well-being,” remarked Judy Hulett of New Oxford. Her delight and gratitude has been overwhelming. There are over 3000 Faith in Action programs in the United States today, all of which were originally funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The local program is housed at the Adams County Office for Aging (ACOFA). Referrals are received from ACOFA caseworkers as well as hospitals, pastors, social workers, and family members of elderly and disabled individuals. Although the Faith in Action staff works closely with ACOFA, Faith in Action is not in the county budget. The majority of funding is donated by individuals, churches, and businesses. It is vital that Faith in Action continue to expand its local donor base in order to keep this valuable program operating. Funding is a tremendous ongoing need. Tax deductible contributions may be made payable to ACOFA, Inc. earmarked Faith in Action. In addition to funding, new volunteers are always needed. Individuals interested in becoming Faith in Action volunteers should call Bill Fitzpatrick or Nancy Forgang at the Office for Aging at 334-9296. Volunteer training will be given on Tuesday, August 1 and Tuesday, August 8, at 7 p.m. at the ACOFA office, 318 West Middle Street in Gettysburg.
--Nancy Forgang, is the director of development, Faith in Action of Adams County, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – June 2006 Would you consider a house costing $216,828 “affordable” for most Adams Countians? In fact, this is the reality of the housing market in Adams County. In 2005, the median price of a house here was $216,828 compared to $130,874 only five years ago. Where are our children supposed to live? Currently there is very little housing available for people who live and work in Adams County. If the trend continues – building only large single-family homes on large lots at high prices, $250,000 and up – most residents of Adams County will not be able to afford to live here. The rise in land and housing prices has widened the gap between housing prices and local incomes. In 2001, if you earned $38,400, you could afford to purchase the median price home at $130,874. If both your 2001 income and the median price kept pace with inflation, your income now would be $41,869, and the median price home would cost $146,571. However, you would actually need to earn at least $62,400 to purchase today’s median price home of $216,828. Since your income is only $41,869, you would have an income shortage of $20,531 (even more if interest rates and taxes keep rising).
What will happen to the people who can no longer afford to live here: the people who build and fix our homes (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, tradespersons); who serve us every day (municipal employees, retail clerks, restaurant workers, butchers, bakers, barbers); care for and teach our children (pre-school, grade school and post-secondary teachers); attend to our legal needs( office workers, paralegals, lawyers); assist us with our financial needs (bank tellers, loan officers, financial managers); protect us and keep us secure (crossing guards, security guards, EMTs, police, firefighters); keep us healthy and care for us when we are not (health aides, dental hygienists, physicians assistants, medical technicians, nurses); or younger people in any line of work? Its objectives are to create and maintain a forum for all stakeholders to discuss housing needs and share resources, educate the community at large on issues surrounding workforce housing, and advocate the creation of new workforce housing options. In April, the Housing Task Force sent a letter to every municipality in Adams County asking for their support.
What options do they have? Revisiting their zoning ordinances, creating mixed-use housing communities instead of the traditional R1, R2, or R3 zoning (mixed communities are stronger communities); zoning for traditional neighborhoods (allowing for all types of development, including workforce housing); and giving density bonuses based on such factors as additional green space, mixed-use for workers at 120% of the medium income, and additional bonuses for workers at 80% of the medium income or lower. --Mark Berg is the Chairman of the Healthy Adams County Housing Task Force. He can be contacted at markberg@blazenet.net. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – May 2006 Summer is here and along with it all those fun summer activities that kids love, such as swimming. There is just no other way to beat the heat and humidity of summer than playing, splashing, and having fun in the swimming pool. Unfortunately, many children end up as victims of accidental deaths by drowning. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury related accidents among children ages 1-14 and the number one cause of accidental injury related deaths among children ages 1-4 years. There are many things parents can do to prevent their own child from becoming a victim of drowning and one of then is to actively supervise your child when in and around swimming pools. Very small children can drown in as little as one inch of water, so close supervision is extremely vital. It is important to have a phone nearby in case of an accident or an emergency. Persons who own swimming pools should install four-sided fencing and self-closing, self-latching gates and hot tub owners should keep their hot tubs covered and locked when not in use. These measures, studies have shown, can prevent as many as 50-90% of childhood residential pool drownings and near drownings. It is also a good idea for pool and hot tub owners to install alarms around these areas to alert them in the case that a child should wander into these areas unsupervised. These alarms can be door alarms, window alarms, or pool and hot tub owners can install a combination of both. Of special concern is drain entanglement and entrapment. Parents should teach their children to stay away from drains in swimming pools and hot tubs. There are measures pool and hot tub owners can take to protect children from becoming entangled or entrapped such as installing anti-entrapment drain covers, multiple drains in new construction and an SVRS device that automatically releases suction and shuts down the pump should entrapment occur. Another rule of water safety children should know is to always swim with a friend. Children need to be taught to never swim alone so if something should go wrong, there is someone else around to help. It is also important that children who cannot swim wear a life jacket or vest in the water and to always have on a life jacket or life vest when on a boat. Parents should teach their children how to dial 911 and parents can learn CPR. In the event there is an accident it is vital to get and administer help and life saving measures as quickly as possible. Public pool safety is important as well and teaching children to not run around a pool, to not push others, and to never dive head first into the shallow end of the pool or into water of unknown depth can greatly reduce the risk of accidental death by drowning. For additional information on water safety parents can go to www.safekids.org or contact Safe Kids Adams County at 717-337-0044 ext. 115 and ask for Cynthia or 717-337-0110 and ask for Heather or Sherri. Together we can make a difference; together we can provide safe pools for safe kids.
(Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index) 
Healthy Adams – April 2006 In Pennsylvania teen birth rates have dropped 32% between 1991 and 2002 and the state ranks 18th in the nation in birth rate declines. What if teen pregnancy rates had not dropped between 1991 and 2002? (2002 is the most recent year in which data is available). What if we had not all been working together to reduce teen pregnancy rates? We would have had more teen pregnancies (approximately 46,060), more children living in poverty (approximately 17,490) and more children living with young, single moms (an additional 18,862). These figures solely reflect statistics for Pennsylvania; other states have had equal success. Despite these impressive numbers we still need to do more and we need to continue to care. So what can we do? What works? What helps to prevent teen pregnancy? As parents and professionals who work with youth, we already know that we should be talking to our middle-school aged children as well as our teenagers. Other things that work to prevent teen pregnancy are after-school programs through schools, churches or agencies that your teen could become involved with. Community centers and community projects are all good ways for your teen to spend their time in a positive and productive way. These activities will give your teen direction and will help reinforce the morals and ethics you want your teen to learn. Of course we don’t expect our teens to spend their time in all work and no play so when they are out, know where your teen is going, who they are going with and when they will be home. This will not make you a cool parent in their eyes, but it will make you a parent who cares and that is what they will remember. May is Preventing Teen Pregnancy Month. The Adams Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is proud to present: A Day with Deborah M. Roffman, M.S., Sex and Sensibility: Talking Sense about Sex to Our Youth. This day long program is for adults who work with youth and for parents. The event will be held Tuesday, May 9, 2006 from 8:00a.m-4:00p.m. at the Gettysburg Hotel. The cost is $45.00 and includes continental breakfast, lunch, educational materials and the program. Deborah has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, ABC's Nightline and 20/20. Deborah Roffman is a certified Sexuality and Family Life Educator. Registration for the program is required. Call Laura Reyka at (717) 339-2018 or email acptp@juno.com for a registration brochure. Together, educators and parents can continue to work toward decreasing the number of teen births. --Cynthia Romero is the Assistant PEACE Coordinator at Hempfield Behavioral Health and a member of the Adams Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy’s community outreach sub-committee. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – March 2006 This year, many Americans will attempt to quit the smoking habit. Some will stay motivated and quit cold turkey. Others will give up and begin to smoke again. In reality, kicking the smoking habit is one of the hardest things to do. Between the habitual practice of smoking day after day and the physical addiction to nicotine, it may take smokers on average six to seven attempts before finally quitting for good. One thing all smokers should remember is not to give up hope. Approximately 46 million Americans have quit smoking successfully. There are a few tricks that can make it easier and make the next attempt the last. In 1998, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania joined 45 other states in a Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with the tobacco industry. Pennsylvania’s share is being used for health-related initiatives, including crucial tobacco prevention and cessation programs. In Adams County, many organizations have implemented cessation programs to help smokers quit. There are several different methods used to fit any quitter’s needs. Gettysburg Hospital regularly offers a “Freedom from Smoking” class, developed by the American Lung Association and designed to help people quit smoking, fight the addiction and develop a smoke-free lifestyle. Smokers can also quit online through a website classroom training on www.lungusa.org. The best way to quit is to plan ahead. Set a quit date and get the necessary information to succeed. The upcoming National Kick Butts Day on Wednesday, April 5, could be that quit day. This day will be dedicated to a variety of community events to raise awareness among local residents and provide the information needed to quit smoking. For a healthier community we need to help smokers to quit, as well as educate our youth so that they never start. Tobacco prevention efforts are on the rise and health educators are working with youth to get the word out about big tobacco. One group raising awareness in Pennsylvania is BUSTED! A statewide organization, BUSTED!, is geared to youth ages 14-17 with a mission to end the manipulation by big tobacco companies and spread the word about the harmful effects of tobacco use. This year, BUSTED! is collaborating with all 67 counties in Pennsylvania to hold a Youth Quest 2006 Shoe Campaign in Harrisburg. Currently, all counties are collecting shoes and raising awareness of how many lives are lost every year to tobacco-related diseases. On April 26, BUSTED! members will place 20,000 pairs of shoes on the steps of the Harrisburg Capitol building to represent the lives lost in Pennsylvania every year due to tobacco use. Getting involved with your own community efforts is a great motivator to quit. If you are interested in joining the efforts of tobacco prevention and education in Adams County, “The Shoe Campaign” is a great opportunity to be involved. Shoes can be donated to Healthy Adams County located at 424 S. Washington Street in Gettysburg through April 21, 2006. After the campaign in Harrisburg, all the shoes will be donated to a local charity. If you are a smoker interested in quitting and would like to know more about your options, you can contact 1-800-QUIT-NOW for more information. --Jennifer Hobbs is a member of the Tobacco Prevention Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, and tobacco control project assistant, Gettysburg Hospital (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – February 2006 Who needs affordable housing? People you know – young families, senior citizens, teachers, law enforcement officers, childcare workers, people in the retail, service, or tourism industries – perhaps you. Developers receive much of the blame, not just for the large number of houses proposed in Adams County, but also for the suburban-style developments that almost always lack affordable/workforce housing. In 2005, the median sale price of a house in Adams County was $157,200 (and rising). “Affordable” means a family can rent or buy a home without spending more than 30% of its income on housing. The median household income in Adams County was $51,245, which means about $1,280 per month for the mortgage, utilities, taxes, and insurance. Any family with an income much below $51,000 is unable to purchase most of the homes for sale in Adams County. But are developers entirely at fault? The answer is no; local governments contribute to the problem through their zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances. By limiting density, requiring minimum lot sizes, and other provisions, these ordinances drive up the prices of new houses. Even when a development could be improved or made more affordable through rezoning or variances, the developer often is hesitant to make a request because of the difficulty of the process. NIMBY – not in my back yard – is another obstacle. Current residents often view affordable housing developments as threats to their property values and their community, and actively oppose them. In the past, such opposition often was justified by these developments’ poor architectural and planning qualities. However, the design of today’s affordable housing has improved to the point that these impressions are no longer justified. Fortunately, many municipalities are looking for new ways to house not only low-income residents, but also working families who fill critical positions in the labor market. One of the ways is through inclusionary zoning, a program that requires developers to include affordable houses when they build a particular number of market-rate houses, coupled with incentives, such as density bonuses. A nearby example of inclusionary zoning is in Mount Joy borough in Lancaster County. Florin Hill, a 457-unit development on just 60 acres, serves as a model for how to build an economically diverse neighborhood on a relatively small tract of land. Florin Hill led the borough to rewrite its zoning laws. Before deciding on Florin Hill – a venture of the borough, Charter Homes, and the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership – the borough held a series of public meetings to discuss how to best use the 60-acre residential tract. It led to an agreement that assures a certain number of low- and mid-priced homes will be built. It says that if Charter Homes dedicates 15% of the land to affordable housing units, it will be allowed a number of additional building lots in return. The new code includes the density bonus, a commercial district where people can live above their businesses, and a set of architectural guidelines so that the homes all look like they belong in the same neighborhood. It also conserves farmland; instead of building 457 homes on 457 acres, Florin Hill is on 60 acres, saving 400 acres, the equivalent of about four farms.
Perhaps it’s time for Adams County’s municipalities to consider inclusionary zoning for its future. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – January 2006
Did you make a New Year’s resolution to improve your health? Are you tired of being out of shape and overweight? Need a push to get started on a healthier lifestyle? Don’t think you can do it all alone? Shape Up PA may be just what you have been looking for! Shape Up PA is a five month team wellness program that is both competitive and enjoyable. To participate, teams are formed (up to ten people per team) from friends and family members in the worksite setting, faith community, schools, and the seniors only group. Progress is charted by keeping a record of exercise minutes and/or pounds lost. Weekly e-mails or newsletters will be sent to each team captain to distribute among the team members. There will be a team captain handbook as well as numerous tips regarding physical activities, nutritional information and motivational pieces to keep the team inspired. Awards are given at the completion of the program to the top three teams who record the most minutes of activity and most pounds lost. There is a $10 per person registration fee (payable to the Keystone State Games) which will include a t-shirt, recording information and the helpful information described above. Increasing in popularity, over 12,000 Pennsylvanians from 38 counties participated in the 2005 Shape Up PA campaign. Shape Up PA proved to be successful for 513 residents of Adams County who formed 81 teams. Success was obvious, with a Gettysburg College team, “The Sore Losers” losing 130 lbs. and many teams recording over 200 hours of physical activity per team member for the five months!
A local awards ceremony, held at the conclusion of the program, noted positive comments from team captains who said that the team competition approach was what they needed to stay motivated throughout the five months. The 2006 Shape Up PA program will start on February 8th and will run until June 28th. A team registration form may be obtained by logging onto the web at www.shapeuppa.org or calling Gettysburg Hospital at 717-334-4646. This year there will be a special incentive for persons to join a Shape Up PA team. All participants in Adams and York Counties will be registered in a drawing to win one of five $100 prize packages, (IPOD, massages, Dicks Sporting Goods gift certificate and baskets of health goodies. If you would like more information or a personal visit at your team meeting, call Holly at 717-334-4646. I hope to hear from you…..let’s all “shape up” for a healthier year!
--Holly Cookerly, RN, M.Ed. is the chair of the Physical Fitness Task Force of Healthy Adams County and coordinator of Community Health Services for Gettysburg Hospital. Healthy Adams County has partnered with WellSpan Health and the Healthy York County Coalition to offer 6hape Up PA. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – December 2005 The New Year is often a time when people look back at a year’s worth of bad health choices. Some see it as an opportunity to make some changes in their habits or even addictions. This year, many residents in Adams County will make a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. Chances are if you are a smoker that wants to quit, you have probably tried to do it before. Don’t give up! The average smoker attempts to quit six or seven times before kicking the nicotine habit for good. Many of these attempts at quitting fail because the smoker is truly not ready to make the commitment or has not found the help that they need to make their quit a success. There is help out there if you are ready. Many people want to quit smoking for their own health, the health of their families, or for that extra money. Once you know your reason to quit smoking and you are sure that you are ready, there is no better time to start planning your quit date. Here are a few steps that you can take to make this quit attempt a success:
Breaking the smoking habit can be tough. But you don’t have to do it alone. For more information on how to quit smoking or the smoking cessation classes and support group, call Jennifer Hobbs at (717) 338-3259. --Jennifer Hobbs is a member of the Tobacco Prevention Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County and Tobacco Control Project Assistant at Gettysburg Hospital.
(Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – November 2005 Did you know? In the United States, people under the age of 25 account for half of all new HIV infections. As World AIDS Day approaches, it is time for us to reflect on the question, “What can I do about HIV and AIDS?” You can make a difference in young people’s lives. You may think that children are too young to learn about HIV/AIDS, but they hear many messages about it from the media, friends or other family members. Perhaps they even know someone who is HIV positive. SIECUS (the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States) offers the following tips on sharing specific messages with young children about HIV/AIDS:
Also, be an advocate for age-appropriate, medically accurate HIV/AIDS information in your local elementary, middle and high schools. Speak up about your support of these programs by calling your school principals, health teachers, and school board members. Express your concern if you find there are programs with inaccurate information or a lack of information in your school district. Be sure your voice is heard and school personnel understand that you will not accept fear based or inaccurate sexuality education in your community. Our young people’s lives are at stake! For more information on how to be an advocate, call Debbie at Planned Parenthood at 717-845-9683 extension 205. Debbie Gable is the chair, AIDS Service Provider Network, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County and director of education, Planned Parenthood of Central PA (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – October 2005 The Adams County Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (ACPTP), an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is a diverse group of community members dedicated to improving the lives of youth through education, advocacy and support and to help youth make informed decisions about themselves and their futures. The single most important thing a parent can do to keep their child from becoming a teen parent is talk to your teen (boys and girls) openly and candidly about sex. You, as a parent, have more influence with your teen than anybody else and that includes their peers, teachers and the media. There are many things to keep in mind when talking to your teen about sex. First and foremost, you the parent should be very clear in your mind how you feel about sex, love and relationships. In other words, if you are confused about how you feel about these subjects, then you will probably pass that confusion on to your teen. So ask yourself these questions before you talk to your teenager. How do you feel about sexually active teens or teens as parents? Were you yourself sexually active as a teen and how will you handle this knowledge with your own teen? What do you think about abstinence or using contraceptives? Who do you believe sets sexual limitations in a relationship and how does one realistically go about doing this? After you have decided how you would answer these questions or how you feel about these issues then you can better talk to your teen. Teach your teen how to set goals and to realize they have options for the future. Stress the value of a higher education and how much you as a parent value that goal. Know what your teen is watching, reading or listening to as the media sends a whole bag of mixed messages which you can help your teen interpret and cope with. Also, do all you can to have a relationship with your teen that allows open communication, has good discipline and is close and loving. For more tips and information on how to talk to your teen about sex and to honor Let’s Talk Month, the Adams Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is proud to present Respect, Honor and Believe in Youth, (Professional Training) for parents and professionals who work with youth. The training will be held Thursday, October 20th, 2005 from 8:30am to 4:00pm at the Gettysburg Hotel Ballroom. The cost is $45.00 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Also, please plan to attend Common Sense Sexual Responsibility for Our Kids: Lessons on Talking with Youth from a Middle-aged, Pudgy, Balding Dad (Parent Program), also on Thursday, October 20th, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at Keefauver Elementary School, Gettysburg. The presenter for both programs will be Tom Klaus. For more information, please contact Laura Reyka, RN, Gettysburg Hospital, 717-339-2018. Cynthia Romero is a member of ACPTP’s community outreach committee and a facilitator at Hempfield Behavioral Health. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – September 2005 Hot off the press…2005-2006 “What’s Up After School!?” - a list of afterschool programs and activities in Adams County for youth, Grades K-12. Call 334-5809 to get your “free” copy. “What’s Up” is published by the Youth Providers Resource Network of Adams County, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. For the last two years, “What’s Up” has been designed by high school students for their graduation project. This edition was designed by Gettysburg High School Senior, Kayla Cox. Thanks again, Kayla! Great work! Help us keep the lights on for afterschool programs in Adams County so that we can inspire all our children toward a brighter future. Join us for a free evening of family fun in support of afterschool programs at the Lights On Afterschool! Rally on Thursday, October 20, 2005, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. hosted by Manito, Inc. at Keefauver Elementary School. The Adams County 2005 Lights On Afterschool! Rally is one of more than 7, 500 events that will take place across the nation. The rallies are promoted by the Afterschool Alliance to help send the message that afterschool programs are key to children’s success. Locally Lights On Afterschool! is sponsored by Collaborating for Youth in Adams County with 4-H Clubs of Adams County, Adams County Volunteer Center @ United Way, Brothers Big Sisters of Adams County, Generacion Diez 21st CCCLC / Second Generation, Gettysburg College Center for Public Service, Littlestown of YMCA, Manito, Inc., Penn Laurel Council Girl Scouts of the USA, SEC/CareerLink, The Center / El Centro, United Way of Adams County, Youth Providers Resource Network and the YWCA of Gettysburg & Adams County taking the lead in planning the event. The celebration kicks off with a ceremonial Light Turn On. The rally features a showcase of afterschool programs and talents, including a 3-D light bulb theme art gallery, children’s talent show, games and craft activities, door prizes and snacks. Thanks to the Adams Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, Tom Klaus, Executive Director of FutureNet, Inc., will present a free parent workshop “Common Sense Sexual Responsibility for Our Kids”. Also, Joan Garcia, Sexuality Educator at St. Francis Xavier School, will present a workshop for Spanish-speaking parents, “How To Talk To Your Children About Sexuality”. Both workshops are free and childcare will be provided for infants - 5 year olds. Children participating in afterschool programs throughout the county are decorating paper light bulbs and writing messages on the back about why afterschool programs are important to them. The bulbs will be displayed at the rally and then mailed to Congress to remind them of the importance of keeping the lights on and doors open after school. Please join us for Lights On Afterschool! on October 20. Help us show the importance and benefits of quality afterschool programs in Adams County. Quality afterschool programs support families by ensuring that children are safe and productive when the school day ends. Quality afterschool programs make our communities stronger by involving students, parents and volunteers; and, give our children the opportunity to discover hidden talents as they grow academically and socially. Vickie Corbett is chairwoman of the Youth Providers Resource Network and Vice President of the United Way of Adams County.
(Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – August 2005 The Housing Act of 1949 states, “The Congress declares that the general welfare and security of the Nation and the health and living standards of its people require…the realization as soon as feasible of the goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American.” Fifty-six years later, how are we doing? More people live in substandard housing than lack healthcare; increasing numbers of individuals and families cannot find housing available to purchase or rent within their means; and soaring construction costs mean most new houses are even less affordable. Funding for Federal rural housing programs, in particular, has not kept pace with the need. What happened to “as soon as feasible”? “Affordable Housing” means a family can rent or buy a home without spending more than 30% of its income on housing. Yet one of every seven households now spends more than 50% on housing, including a 68% jump in the past four years in the number of working-class families who spend more than half their income on housing. In Adams County, the average price of a detached house in 2004 was $157,200, an increase of 58% just since 2000 (a larger increase than in the cost of healthcare). In 2000, 67% of the houses sold cost less than $120,000; in 2004, only 32% sold for less than $120,000. Where are young families, recent graduates, downsizing senior citizens, first-time home buyers, law enforcement officers, nurses, people working in the retail, service, or tourism industries – people you know – supposed to live? Last fall, a Citizens Learning Team (CLT) on Affordable Housing, sponsored by the Penn State Extension Service, began a series of meetings to examine the causes and possible ways to alleviate the crisis here in Adams County. It included representatives from the Adams County Housing Authority, Realtors Association of York and Adams Counties, banks, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Adams County Office of Planning and Development, local government, other related organizations, and concerned citizens. The CLT identified the following causes of the crisis: the population growth in the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas that now include Adams County; the Pennsylvania Municipalities Code (MPC), which makes control of sprawl by local governments more difficult than in Maryland; and Not in My Back Yard – NIMBY – an attitude that leads many people to reject proposed affordable housing that may “lower property values” in their neighborhood no matter who will live there.
On June 9, the CLT hosted an Affordable Housing Forum, attended by more than 100 residents, at which a teacher, a child-care worker, and a law enforcement officer spoke movingly about the difficulties they encountered in obtaining affordable housing. Mark Berg is the co-chair of the Housing Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. He can be contacted at markberg@blazenet.net . (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – July 2005 The report updates an assessment process started in 1994, and creates a picture of current opportunities for improving health locally. The study identified six “targets of opportunity” or broad areas of need. They are: The Environment: Assuring Healthy, Sustainable Growth; Ethnic and Economic Diversity: Eliminating Disparities in Access; Young Children: Addressing their Changing Developmental Needs; Young Adults: Assisting in a Healthy Transition to Adult Life; Middle Age: Addressing the Increased Health Risks; and Older Adults: Providing Support and Assistance. In general, the good news is that the Adams County population seems to be doing better than many communities across the state (and nation too). We have a growing population, which reflects lower poverty rates than Pennsylvania or the U. S., and we have a lower percentage of families at the extremes of highest and lowest incomes (the fewer extremes - the better the health status). We also have available primary and preventive care services locally, which contribute to a lower rate of unnecessary or avoidable hospitalizations. In addition, of the 38 health status indicators where data is available and which use vital statistics to measure progress, 24 of these indicators in Adams County are below the state rate. However, a number of complex challenges continue, such as: access to medical, dental and mental care; vulnerable populations - such as the migrant workers and families; the impact of population growth - including affordable housing, motor vehicle accidents, rising crime rates, and safety; an aging population that will increase dramatically within the next 10 years; youth at risk due to drug and alcohol use and related crime; and obesity - a growing problem for children and adults. The bottom line for Adams County, according to this study, reflects a range of specific issues: continuing access barriers (including dental, transportation, medical, and affordable housing); the implications of continuing growth in the Latino population; risk behaviors of teens and young adults, but also those in their middle years; health disparities; medical and support service needs for the aging and the need for more education and awareness, including preventive services and screenings. There is much work to be done as the results of the needs assessment unfolds. Through the collaborative partnership of Healthy Adams County, its numerous task forces, and local agencies, tackling these issues will be a priority in bettering the health of our community. Bill Taft is the executive director for Healthy Adams County. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – June 2005 June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, a day to raise people’s awareness about the importance of getting tested if there is a possibility that you have been exposed to the HIV virus. Voluntary counseling, testing, and referral programs provide people an opportunity to learn their current HIV status, receive counseling about any behavioral changes needed to avoid infection or infecting others, and receive information and referrals to additional prevention programs, medical care or other services. Many people feel that AIDS does not affect them. They believe that there are plenty of HIV medications available for people who need it. Others think that only “those OTHER people” need to think about AIDS – people who live in big cities, or gay men. But the truth is that AIDS affects everyone. There is no cure for AIDS. There are drugs that can slow down the HIV virus, and slow down the damage to your immune system. But there is no way to get all the HIV out of your body. You might not know if you get infected by HIV. Some people get fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, stomach ache, swollen lymph glands, or a skin rash for one or two weeks. Most people think it's the flu. Some people have no symptoms. HIV testing tells you if you are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which causes AIDS. These tests look for "antibodies" to HIV. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to fight a specific germ. If you become infected with HIV, it usually takes between three weeks and two months for your immune system to produce antibodies to HIV. If you think you were exposed to HIV, you should wait for two months before being tested. You can also test right away and then again after two or three months. During this "window period" an antibody test will give a negative result, but you can transmit the virus to others if you are infected.
Testing at 3 and 6 months after possible exposure will detect almost all HIV infections. However, there are no guarantees as to when an individual will produce enough antibodies to be detected by an HIV test. If you have any unexplained symptoms, talk with your health care provider and consider re-testing for HIV. If you have questions or concerns, there is a resource in your community: the AIDS Service Provider Network. This group of professionals envisions a world where HIV/AIDS no longer threatens people’s well-being, and works collaboratively to enhance the quality of life of Adams County residents by coordinating quality care for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Call 717-334-8344 or 717-845-9683 extension 205 to get more information. Debbie Gable is Director of Education, Planned Parenthood of Central Pennsylvania, and Chair, AIDS Service Provider Network, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – May 2005 The Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition (ACBCC), an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is proud to announce our 10-year anniversary. Our mission: A commitment to advance public awareness of breast cancer through education, early detection and action continues to drive our events each year. As chairperson, I am excited to share some of the great events being offered to our community. Not only do we want to continue our education about the importance of early detection, we also want to celebrate the beautiful women in our community who are breast cancer survivors. We all know one of these women. They are our friends, teachers, co-workers, mothers, sisters, aunts and grandmothers. To honor our local survivors we must continue to encourage each other about the importance of breast health. We, as women, must continue to be our own advocates. And with the wonderful healthcare providers and services available in Adams County we have the capability to ensure that every woman does the following:
The ACBCC is proud to have made a donation this year, in loving memory of Dr. Leah Maitland, to the free screening mammogram program at the Gettysburg Hospital for uninsured and underinsured women of all ages. The program was initiated after certain studies estimated that only 60% of women get routine mammograms because of lack of health insurance. Now, this should no longer be the case for women in Adams County. For more information on the free program, call Sue Bowman, Planned Parenthood of Central Pa, 717-334-9275 (if you are age 50 and over), or Betty Fair, Gettysburg Hospital, 717-337-4239 (if you are under age 50). The coalition has several programs scheduled this year, including:
In honor of the ACBCC’s 10-year anniversary, we encourage you to become involved with our mission. We can’t all do everything, but we can certainly all do something. Please consider joining the ACBCC or attend events; call your female friends and family on their birthday and not only wish them well, but remind them of monthly self-breast exams and mammograms; talk to your teenage daughter about the importance of breast health and breast exams; have a breast health party at your home, breast models are available to practice self-breast exams and information shared by a nurse educator; and spread the word about the free mammogram program at the Gettysburg Hospital.
For more information, please call Laura Reyka, RN, coordinator of women’s services, Gettysburg Hospital at 717-339-2018. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – April 2005 May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. In honor of this, the Adams Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is proud to announce an informative program for all parents and adults who work with youth on May 5, 2005 at the Gettysburg Hospital. Barbara Huberman, RN, BSN, M.Ed, National Director of Education and Outreach, Advocates for Youth, will present an educational forum, Lessons Learned: Rights. Respect. Responsibility. Advocates for Youth believes if the U.S is to embrace a more natural, healthy, and positive philosophy concerning adolescent sexual health, then it is vital that we embrace the “Rights for Youth” which reflect the lessons learned from Barbara’s youth tours in France, Germany and the Netherlands. When it comes to teen pregnancy, why it happens and how to prevent it, teens receive a lot of advice from adults, but teens are not often asked their own opinion. So, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy along with Teen People magazine asked teens directly what they would say to other teens about preventing teen pregnancy. The following is a sampling of the teen’s advice.
According to Sarah Brown, Director, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, when teens are asked what most influences their sexual decisions, it is most often their parent’s morals and values. Americans see delaying sexual intercourse as by far the best choice, and want to teens to take sexuality seriously and see it as meaningful; they disapprove of multiple partners and casual sex, and worry deeply about the crude culture that surrounds teens. Unfortunately 99% or teens have TVs in their homes, 62% have 3 or more sets, 73% have Internet access and 45% of teens say they know friends who regularly use the Internet to view or download porn. Nearly half of children 4-6 years of age have TVs in their bedrooms and many more teens do as well. In polling, parents admit to know in their hearts that they should talk to their youth about sex, love and values, but many do not and admit to being embarrassed about what to say and to even get started. It is never too late or too soon to start talking to our youth about sexuality. As parents we must discuss values, what are the best choices for young people and why? Discuss how to handle relationships, peer pressure, managing the media environment and other immediate issues. Discuss contraception, protecting against pregnancy, STDs and related issues. Keep the communication open with your youth, but remember to not only talk with your youth, listen to your youth. For more information and to register for the May 5th program, Lessons Learned: Rights. Respect. Responsibility (717) 337-4272, extension 3. Cost for the program is $45.00, which includes program, breakfast, and buffet lunch provided by La Cucina Restaurant. Laura Reyka, RN, is chairperson of the Adams County Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and coordinator of women’s health services at Gettysburg Hospital. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – March 2005 Watch out America, on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, thousands of youth in every state and around the world will STAND OUT…SPEAK UP… and SEIZE CONTROL in the fight against Big Tobacco. It is the tenth anniversary of National Kick Butts Day, a campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. This is an annual celebration of youth advocacy, leadership and activism. Several schools, organizations, and groups are planning events for National Kick Butts Day. Many will visit their state’s capitol to ask for support from local legislators. Some will hold activities in their own communities. Others may choose this as the day to finally put a stop to the addiction and kick the butts for good. This national holiday is an opportunity for youth to advocate and stand up for their good health. This April 13, 2005, join youth in celebrating education not manipulation. Over 2,000 kids a day try tobacco for their first time. Almost 90 percent of every adult smoker took his or her first puff at or before the age of 18. Youth everywhere are becoming more aware of the facts about tobacco and the influence of the big tobacco companies. The 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies prohibited the tobacco companies from taking “any action, directly or indirectly, to target youth… in the advertising, promotion or marketing of tobacco products.” However, since the settlement, the tobacco companies have increased their marketing expenditures by more than 84 percent to a record $12.7 billion a year, or $34.8 million a day, according to the Federal Trade Commission. A large volume of this marketing still seems to target kids. One of the tobacco industry’s most outrageous new tactics is the introduction of candy-flavored cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. New flavors include “Midnight Berry,” “Twista Lime” and “Winter Mocha Mint.” Sound tasty? Tobacco marketing is highly effective at influencing kids. Studies show that 82 percent of youth smokers, ages 12-17, prefer the three most heavily advertised brands. These include Philip Morris’s Marlboro, Lorillard’s Newport and RJR’s Camel. This is in comparison to studies on smokers over 25, which found that less than half preferred these popular brands. What effect does it have? More than 5 million children alive today will die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses. Kids know that 1,200 loved ones today will die…one every 72 seconds.
Whether you are an advocate of a smoke-free lifestyle, or want to kick butts yourself for good, what better day to get involved than National Kick Butts Day? Need support? You have thousands backing you up. You do not have to do this alone! Celebrate the support of your local legislators when it comes to a tobacco-free healthy lifestyle. On National Kick Butts Day, we all have an opportunity to make a difference in our health, and the health of our communities. The choice is yours. Jennifer Hobbs is a member of the Adams County Tobacco Prevention Task Force & Adams County Safe Kids Coalition, affiliates of Healthy Adams County and Tobacco Control Project Assistant, Community Health Services, Gettysburg Hospital. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – February 2005 As a public service local origination organization, Adams Community Television (ACTV Channel 10) has been around for over 17 years. Founded by Ray Gouker in 1988, the station started out as a10 hour per week operation, broadcasting to approximately 6,000 households primarily in the greater Gettysburg area. Today, it receives support from Adelphia Communications; and, it telecasts over 96 hours per week to more than 32,000 households located in Adams and York Counties. Indeed, ACTV has become a communication force in the community.
What is ACTV’s mission? Delivering information is certainly part of what ACTV does. But the station accomplishes much more. Stated in meaningful terms, Adams Community Television’s charge is “to celebrate who we are and what we do as a community.” ACTV supports community interconnectedness in three ways. First, the station programs primarily for shows that emphasize how we live and what we do as community. Citizens are proud of their community and they want to see local activities put in plain words and celebrated. Interestingly, viewers don’t demand national network quality productions; but they do appreciate seeing local personalities dealing with important issues and events. The opportunity to see a county commissioner provide his or her viewpoint; or the chance to hear about existing or new services offered by the local hospital is important to ACTV viewers. Secondly, Adams Community Television functions primarily as a volunteer run operation. This means that there are a number of opportunities for local citizens to try their hand in the world of broadcasting. ACTV, for instance, is constantly on the lookout for volunteers interested in the technical or managerial side of generating a television show. There is always a need of producer talent, camera skills, film-editing proficiency and administration expertise. Third, ACTV activities present a powerful learning opportunity for local citizens. Many of the programs have an educational dimension in that they tell viewers what is going on in the community and how they may benefit. Learning opportunities are also associated with volunteering. Here, knowledge about videography is available through working with experienced TV station managers and technicians. For many video hobbyists, this represents a real attraction. Since its inception in 1988, Adams Community Television has been a place where young people come to learn what telecasting is all about. Currently, both high school and college students are performing as interns at ACTV. Like all volunteers, these interns learn new skills in videography through association with real life experiences. ACTV is a growing link in the Adams Community collaborative effort. Indeed its future success depends not only on broadcasting performance, but more important, it requires continuing and enthusiastic community participation and support. Pat Martinelli is a member of the ACTV board and a producer and commentator for the show: Adams County, Issues and Insights. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – January 2005 Shape Up PA is a five-month team wellness program that is competitive and enjoyable. To participate, teams are formed of friends, family members, and co-workers (up to ten people per team) that will work together and motivate each other. Progress is charted by keeping a record of minutes of exercise and/or pounds lost. During this time, weekly e-mails or newsletters will be sent to each team captain to distribute among the team members. A team captain handbook will be handed out, as well as numerous tips regarding physical activities, nutritional information and motivational pieces to keep the team inspired. Awards are given at the completion of the program to the top three teams who record the most minutes of activity and most pounds lost. There is a $10 per person registration fee (payable to the Keystone State Games) that includes a t-shirt, recording information and the helpful materials described above. Last fall’s Shape Up PA proved successful for nearly 1,000 Adams County residents. There were 113 teams registered who recorded a total of 783.5 pounds lost in the weight category and 338,836 accumulated miles of activity! Many positive comments were received from team members who said that the team competition approach was what they needed to stay motivated throughout the five months. A common comment heard throughout the campaign was, “Doing this with friends or co-workers helps! The support you give each other will motivate you to stick with the program!” The 2005 Shape Up PA program will start on February 9 and run until June 29. A team registration form may be obtained by calling Gettysburg Hospital at 717-334-4646 or toll free at 1-800 642-7736, or by attending the 2005 “Let’s Get Started” kick off breakfast. Better yet, plan to attend the free kick off breakfast, sponsored by Community Banks, at the Pike Restaurant on Thursday, January 20, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Registration is required by calling the phone numbers listed above.
If you would like a personal presentation at your team meeting to introduce the program and answer questions, please call Holly Cookerly at 717-337-4272 ext. 4. For additional information, visit the Web site at www.shapeuppa.org. Hope to hear from you…..let’s all “shape up” to a healthier year! (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – December 2004 As we move through this holiday season, it is a great time to express heartfelt appreciation by the Healthy Adams County Board of Directors and staff for all of the work that has been done this year by our many volunteers. We now have close to 650 local citizens who serve on one or more of twenty-six (that’s right - 26) affiliated task forces and committees. Why, and what do all these people do? The “why” is pretty simple. They do it because they care about other people who are less fortunate than themselves, and also because they care about this community. They have found a way to come together to make life and health better for everyone who lives, works, goes to school, and plays in Adams County. It is a collaboration (that is what a community health partnership is) that provides many different and regular forums for local citizens from all walks of life to get together to educate and inform themselves and the community; to identify and monitor health status problems; to address access barriers; to try to improve quality of life; and to advocate for improvements.
These volunteers are an interesting mix of “big shots” and “little shots”; a lot of folks from the health and human services sector (Gettysburg Hospital/WellSpan and local human services providers (who seem to know a lot about the human condition in general, and local needs in particular), people from local government, many from our churches and local schools and colleges, and others. Again, they are not the only ones trying to make a difference, but, increasingly, they are finding that there is merit in community collaboration, and that they have a way to add their voices to others. They are also finding that, as an alternative to the traditional “corridors of power”, true community collaboration can provide many opportunities to trade control for influence, with positive results for all concerned. Healthy Adams County has just initiated efforts to update a community health needs assessment. This process involves a comprehensive approach to gauging trends and local perceptions of the most pressing health and human service issues across the Adams County community. Once this is accomplished, these volunteers will have the latest information available regarding health status and quality of life challenges, and they will direct, or re-direct their efforts through all of our affiliated work groups accordingly.
It has been said that “Leadership is action, not position.” It has also been said that “Those leaders who are most effective in addressing public issues are not necessarily the ones who know the most about the issues. Rather, they are the ones who have the credibility to get the right people together to create visions.” Please join us in thanking all of these good people for their leadership in Healthy Adams County, which continues without nearly enough recognition or celebration. Happy Holidays!!! (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – November 2004 For those who have become or are homeless, we believe that our community is better served where there is a means of support in place to help families get back on their feet and to prevent families from becoming homeless again; and that the dignity and respect of all adults and children must be preserved. In addition, we recognize that homelessness is only a piece of a much larger problem in this county, affordable housing. It’s staggering that many families who fall through the cracks do so because they don’t even have two months of income saved in case of an emergency. Prevention of homelessness goes hand in hand with education. While offering financial assistance, many local programs also offer education in personal responsibility, and an opportunity to break a cycle of dependence on government assistance. The Adams County Housing Authority and Adams County Interfaith Housing Corporation offer programs such as transitional housing for homeless families, where housing is provided but families are also required to learn life skills and maintain employment. The Housing Choice Voucher Program helps income qualifying families with subsidy of rent or to purchase a home. The Family Self-Sufficiency Program, a component of the voucher program, encourages families to increase their earned income so that they pay more of their rent, and rewards them with a savings for successful program completion. Counseling, grants, and low-interest loans are available to qualifying first time homebuyers. For families with poor credit scores or who are trying to not avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy, Financial Counseling assists persons of all income levels through negotiations with creditors and eliminating debts. Survivors, Inc. also helps families facing homelessness because of domestic violence not only providing a safe place to live, but also support and counseling. Housing issues are not simply an issue of the present. This year we provided information to seniors at Gettysburg High School about tenant rights and responsibilities. We are working with the Gettysburg College to provide the same information to college students. In the future we hope to partner with community agencies, lending institutions, and schools to provide information about financial planning and life skills to the next generation, our children, in the hope that they will never have to face a future of homelessness. Each year in Adams County the Housing Task Force sponsors several activities during the third week in November to bring community awareness to the national issue of homelessness. This year the week of November 15th through 19th is proclaimed National Homeless Awareness Week. The task force has invited the youth of the community to participate in a coloring and poetry contest. The artwork and poems are on display at Gallery 30 throughout the week for the public. We are again doing a toiletry drive with drop off boxes located at St. Francis Xavier, Christ Lutheran Church, the Adams County Housing Authority, and the Gettysburg College. Now through November 19th we will be collecting toiletry items that will be distributed among the local emergency and transitional housing programs. All contributions are appreciated. The Housing Task Force meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at the Adams County Housing Authority at 3:00 p.m. If you would like additional information, please call Natalie Weaver, Co-Chair, at 334-1518, ext. 224. Helena Racioppa is co-chair of the Housing Task Force and Administrator of Operations, Adams County Housing Authority/Adams County Interfaith Housing Corporation. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams Column – October 2004 According to the Afterschool Alliance, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of afterschool programs, more than 28 million children have both parents working outside their home. At least 7-15 million of these children are unsupervised after school on any given day. According to A.C. Nielsen, the most common activity during after school hours is watching television - on average 23 hours per week! Youth who are not involved in afterschool programs and activities are 49% more likely to have used drugs and 37% more likely to become teen parents, than those who spend at least 1 to 5 hours per week in an afterschool activity. Most crimes committed by youth are between the hours of 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Afterschool programs are key to our children’s success. It is critical to keep the lights on and doors open for afterschool programs in our community. I hope you had the opportunity to attend Adams County’s first annual Lights on Afterschool! Rally on October 14 at the Gettysburg Area Recreation Park. The event was hosted by Collaborating for Youth in Adams County, and its affiliate the Youth Providers Resource Network, to celebrate and promote the benefits of afterschool programs in our county. Support of afterschool programs is important throughout the year. Since 1998, the Youth Providers Resource Network has worked to enhance the quality of life and afterschool opportunities for youth in Adams County through education, advocacy and resource development. The Network, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County and Collaborating for Youth, has more than thirty members representing the nonprofit, government, education, private organizations and individuals who provide or support programs and services for youth in Adams County. The Network’s goals are to serve as a information and support network for individuals and organizations providing programs, activities and services to youth; to advocate for issues related to the well being of youth in our community; to increase the level of awareness of existing youth resources and needs among youth, families, service providers and schools; to increase the level of connection and participation of youth in our community; and, assess, enhance and develop youth resources through collaboration and resource sharing.
The Network works collaboratively year-round and meets monthly, 2nd Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. Twice a year, we publish a brochure that lists free and low-cost after-school programs and activities for middle and high school students, “What’s Up After School?!” and “What’s Up This Summer?!”. We have also developed and e-resource network to identify and share resources and opportunities.
--Vickie Corbett is chairperson of the Youth Providers Resource Network and vice president of the United Way of Adams County. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
El Diario Latino Services Task Force Column – October 2004 A victim of abuse has the right to file criminal charges against an abuse, but that can take a long time to resolve. By contrast, the civil PFA law provides a fast and easy way to get immediate protection.
What is “abuse”?
Who can get protection?
How can you get a civil protection order?
Does it cost anything to get a protection order?
How quickly can you get protection?
What protection can you get?
How is an abuser notified of the protection order?
What happens if the abuser violates the protection order?
If the abuser/defendant violates the PFA order, he can be charged with the crime of con¬tempt. If convicted, he can be sent to jail for up to 6 months, fined up to $1,000, and have the abuse order extended to an additional period. In addition, the abuser can be charged with other relevant criminal offenses involving in his violating the PFA order. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
El Diario: Latino Services Task Force Column – August 2004 (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – September 2004
It is also likely that you as a parent may unwittingly know an abuser. The greatest risk to our children doesn’t come from strangers, but from our friends and family. Research shows that:
To bring greater awareness to Adams County parents, a free program entitled, “7 Steps to Protecting our Children”, will be held on Monday October 18th in the Gettysburg Hospital Community Rooms from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. This class will assist parents in how to better prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Parents will learn the facts about sexual abuse and understand the risks. Realities, not trust, should influence your decisions regarding your child. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - August, 2004
113 Teams from Adams County (947 participants) joined the Shape up PA challenge. Weight loss percentage and accumulated physical activity recorded in miles are being recorded on the shapeuppa.org website. Adams County team leaders of the weight loss challenge are: New Blues from York Springs at 4.81% weight loss per person and the Weightless Wonders of Gardners at 4% weight loss per person. Our accumulated activity team leaders are the Movers and Shakers of Gettysburg recording 928 miles per team member and the Cherry Tree Rehab of Littlestown at 705 miles per team member. Great accomplishments. . . . keep moving! Our crowning moment for the Adams County leaders of the weight loss and accumulated activity teams will be during the closing event at Rec Park on October 13, 6:00 PM. Come out to see who our “real losers (WINNERS) are!” (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – July 2004 Every second Wednesday of the month a group of community members come together to form what is known as The Latino Services Task Force (LSTF). This group, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is committed to addressing the concerns affecting the health and quality of life of the Adams County Latino community. The group’s goal is to improve health status, access to services, and quality of life for Latinos. In order to maximize the group’s efforts, it has developed ten sub-committees. Each committee is encouraged to report progress during the monthly LSTF meetings. The sub-committees have been charged to address issues, such as identifying resources available to Latinos, addressing health issues and supporting health related programs, exploring methods for employment assistance, identifying and addressing educational issues, and organizing community programs. Each month dedicated individuals from various organizations come together to explore these and many other issues. We work to find solutions to the problems that have served as obstacles to Latinos. We work to provide a better quality of life. And we work to form a stronger, more connected community. The Task Force realizes that identifying solutions is not easy, but through a strong network of individuals progress can and has been seen. For example, we have been able to address some of the educational issues. Through health programming, we have been able to educate the community on how to enhance their overall way of life. It is important to continue to address these obstacles. Through our efforts we change lives, more specifically, we change families. These obstacles have an impact on the health and overall well-being of the Latino community. Through community support the Task Force can continue to work towards reaching its goals and mission. As a result of the Task Force’s work and dedication, a calendar of events has been developed for the month of September and October. We encourage all community members to take part in the activities and programs scheduled.
For more information on the Latino Services Task Force, contact Lisette Newhard at 337-3855. -- Lisette R. Newhard is a member of the Latino Services Task Force and a counselor at Harrisburg Area Community College – Gettysburg Campus. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – June 2004 Everyone has heard of mediation, and most people know that it is an alternative form of dispute resolution that allows two people locked in conflict to resolve their issues peacefully. The process involves sitting down with a pair of mediators who will work with both parties to come to a resolution agreeable to each side. The mediator acts as a facilitator and enables the disputants to work out a win-win contract in which each party benefits. But what do you do if someone asks YOU to a mediation? Most often, mediation is initiated by one of the parties who would like to resolve a problem without huge expense or a lot of anger. Often, the other party is reluctant to agree to mediation, either because he/she doesn't know much about the process or because he/she is full of rage. Because of uncertainty or a desire to punish someone, the other party may in the end incur large legal bills and a lifetime of hurt feelings. If someone asks YOU to a mediation, you should think about what is to be gained by settling difficult issues like custody or property disputes in a non-confrontational way. Where children are involved, it is far better for them not to be the center of a difficult legal battle. Mediators help divorcing parents to find solutions that center around the children's well being, something that both parents can agree upon. Although separation and divorce are never pleasant, they don't need to be full of violence and anger. There is another way to do things. If someone asks you to come to mediation, you will be able to help choose the time and the place of the meeting. When you get there, you will be asked to sign a paper regarding confidentiality and ground rules. If at any time, you wish to speak to the mediators alone, a caucus will be requested. Sessions are usually 2-3 hours long. If you don't reach a resolution in that time period, additional sessions can be scheduled. When you do reach an agreement, the mediator will draw up a contract to be signed by both disputants. A signed document is legally binding. One of the purposes served by Mediation Services of Adams County is to put peaceful resolution of disputes into the hands of all members of the community, regardless of income or status. Mediation costs as little as $5.00 per session, according to the income of the disputants, or as much as $50 per session, if an organization or agency is involved. As a non-profit community agency, MSAC offers dispute resolution, a speaker's bureau, and mediation training for individuals and organizations. Our next Mediation and Conflict Resolution Training will take place on October 1 from 7-10 PM, October 2 from 9 -5 PM, October 3 from 1-6 PM, and October 16 from 9-5 PM. This 22-hour skill-building workshop will emphasize conflict styles, active listening, communication, negotiation, and mediation. For more information or to register, call Mediation Services of Adams County at 334-7312. --Janet M. Powers, Mediation Services of Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – May 17, 2004 Four years ago, Adams County joined approximately 41 Pennsylvania counties and the National Safe Kids Coalition in an effort to prevent childhood injuries. Since that time, the Adams County Safe Kids Coalition has stayed true to its mission of providing education, advocacy, and prevention activities across the county. These efforts have included car seat inspections and loaner programs, bike derby days, bike helmet inspections and give aways, holiday toy safety guides, fire safety events and free smoke alarms, and safety education instruction. Safe kids are no accident. While the start of summer sparks excitement, tragedies often peak during the months of May through August. Children are supervised less, have more free time, and engage in more outdoor activities. In fact, children age 14 and under will be rushed to emergency rooms this summer nearly 3 million times for serious injuries related to motor vehicle crashes, drownings, bike crashes, pedestrian incidents, falls and other hazards. More than 2,500 of these children will die. Don’t take a summer vacation from safety! Close supervision, proper protective gear, and the following simple prevention steps can help your child avoid danger:
If you need help meeting any of these safety tips, such as a new bicycle helmet, a smoke detector, a car seat inspection, additional safety information, and/or will like to join our chapter, please contact the Adams County Safe Kids Coalition at 339-0570, ext. 100. --Carmen Medina is Chair of the Adams County Safe Kids Coalition, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. Some of the information for this article was gathered from the National Safe Kids Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – April 2004 The Adams Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (ACPTP), an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is excited to announce their Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month speaker for May 2004. Back by popular demand is Dr. Ken Ginsburg, MD, MS Ed, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Ginsburg is a nationally known speaker whose goal is to work to ensure that children are prepared for a safe passage through adolescence. "Reaching Adolescents: Building on the Strengths of Youth" will be presented Friday, May 14th at the Gettysburg Hospital. The program begins at 8:15 a.m. (registration and continental breakfast from 7:45-8:15 a.m.) and concludes at 4:00 p.m. There is a $15.00 registration fee with limited scholarships available. Lunch will be provided. Dr. Ginsburg is dynamic and thought provoking, using humor, real-life scenarios and poignant cases that will both pull at your heart strings and motivate you to want to make a difference in the lives of teens. He gives concrete tools and effective approaches for interviewing and counseling teens and their parents and, most importantly, for affecting behavior change when you find a teen headed in the wrong direction. The program objectives are:
The need for this type of educational program is imperative as today’s statistics are alarming for teen deaths – 80% of the causes of death in adolescents, aged 14 to 24, is preventable. Unintentional injury, suicide, and homicide are the leading killers. Substance abuse, depression, early and unprotected sexual intercourse, school failure, and delinquency also contribute substantially to morbidity. The Adams Coalition to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy is committed to providing leadership to the Adams County Community and its families through education, advocacy and support in an effort to help make healthy decisions regarding sexual behaviors and future life options. The ACPTP is comprised of representatives from many community organizations and area schools as well as individuals who are actively involved in the lives of teens. The coalition meets the first Thursday of the month at noon in the Gettysburg Hospital community rooms. For more information on ACPTP or to register for Dr. Ginsburg’s program, please call the Gettysburg Hospital at 337-4272, extension 5 or email acptp@juno.com. -- Cindy Keeney, is a member of the Adams County Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Victim Advocate, Adams County Victim/Witness Assistance Program. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - March 2004 The Domestic Violence Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, in cooperation with Gettysburg High School, Delone Catholic and Gettysburg College are taking action to prevent dating and domestic violence with the powerful educational theater program: The Yellow Dress. The task force has already brought The Yellow Dress to Gettysburg High School and Gettysburg College two times previously and we are pleased to add Delone Catholic this year.The dramatic one-woman musical performance will be performed for students at Gettysburg High School on April 14 and 15 and at Delone Catholic on April 14. The public is invited to view the free program at Gettysburg College on April 14, at 7 p.m (room to be announced). A panel discussion with domestic violence experts including individuals from Survivors, Inc., N.O.V.I.S. (Non Violent Intervention Services) and law enforcement will follow the play. This program helps students, community members, and parents to identify the warning signs of abusive behaviors, learn how to help friends and family members, and develop school and community awareness of the issues. Our hope is to develop a school and community culture that does not endorse, promote, or accept violence in relationships. The reactions of students and teachers who have viewed the play in the past have verified the need for this program. Statistics show that approximately one in four high school students has reported that they have experienced physical violence in a relationship. They also show that one out of four college women will be the victim of rape or attempted rape and that 84% of those rapes on college campuses are acquaintance rapes. Dating violence and sexual assaults are just as much a problem for teens as they are for adults; in fact, dating abuse may be the most accurate indicator of future partner abuse. Abuse that begins during dating continues and intensifies upon marriage or cohabitation. The Yellow Dress program is produced and directed by Deanao=s Fund, a non-profit organization based in Stoneham, MA that is dedicated to promoting healthy relationships. Deana=s Fund was established in 1994 after the death of Deana Brisbois, a young woman from Topsfield, MA who was a victim of dating violence. The organization provides theater and arts-based educational programs to schools and communities around the United States. According to Sher Quaday, Executive Director of Deana=s Fund, The Yellow Dress program is a good first step to developing an effective dating violence prevention program. ASchools report that the program has both an immediate and long-term effect on students,@ she said. AThe Yellow Dress is an incredibly powerful performance. It is a great tool, and when used together with a curriculum and other school and community efforts, it has great potential to effectively reduce the incidence of teen dating violence.@ The Yellow Dress was written by Deborah Lake Fortson and was originally produced by Sydney Hayes Patton, who also wrote the original music. The Yellow Dress is underwritten to date by the following organizations: Gettysburg Hospital, Adams Electric Cooperative Inc., Gettysburg College Women=s Center, Survivors, Inc. and Gettysburg School District. For more information on the community program please contact Kathy Kolumban or Lisa Nevada at 334-0589. BKathy Kolumban is the co-chair of the Domestic Violence Task Force and executive director of Survivors, Inc. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – February 2004 Research has proven that extensive cognitive, emotional, and social growth occurs during a child’s first five years. Experiences during these early years influence important aspects of a child’s life – emotional health, educational and employment goals, and interactions with others. In Pennsylvania, efforts are underway to develop a system of early care and education that meets families’ needs and prepares an educated workforce of the future. At the local level, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare promotes child care initiatives through grants to community agencies. A grant awarded to the United Way of Adams County helps fund Ready to Learn - an initiative partnering providers, educators, businesses, and other agencies, in efforts to enhance child care and education. A local Planning Team comprised of these necessary partners, is in development and will help guide the Ready to Learn initiative. Local child care providers and educators are already planning activities as part of the Ready to Learn initiative. To better understand the link between early care and education, a day-long seminar is scheduled that will bring together Adams County child care center directors and primary school teachers. During the "Bridging the Gap" Seminar on March 18, center directors and teachers will discuss their respective roles in educating young children, and how centers can best provide a nurturing, educational environment to prepare children for primary school. To recognize exceptional child care, the Department of Public Welfare has also initiated Keystone Stars – a pilot quality improvement program that recognizes child care providers who exceed state health and safety licensing requirements. Keystone Stars identifies four levels of performance that allow providers to achieve a quality rating. Merit awards are issued to providers upon certification of a star level designation. Currently, child care centers are eligible to participate in Keystone Stars. Home care providers will soon be offered the opportunity to participate in the quality rating program. When fully implemented statewide, Keystone Stars will provide families with a valuable tool to assess the quality of their child care provider. Many Adams County child care centers have begun the process of qualifying for Keystone Stars, with five centers awarded Star One designation. There are required classes center directors take as part of the process to obtain a star designation. Center directors throughout the county have been invited to attend one of the classes that will be conducted in Gettysburg on April 6. In celebration of children, April 18-24 is designated as the "Week of the Young Child". Special events are planned for that week at the Gettysburg Village Factory Stores. On Saturday, April 24, a variety of activities will be offered to young children and their parents. Parent education information will also be available. Watch for additional details in future editions of the Gettysburg Times. If you are interested in participating on the Adams County Planning Team for Ready to Learn, please contact the United Way of Adams County by calling 717-334-5809 or 1-866-R2L – UWAC. --MJ Duffy, is program coordinator, Ready to Learn, United Way of Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams - January 2004 (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - December 2003 The first "A" is Assessment. This refers to the process of collecting facts, trends, and perceptions about health status and quality of life in Adams County. This activity is more appropriately referred to as a community health needs assessment, and it yields an unbelievable amount of information and implications about the needs of people who live here. Healthy Adams County has conducted two of these since 1996. The second "A" is Access. The most prevalent health and human service concerns locally always include identified access issues. Four of the top five issues in the 2002 needs assessment included access to medical care, dental care, transportation, and to mental health services. When you add in language and cultural barriers, this theme is dominant. The third community issue is Affordability. And, in fact, (lack of) affordable housing ranked third in the same needs assessment. This issue also encompasses services (often health and human services), and is typified by those who are uninsured, under insured, or otherwise unable to pay for medical or dental care. Number four on the "A" list is Availability. This means the lack of services within a short distance, often as a by-product of living in a relatively rural area. It can also mean time-related availability, due to the heavy demand for a service, or in some cases a service that is not continuously available locally (e.g. a sub-specialist). Fifth, and often confused with Availability, is Awareness. This issue includes the need for education, information, and promotion of health and health and human services to the Adams County community. A related major challenge for the human services agencies locally is marketing. Many residents do not seem to be fully aware of the range of helping services available locally, and that they are there for everyone - regardless of income. Sixth is Advocacy. One of the most important activities undertaken by our affiliated task forces, advocating for alleviating access and improving awareness, demands much time and resources.
The last "A" or way that our members look at Adams County is by Accountability. It is critical that Healthy Adams County and its affiliated task forces and committees be able to document, measure, and demonstrate accountability for the use of its resources to those who are invested in this community health partnership. We are getting better at this, but continually look
On behalf of everyone associated with Healthy Adams County, we wish the community of Adams County a happy, safe, and healthy holiday season! (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – November 2003
Collaborating For Youth (formerly Gettysburg Area Communities That Care) is a concerned group of individuals and organizations that have come together to implement projects, programs and strategies that will improve the future of our youth. The name has changed, but the mission is the same “to improve our community so that our youth will feel valued, protected, encouraged and Why are we concerned about the future of our youth? Data collected about the risks to youth living in Adams County shows significant upward negative trends. We have increases in substance abuse, with a steady increase in the number of cases prosecuted that are drug related. We have increases in the number of referrals to the Adams County Juvenile Probation Department. Crimes committed by those youth under 13 years doubled between 1995 and 1998. Early sexual activity has led to an increase in births to teens. Adams County had a rate of 5.53 births to teens per 100 in 1980; it had risen to 8.9 births to teens per 100 in 1999. The rates of sexually transmitted infections nearly doubled between 1996 and 2000 with 40% of reported Chlamydia cases being teens and 33% of reported cases of Gonorrhea being teens. One in five children born in Adams County is born to a mother without a high school diploma where as the state average is one in seven. There is academic disparity between our youth who live in poverty and other youth who live in our communities. Many of our communities have over 20% of their children living below the federal poverty line - that is one child in every five. What can be done? Collaborating For Youth (CFY) uses prevention science to reduce the increasing risks and build protections for our youth. We work with research models that help us to pin point not only the emerging problems, but also the remedies that have been proven to be effective. CFY is not a program, it is a process of: 1) assessing the health of the community; 2) planning based on that assessment; 3) using effective programs and tools to address the risks and build the strengths; and 4) evaluating whether or not what we are doing is having an impact. CFY does not look to reinvent the wheel but to help strengthen the community through additional access to resources and information. CFY identifies and helps to secure the resources for new programs and projects. To date, CFY has helped to establish two programs in the Gettysburg Area - Across Ages, an intergenerational mentoring program at The Center/El Centro and Functional Family Therapy at Family Service Partners. Across Ages matches adults, 50 years or older, with youth who need an additional caring adult in their life. Functional Family Therapy provides free professional counseling for families who are experiencing parent/child conflict. Additional projects and partnerships include: The Gettysburg Alternative Sports Park, a collaborative project with the Borough scheduled to open this spring; a community center still on the drawing board; and work with the Gettysburg and Upper Adams School Districts to help identify and meet the needs of students through community and school partnerships. Collaborating For Youth has been able to bring about $650,000.00 into the community through these projects. Why should you be concerned about our youth and support the work of CFY? Besides the obvious human costs of these problems, there are actual costs to you the taxpayer. A 90-day hospitalization for substance abuse treatment for a youth from our county costs $20,250.00 (on average), with another $10,920.00 in outpatient follow up services. The average cost of a juvenile placed for delinquency is $30,500 per year. The costs of teen pregnancy and all of its related outcomes was put at $21 – 29 billion, nationally, by the Robin Hood Foundation in 1996, and we certainly bear a part of that cost at the local level. Low literacy rates and lack of academic achievement translate into a less skilled work force, higher crime rates and a larger prison population. To find out how you can help, for more information, or to request a speaker call Sharron Michels at 338-0300 ext 119. Sharron Michels is the community mobilizer for Collaborating For Youth, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - October 2003 When it comes to controlling your blood sugar, does it seem you are on a constant roller coaster ride? Your physician and diabetes educators tell you often of the benefits of keeping blood sugars near normal. Like everything of value, there is a price to pay. It takes effort to ascend. That effort is the price you pay for better diabetes control. Whether you have had diabetes for years, are newly diagnosed or are at risk for developing diabetes, it is important to know that you are the key person treating your diabetes. The decisions you make daily have a greater impact than your doctor can do every few months at an office visit. You decide what to eat. You decide whether to put the sneakers on and take a walk or not. You take the medication every day that is helping you keep your blood sugars near normal. Your doctor or health care professionals can't do it for you. You need good information and a good team of health care professionals with you to take the charge! Here are six essential treatment tools to consider.
Education:
Meal Planning:
"So, what can I eat" you ask? Minimize the white stuff: white sugar, white flour and salt and plan your meals and snacks around delicious whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and good fats (olive oil, canola oil, flax seeds, nuts).
Physical Activity:
Medication:
Diabetes Tests:
Stress Management: The diabetes education department at the Gettysburg Hospital has numerous program available to assist you in your diabetes care efforts. A comprehensive diabetes self-management program is offered 6 times per year. In addition, carbohydrate counting classes, grocery tours, and individual counseling sessions are available. Watch for details or call 337-4189 for information. --Betsy Wargo, MS, RD, LDN, is a member of the Diabetes Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, as well as community nutritionist and diabetes educator at the Gettysburg Hospital. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – September 2003 The Adams County School Nurse Association is one of many task forces affiliated with Healthy Adams County, our local community health partnership. Our organization is represented at a number of task force meetings each month by our members, including task force leaders, oral health, children’s health, and tobacco prevention. We are always happy to work closely with community agencies to promote wellness in our schools and communities. According to available records, the Adams County School Nurse Association has been in existence for forty years and is comprised of members from the county’s six public school districts: Gettysburg, Upper Adams, Littlestown, Bermudian Springs, Conewago, and Fairfield. The current membership is twenty-four active school nurses and thirteen retired nurses. Throughout its forty year history, the Association routinely holds approximately six meetings annually, hosted by the various districts. These meetings have been scheduled after the school day and the agendas have been varied. Many guest speakers addressing the nurses have discussed topics such as diabetes, asthma, nutrition, immunizations, screenings, attention deficit disorder, and dental health, as well as educational, social, and political issues. The school nurse association provides an excellent forum for its members to share information and offer support for each other. The meetings in December and May have traditionally been social affairs to allow a time for networking and socialization. Our retirees are invited to these dinner meetings, and we always have a good turnout. Officers are elected at our first meeting of the school year, in September or October. Dues are collected to cover the cost of cards, flowers, and gifts for ill, bereaved, or retiring members. School nurses in Pennsylvania must be licensed by the state as registered nurses. In order to be state certified, they must have a degree and also complete a specific course of study including a practicum in the school setting. School nurses wear many hats, combining clinical assessment skills with their roles as health educators. While they are primarily advocates for students, they also direct comprehensive health services that empower families, school staff members, and the community at large to focus on prevention, early intervention, and outreach. School nurses are encouraged to pursue continuing education opportunities, and many of our members have advanced degrees and certifications equivalent to those of other faculty members. -- Liane Taft, RN, CSN, MA, is president of the Adams County School Nurse Association, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – August 2003 Do you want your children to grow up healthy? What parent would say "no" to that question? Yet, there are children in Adams County whose families lack the resources to provide the kind of preventative health care for their children that many of us take for granted. That was the issue that brought the Children’s Health Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, together in March 1999. The Task Force brought together representatives from schools, agencies, government and the medical community to focus on enrolling eligible Adams County children in Pennsylvania’s medical programs for children – Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). These programs provide comprehensive health care services, including dental, eye glasses, doctor, hospital, prescription, and more. In March 1999, Adams County had 2,710 children enrolled in Medicaid and 412 in CHIP. With the support of the Gettysburg Hospital and the Adams County Assistance Office, the Task Force partnered with school districts to distribute thousands of flyers in ‘first day packets" and at kindergarten registrations. They helped coordinate outreach to community agencies and reached out to the County’s growing Latino population. Recently, the Task Force partnered with Wellspan Health to bring the Covering Kids and Families program to Adams County. With a grant from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, community health workers from Covering Kids identify and assist families to apply for Medicaid and CHIP. In addition to direct outreach efforts, the Task Force has been a guiding influence for other projects to link children to medical services, including a dental sealant program in the Upper Adams School District; health screenings for Head Start children; immunizations in schools to meet new State requirements, and Wellspan’s HealthConnect mobile health services available every Monday at Biglerville High School. What are the results of this effort? As of July 1, 2003, there are 1,106 children enrolled in CHIP and 3,672 in Medicaid – a 53% increase. That’s good news for Adams County children, but there is more that can be done. If you know a child who is not insured, help spread the word about the programs that are available. The gross monthly income limit for a family of three is $2,989. Applications and information are available by contacting the Adams County Assistance Office at 717-334-6241 or CHIP at 1-800-986-KIDS or by submitting an application on-line at Error! Bookmark not defined.. Families can also contact Covering Kids and Families at 717-338-3272. Ensuring the health of all our children today is an investment in their future and ours. If you would like to join the Task Force or support its efforts in other ways, call Susan Naugle at 717-334-6241 or John Eline at 717-337-4272. --Susan Naugle is the co-chairperson for the Children’s Health Task Force and Director of the Adams County Assistance Office (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Della Reese to Lead Effort in Raising Awareness of the Faith in Action National Network of Free Services
Reese, a singer, actress, performer and minister - perhaps best know for her role as "Tess" on the hit television series - now joins Faith in Action as the national spokesperson, making it her mission to spread the word about the network of free, interfaith, community-based services. She also is committed to encouraging more people to volunteer to help their neighbors in need. Faith in Action of Adams County currently helps numerous individuals in need through the caring and dedication of many local volunteers. This program was established in 2002 to help neighbors in need, and the program is able to provide services through the volunteer and financial support of Adams County residents.
Faith in Action is a national interfaith volunteer caregiving initiative support by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation established in 1993. This initiative has now expanded to more than 1,000 programs, like Faith in Action of Adams County, across the country, all working to ensure that more Americans get the help they need to stay in their homes and live in their communities. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County June 2003 Since its creation in 1998, the task force has been active in providing numerous trainings and community awareness programs to educate students, clergy, law enforcement and the community at large about the dynamics of dating and domestic violence. Continued training and education efforts are among the list of goals the task force recently set for itself to achieve in the upcoming year.
The task force also plans to compile an annual report of statistics on the prevalence of the issue in Adams County. Human service organizations represented on the Domestic Violence Task Force report a rise in number of victims seeking assistance from abusive relationships; however, no composite data to support these claims has been collected at this time. The task force intends to produce such evidence and provide quarterly updates through local media outlets in an effort to increase the public's Members of the Domestic Violence Task Force come from various aspects of the criminal justice system, local congregations, health care, and victim service organizations across the county. The task force is hoping to recruit new members from the community to better represent the universality of domestic violence. Medical professionals including mental health workers, representatives from the business community, members of the Hispanic population, higher education staff and parents whose children witness bullying and controlling dating relationships in the halls at school are especially encouraged to become involved.
The Domestic Violence Task Force meets bi-monthly as a whole and is supported by committees that meet on an as needed basis. If you are interested in learning more about the task force or would like to attend the next meeting, please contact Kathy (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – June 2003 After a long snowy winter trapped in your house sitting on the couch staring at the TV, you probably couldn’t wait until the first sign of spring to go outside and do something, anything active. Like many Americans, you may have even made a New Year’s resolution to lose some weight or join a gym. Although summer is fast approaching, you probably still have not made a big effort to reach your goals. To most people exercise is a four-letter word, they would rather have a cavity filled at the dentist than work out. That’s because too many times we look at what we believe it takes to get in shape and say, " I can’t do that!" According to an American Council for Fitness and Nutrition survey most Americans overestimate the effort required to become fit and don't realize simple lifestyle changes can help them prevent weight gain. Changing your life to make time for fitness reminds me of the scene in the Star Wars movie where Yoda is teaching Luke Skywalker how to become a Jedi Knight. Luke's spaceship has just sunk into a swamp, and he is attempting to pull it out by using the "Force." Luke turns to Yoda and says, "O.K., I'll give it a try." To which Yoda replies, "NO! There is no try, only do or don't do." So as the famous shoe company says when it comes to fitness, "Just Do It." You don’t need to be a professional athlete to work out or get fit. All you need is an open mind, a little time and patience, and you will be looking and feeling better before you know it. Federal guidelines developed by the U.S. Surgeon General, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American College of Sports Medicine all recommend that you participate in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day ON TOP of your customary daily activities to promote health. That's because regular physical activity can help reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol, help keep your weight under control, and relieve stress. Thus a little physical activity can go a long way to keeping you healthy throughout your life. A statewide program called Colorado on the Move urges its participants to start off their new exercise programs by walking an additional 2,000 steps, or about one mile per day. Researchers for the program found out that Americans were putting on 1 to 2 pounds a year, and that their weight gain could be stopped if they walked an extra 2,000 steps per day. If you dislike walking then pick some other activity instead, just choose something you think you would enjoy and get moving. The important thing to remember is to build opportunities for physical activity into your everyday life. You should think of your half-hour of physical activity as a part of your daily routine. Would you want to let days go by before you washed your hair, brushed your teeth, or took a shower? That type of poor hygiene would eventually affect your health. So why isn’t exercise just as important to your overall wellbeing? If you can find the time everyday for your morning grooming, can’t you squeeze 30 minutes of walking into your schedule? The Adams County Physical Fitness Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is actively involved in promoting the healthy lifestyles described above. For information on upcoming fitness events or a directory of fitness and recreation facilities around the County, contact Holly Cookerly, Gettysburg Hospital, at 717-337-4272. --Timothy J. Moore, Ph.D., C.H.E.S., has a doctorate in health promotion and is a certified health education specialist. He is the former Fitness Editor of Shape magazine and is a member of the Adams County Physical Fitness Task Force. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County – May 2003 The Healthy Adams County (HAC) partnership has about 22 different task forces, each working on its own area of interest. One that is importantly vital to the overall future of Adams County is the Aging Services Task Force. The demographics of our community speak for themselves. We are an older county in an older state in a nation that is already the oldest that has ever existed. As such, any group that tries to deal with the major issues that confront our older population, almost automatically becomes an important force in our community. The Aging Services Task Force has been meeting off and on now for several years. It is currently under going a bit of a resurgence, in that it is again holding regular monthly meetings and is working to develop an agenda that is relevant and important to the older citizens of our county. The Task Force represents a number of different constituencies, including community-based agencies, long-term care facilities, private citizens, housing organizations, health care workers, clergy people, counselors, financial planners, pharmacists, hospice and home-health care providers, attorneys and others with an interest in the health and welfare of our older population. At its most recent meeting, the Aging Services Task Force discussed a proposed program called Fall Fest. This program will consist of several seminars on subjects such as health and fitness, elder abuse, housing and others that may interest older people and those who care for them. Many of the agencies that serve older people have been told for years that these types of programs are very much needed in Adams County. While it is still in the early planning stages, it appears that this event will be held sometime in September, 2003. The Task Force also discussed the continuing need for transportation by the older population. It was noted that transportation always ranks high in any surveys that are done to attempt to determine the needs of Adams Countians, not just older people, but those of any age. The Task Force has also decided to hold its monthly meetings at various facilities and agencies that serve older people so that its members may become familiar with what’s available in the community. As such, its next meeting will be on Friday, June 13 at 9:30 AM at Green Acres. If you have an interest in joining the work of this important group, you may get further information by calling the Healthy Adams County office at 717-334-4137. Steven D. Niebler is the chairperson of the Aging Services Task Force and director of the Adams County Office for Aging. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams – April 2003 Most teens receive some form of sexuality education in school. But during the course they are likely to learn little about love. Even though love is the most important topic in sexuality education, it is one of the most neglected. Our neglect is a reflection of our cultural values and our uncertainty about what to say. Our silence of the subject of love creates a vacuum that is filled by popular culture. Many teens learn about sex and love primarily from television and movies. What they learn is that after people are attracted to each other, they fall in love and are swept away in the heat of passion where words and protection are unnecessary. They learn that sex is somehow more romantic or less wrong if it "just happens." They learn that sexual intercourse is the natural and inevitable outcome of sexual passion and that it happens at the next available opportunity after falling in love. "Most disturbingly," states Joe Fay, executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (PCPTP), "is that by portraying spontaneous, unplanned intercourse as the ultimate pleasure, these programs model a behavior that puts teens at increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy." It is mistake to leave love’s definition to the marketplace and the media, where every serious issue is turned into a commodity and trivialized. Popular culture equates sex with love. It also leaves young people with the impression that romantic love is the ultimate form of love. This superficial treatment reduces the potential to develop healthy, mature, intimate relationships. "The sheer intensity of adolescent sexual desire combined with these media myths about love cause many teens to confuse sex with love and rush to early intercourse," says Fay, adding, "Teens report that the average time from first date to first intercourse is about two weeks." Fay will be the guest speaker at the upcoming conference, "Teaching Teens about Love," sponsored by the Adams Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. The conference will be held on Monday, May 12, from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Gettysburg Hospital and is geared to help professionals and parents educate teens about love more effectively. Through a series of thought-provoking activities designed to be used with teens, Fay helps participants to explore how teaching about the different types and stages of love can help lead young people to slow down, take their time, and communicate about sex rather than being "swept away." Emphasis is placed on ways to take concepts developed by experts on the subject of love and develop teaching strategies that convey these insights in a way that teenagers can understand. The cost of the program is $10 and includes continental breakfast, lunch, and educational materials. Registration is required by calling Laura Reyka, RN, Gettysburg Hospital, 337-4272. The seminar on love at Gettysburg Hospital is just one of many events occurring throughout the state during Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (TPPM) in May. The PCPTP will kick off the month with their sixth annual youth conference in Harrisburg, which is attended by 120 teens from local coalitions throughout Pennsylvania. On May 7, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy will hold a "National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy." Teens will be encouraged to visit the National Campaign’s website—www.teenpregnancy.org—to take a fun, short, informative, and engaging quiz that asks teens to reflect on the best course of action in a number of tough and realistic sexual situations that include, for example, peer pressure, drinking, and gossip. --Laura Reyka, RN, is the chairperson of the Adams Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County-March 2003 In 1998, in response to a county-wide needs assessment conducted by Healthy Adams County, the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force was formed. It was comprised of thirteen members who represented various community human service agencies. Its goals were to raise public awareness about the issue of child abuse in our local communities and to educate the public about services that are available to Adams County families. In 2001, the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force underwent a transformation. It formally became known as the Families First Task Force. This transformation represented more than just a name change. The intent was to broaden the focus of the task force to address a multitude of issues that face Adams County families, including the problem of child abuse. It sometimes seems as if the American family is under attack from all directions. According to recent statistics, the divorce rate in our country has surpassed fifty percent. Poverty, violent crime, and drugs are threatening the well-being and security of our children. The stresses of a fast-moving and sometimes chaotic society have left their imprint on the daily routines of most American families. The time, energy, and resources of many parents are being stretched to the limit. And we, in Adams County, have not been left untouched. The Families First Task Force has a broad representation with members from seventeen different human service agencies. Through its various committees, Families First is committed to promoting activities and programs that will strengthen Adams County families. Past efforts have included a collaborative effort with the Exchange Club of Gettysburg to heighten awareness about the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome, publication of a child abuse resource manual and a "family-friendly" calendar full of parenting tips, and together with the Adams County Library, a section of the Gettysburg Library was set aside for parenting and family topics. Most recently the task force provided a speaker to address the Adams County Nurses' Association about techniques to prevent child abductions. The task force is currently preparing for National Child Abuse Prevention month in April. We are planning several activities to promote awareness of child abuse in our communities. We will be presenting a proclamation of child abuse prevention to the county commissioners. To further demonstrate the issue, we plan to sponsor a poster contest with the theme "Every Child Is a Star, Let Them Shine--Stop Child Abuse". We will also be displaying a child abuse quilt during the entire month of April at the Bank of Hanover located on York Street, and tentatively we expect to have a display of relevant child abuse reading materials in the Adams County Library. And finally, on April 29 we will sponsor "Parents Night Out", an opportunity for parents under stress to enjoy a night of respite at a local restaurant. For more information about the Families First Task Force or any of the activities planned for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, contact Bob Funari at 624-4461 or Sharron Michels at 338-0300. --Bob Funari is co-chairperson of Families First, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County and director of clinical services at Children's Aid Society. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - February 2003 In September 1998, United Way of Adams County hosted a forum for local youth programs. The purpose of the forum was to share information on current youth programs to figure out a better way to serve at-risk and underserved youth in our community. As a result of the forum, the Youth Resource Network of Adams County was established. Today the Network, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County and the Gettysburg Area Communities That Care, has more than thirty members representing the nonprofit, government, education, private organizations and individuals who provide or support programs and services for youth in Adams County. Our mission is to work collaboratively to enhance the quality of life and opportunities for youth through education, advocacy and resource development. Our goals are to serve as a information and support network for individuals and organizations providing programs, activities and services to youth; to advocate for issues related to the well being of youth in our community; to increase the level of awareness of existing youth resources and needs among youth, families, service providers and schools; to increase the level of connection and participation of youth in our community; and, assess, enhance and develop youth resources through collaboration and resource sharing. The Network works collaboratively year-round and meets monthly, 2nd Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. at the Gettysburg Hospital. Twice a year, we publish a brochure that lists free and low-cost after-school programs and activities for middle and high school students, "What’s Up After School?!" and "What’s Up This Summer?!". We have also developed and an e-resource network to identify and share resources and opportunities. Our current project is the "Sports Equipment Drop or Swap", March 15, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Gettysburg Area Recreation Park. During the month of February donations of used – or new – sports equipment (you name it, we need it) can be dropped off at the following locations: Gettysburg Area Recreation Park, YWCA of Gettysburg & Adams County, The Center/El Centro, Gettysburg College Center for Public Service. Adams County 4-H Senate at the Adams County Agricultural and Natural Resources Center or United Way of Adams County. Or bring them to the Rec Park on March 15 and swap them for items that you need for your children. Donations will be distributed to low-income youth who are participating in a sport, or would like to participate in a sport, but can’t afford the equipment. Donations must be in good condition – no holes or tears. Cash donations will be used to purchase mouth guards and pay for sports registration fees for income-eligible families. The Drop or Swap is the brainchild of Carrie Small, a new member of the Network and a mother of two boys whose passion for sports has created a good dent in her budget and a closet full for cleats. If you are interested in learning more about the Network or Sports Equipment Drop or Swap, call me at 334-5809. –Vickie Corbett is the chairperson of the Youth Resource Network and Vice President, United Way of Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - January 2003 As the latest Census data revealed, 3,323 Latinos now reside in Adams County. This number represents an increase of 165% over the 1990 census count. In order to meet the increasing needs of our growing Latino community, the Latino Services Task Force of Adams County, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, was established in the spring of 2001. This Task Force is comprised of over 20 members who represent close to 15 community agencies, including Gettysburg Hospital, Generation 10, Migrant L.I.U., Adams County Head Start, Adams County Office of Aging, Gettysburg College Center for Public Service, Survivors and numerous others. The Latino Services Task Force, through its Education Committee, hopes to accomplish the following: to serve as a forum for addressing problems affecting the health and quality of life of the Latino community, to identify and work toward the alleviation of access barriers to health and quality of life for Latinos, to act as an advocacy group in support of initiatives directed towards improving the health of Latinos, to develop health education and information programs about, and for Latinos, to support efforts toward fully integrating Latinos into the Adams County population, to foster better communication and coordination among health and human service providers in Adams County advocating Latino Services and to serve as an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. Since its inception our task force has tackled such issues as the need for full time translators and/or interpreters at the county court house, as well as other county run offices. We have worked on and published an emergency service directory (wallet size) in Spanish. On this card individuals can find the telephone numbers of agencies that provide emergency services throughout the county. The cards will be distributed during the months of December and January. During the month of April, the Task Force was proud to be one of the sponsors of the first ever Latino Youth Conference in Adams County. In addition, guest speakers, such as Anne Marie Vandyke of the PA Human Relations Commission, have given presentation at task force meetings. Planned activities for the beginning of 2003 are the following: Friends of Farm Workers will be our guest speakers for the Task Force meeting on January 15th , 2003 at 11:30a.m. at Gettysburg Hospital. We are also planning to hold a community-wide seminar (date and time to be announced). This seminar will focus on the rights and responsibilities of employers, employees, agencies and community leaders as related to the Latino community. The seminar will provide an opportunity to educate the community about the issues that Latinos face, as well as a forum for discussion about the positives of diversity in Adams County. The Task Force strives to bring community representatives to the table so that other issues such as diabetes, housing concerns, education, translation services, and access to adequate medical services all of which are critical issues that Latino’s in Adams County are facing, may be brought to the fore front. For more information about the Latino Task force or its committees, contact Jesús Gómez at 339-0570. --Jesús Gómez is the Chairperson of the Latino Services Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - December 2002 According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, "Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in our society. Most people begin using tobacco early in adolescence, typically by age 16; almost all first use occurs before high school graduation. Annually, tobacco use causes more than 430,000 deaths and costs the Nation approximately $50-$73 billion in medical expense alone." The Tobacco Prevention Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County is a group of individuals committed to assist people who work and live in Adams County develop and maintain a life free of tobacco air pollution and nicotine addiction. Their efforts target preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people; helping tobacco users quit; working to eliminate environmental tobacco smoke pollution; and identifying and eliminating disparities of tobacco use among different population groups. The task force was formed in August of 2000 and has been meeting the second Wednesday of each month at the Gettysburg Hospital. The task force has been instrumental in providing guest speakers, training smoking cessation facilitators, and providing direction and support to Healthy Adams County as they applied for and received a Primary Contractor grant to administer the Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Health for Adams County. The grant contract was signed in May of 2002. The Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program is one of the opportunities that arose from the Master Settlement Agreement with the tobacco industry in 1998. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had joined 45 other states in November of that year in a settlement that was estimated to be about $206 billion over the first 25 years. Pennsylvania’s share was estimated to amount to $11 billion between the years 2000 and 2025. In 2001, then Governor Tom Ridge, signed into law Act 77 which allocated the entire share of tobacco settlement funds to be used for health-related initiatives. Among those allocations "Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation" was assigned 12% of PA’s annual payments. Through an elaborate formula based on individual county populations, a portion of this amount was earmarked for each county primary contractor to administer the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) nine "Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs." More information about these best practices may be found at the CDC website: . In brief, the identified strategies that were supported by research to be effective in reducing tobacco use included: Community Programs, Chronic Disease Programs to Reduce the Burden of Tobacco-Related Diseases, School Programs, Enforcement, Statewide Programs, Counter-Marketing, Cessation Programs, Surveillance and Evaluation, and Administration and Management. Healthy Adams County serves as Primary Contractor for Adams County with Wes Frisbie, chair of the Tobacco Prevention Task Force, named as the local Tobacco Control Program Coordinator. If you are interested in learning more about tobacco, the Tobacco Prevention Task Force, or joining in their efforts and mission, contact the Healthy Adams County Office at 337-4137. –Wes Frisbie is chairperson for the Tobacco Prevention Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - November 2002 Affordable housing ranked as the third top priority on the 2002 Adams County Community Health Needs Assessment. Over 100 families whose incomes fall below 50% of the area’s median income are currently struggling to find safe, decent, affordable housing in Adams County. In Adams County a worker would have to earn $10.42 per hour at 40 hours per week in order to afford a two-bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent; or, a worker earning minimum wage (currently $5.15/hour) would have to work 81 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom apartment. But it doesn’t stop there; even workers earning $10 to $12 dollars per hour are struggling with housing needs. Many of Adams County’s working families are larger families, families with special medical needs, or families grasping for the American dream, a home of their own. The Housing Task Force of Adams County (an affiliate of Healthy Adams County), through its two committees, the Affordable Housing Committee and the Homeless Awareness Committee, is committed to educating the community on the facts surrounding affordable housing and to identify and work towards eliminating barriers between affordable housing, low-income families and the homeless. Through education we believe we can make a difference. For example, many folks are unaware of the many services provided by Adams County Housing Authority and Adams County Interfaith Housing Corporation. They include financial assistance to help subsidize rent and mortgages for low-income families and first-time home buyers and a financial counseling program that saved 12 homes from being foreclosed on and five cars from being repossessed this year alone. Many low-income families are the working poor. They simply do not earn a wage that enables them to put food on the table for their families, clothes on the backs of their children, pay doctor bills, childcare and afford a decent place to live. Many of the families receiving rental assistance are young working families with very young children, single mothers with children, and elderly and disabled families living on fixed incomes from Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Housing assistance can make the difference between stable housing, precarious housing, or no housing at all. However, the demand for assisted housing clearly exceeds the supply. During the upcoming year, the Housing Task Force will be holding educational workshops about existing housing services available in Adams County and searching for ways to close identified gaps in services. Help us make a difference in Adams County - join our task force, donate furniture or household items to a homeless assistance program, find out more about the Section 8 Program, and/or participate in the activities below. November 17 – 23, 2002 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. During this week, a number of schools, communities and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness. For the past three years Adams County has been a part of this effort. This year the following activities are planned: a breakfast meeting on November 19, at 8:00 a.m. at the Penn State Cooperative Extension, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, with speaker John Steinbruck, a former Lutheran minister instrumental in implementing the Luther Place in Washington, D.C.; a proclamation signing on November 20, at 9:00 a.m. at the Office of the Adams County Commissioners, 111-117 Baltimore Street; pictorial displays in the Gettysburg Hospital lobby and lower level entrance of the Adams County Library; and an exhibit on display in the window of the Bank of Hanover, 6 York Street throughout the week. For more in information about the Housing Task Force of Adams County or its committees, contact Helena Racioppa at 334-1518. --Helena Racioppa is the Chairperson of the Housing Task Force of Adams County, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - October 2002 Each day, Faith in Action of Adams County works to meet the needs of those in Adams County who are frail or who have long-term care needs or disabilities. These caregiving needs were the focus of the new PBS documentary "And Thou Shall Honor: Caring for Our Aging Parents, Spouses, and Friends," which aired October 9. Faith in Action is a national partner of the documentary. Faith in Action of Adams County is part of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s national Faith in Action network, which fosters caring relationships between volunteers of all faiths and their neighbors who are frail or who have long-term health needs. In the more than 1,100 Faith in Action programs across the county, volunteers provide simple and essential help to those in need, which may come in a variety of ways including transportation to doctor appointments, shopping and friendly visiting. According to "And Thou Shalt Honor," the advances in medical technology have made it possible for individuals to survive for years with diseases and long-term health conditions who may otherwise have died rapidly in the past. This change gas increased the number of persons in need of caregiving and persons providing caregiving. The show’s creators estimate 30 million men and women currently provide care for the elderly and the disabled. And over the next two decades as the baby boomers age that figure will increase dramatically. The documentary reveals that not everything about long-term caregiving is dark, however. Caregiving can be a spiritual journey that expands the boundaries of care. In direct relation to this concept, Faith in Action is based on what all religions have in common: a mandate to do good works. Locally, Faith in Action of Adams County helps the frail elderly and those with long-term care needs or disabilities by providing transportation, respite care, friendly visits, light housekeeping, meal preparation or other simple needs. Rev. Barbara Derrickson, Program Director, says, "By having a volunteer come into their home to visit and help around the house, individuals in our own community are able to stay in their homes, enhance their quality of life, and maintain their independence." Faith in Action of Adams County was begun in January, 2001 as a program of Healthy Adams County (formerly the Adams County Partnership for Community Health) thanks to a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It is also supported by Gettysburg Hospital, who has provided Rev. Derrickson’s services as Program Director. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has committed $100 million to expand the Faith in Action national network to 3,000 sites by 2007. The Foundation, based in Princeton, NH is the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care. It concentrates its grant making in four goal areas: to assure that all Americans have access to basic health care at reasonable cost; to improve care and support for people with chronic health conditions; to promote health communities and lifestyles; and to reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse - tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs. This year the Foundation committed to making the name "Faith in Action" as recognizable as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, or Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Currently the Adams County program has about 30 volunteers who have been trained or are in training to become caregivers. These caregivers come from a variety of congregations who have committed to an ecumenical movement seeking to put their "faith in action." Faith in Action programs have been in existence for over ten years and some of those have as many as a thousand volunteers. Contact Rev. Barbara Derrickson at 337-4300 if you would like to become a volunteer or if you know someone who has a need that Faith in Action of Adams County might be able to fill. –Rev. Barbara S. Derrickson is Program Director for Faith in Action of Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - September 2002 Domestic Violence in Pennsylvania claimed 110 lives in 2001. Survivors, Inc., the local domestic violence agency served 523 women and children from July, 2001 to June, 2002, and there were approximately 103 final protection from abuse orders filed within that same time frame. It was because of similar numbers in 1998, and results from a community health needs assessment that the Domestic Violence Task Force of Adams County was created in October of 1998. This task force is an affiliate of Healthy Adams County (formerly known as the Adams County Partnership for Community Health). It was formed after a workshop was held at Gettysburg Hospital on the impact of domestic violence in the community, and the need for collaboration between county services to fight the problem. The task force started with 10 active members and has grown over the years. Membership now includes over forty volunteers from area agencies, police departments, Gettysburg Hospital, the district attorney’s office, probation and parole, N.O.V.I.S. (batterer’s intervention services), local magistrates, Gettysburg School District, and local churches. The task force has four working committees. The Safe Pet committee has been working on a plan with the Adams County S.P.C.A. to organize a list of foster families that would temporarily house pets for abuse victims who need to escape their home because of violence. Many times victims will not leave their home because they fear for their pets, and this would allow a solution to that problem. If you are interested in becoming a foster family for a pet, please contact the S.P.C.A at 334-8876. The Police Committee has been active in providing training for law enforcement about responding to domestic violence calls. This year, with grant help from the Robert C. Hoffman Charitable Endowment Trust, the committee was able to bring in Lt. Mark Wynn from the Nashville Police Department. He is a nationally known speaker and trainer on domestic violence. The response was so good that we are working to bring him back in May, 2003. The Clergy Committee has been working on providing training to area clergy on how to deal with domestic violence in their congregations. The committee has a resource manual available for clergy, and is putting together a resource packet of sermon ideas and other useful information. The Education Committee has been working on a plan to provide an educational theatre production to area middle schools about healthy relationships. It has been successful in the past in providing the same to the Gettysburg High School when it sponsored a play called "The Yellow Dress". The committee has also been busy planning for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Our first scheduled activity will be hosting a membership fair about the task force on October 2nd. The fair will be held at the Gettysburg Hospital community rooms from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. If you are interested in joining or learning more about the work of the task force and its committees please feel free to attend. Light refreshments will be served. On October 7th, we are asking the community to attend our 3rd Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Night. It will be held at the Gettysburg College Ballroom from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Local singers and The Gettysburg Dance Center will be performing and our guest speaker will be Sgt. Craig Staley from the Gettysburg Borough Police. Please come and learn more about the impact of domestic violence, and how each one of us can help end this devastating social problem locally. Childcare will be provided. If you would like more information about our task force or any of it’s committees, please call co-chairs Kathy Ketterman or Lisa Wingenroth at 334-0589. --Kathy Ketterman is the co-chairperson of the Domestic Violence Task Force, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - August 2002 The Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition (ACBCC), an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is a grassroots coalition that was established in 1995 as a tribute to the life of Melinda Aldinger, an Adams County resident who lost her eight-year struggle with breast cancer at age 40. The belief that education is the partner in the fight against breast cancer is the foundation mission of the Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition. Here are some important facts for all females to be aware of: 1) Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. One in eight will be diagnosed in her lifetime. 2) There is no known cause for breast cancer. There is no known cure. 3) Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the U.S. 4) Pennsylvania has the 4th highest breast cancer rate in the nation. It is the leading cause of cancer death in 24-54 year old women in PA. 5) Early detection can make a difference. As women we ask ourselves, "What can we do?" Some suggestions include: 1) Talk to your physician about your family history and risk factors for breast cancer. 2) Perform monthly breast self examinations. 3) Have a yearly clinical exam performed by a medical professional. 4) Have an annual mammogram beginning at age 40, or earlier if directed by your physician. 5) Earmark your state income tax refund for breast cancer research. 6) Talk to the women in your life, encourage and remind each other of the importance of early detection. The ACBCC is proud to announce it's Sixth Annual Longaberger® Basket Fund-Raiser Luncheon on Friday August 30, 2002, 11:30A.M at Gettysburg Hospital Community Rooms. The program includes inspirational speaker, Vicki Gingrich, a breast cancer survivor and special entertainment provided by guitarist/soloist Deborah Eisenhart. The Horizon of Hope Longaberger® Basket will again be offered this year. Cost of the luncheon is $25 for lunch and the program; $50 for the basket, lunch, and program; and $100 for the basket, liner, protector, lunch, program, and special recognition in the program bulletin. Reservation and payment deadline is Friday, August 23. For more information and to register, call Community Relations at Gettysburg Hospital, 337-4272. In addition to its annual fund-raiser luncheon, the Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition also partners with Gettysburg Hospital to provide a series of free breast health programs in October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Topics this year include Hormone Replacement Therapy, Eating to Fight Cancer: An Active and Delicious Approach, and others. For more information on the Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition or to become a member, upcoming programs, or to bring a breast health program into your workplace or women’s group, contact Laura Reyka, Community Health Nurse, Gettysburg Hospital, 717-337-4272. Together we can make a difference. –Laura Reyka is the chairperson of the Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County. (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - July 2002 Communities That Care (CTC), an affiliate of Healthy Adams County, is concerned with youth, their families and their impact on the larger community. One of CTC’s objectives is to decrease unhealthy behaviors, or problem hehaviors, in youth. The top five are juvenile crime, substance abuse, violence, school drop out and teen pregnancy. A second CTC objective is to increase things youth need to do well, called protective factors. Protective factors help youth achievement even in the face of adversity or with problem behaviors in the community. To achieve both of these objectives, involvement is needed not only by CTC, but the entire community, from understanding the process to getting involved in the strategies. Research shows that the higher number of early indicators, or risk factors, that are present, the more likely that one or more problem behaviors will develop in adolescence. The research also tells us how healthy behavior develops through the presence of protective factors, i.e. opportunities, skills, and recognition (validating the needs of our youth and their value to the community). The greater the presence of protective factors for youth the more attached they become to the significant adults in their lives, institutions and community. Youth who are bonded to these adults and to their community are much more likely to follow their standards. CTC is working in over 500 communities across America, and 128 in Pennsylvania. Why do we have so many? Former Governor and Mrs. Tom Ridge became early advocates of the CTC process. They recognized the potential of the CTC process to build communities and impact lives, so much so that Michelle Ridge was recently named national spokesperson for CTC. In July 2001, Adams County received official recognition of our first Community That Cares site; the Gettysburg Area School District with an emphasis on the Borough. We collected data on 19 risk factors, protective factors and our local resources – because CTC is very concerned with strengthening what already exist in a community before creating anything new. The data was collected through archival records, the PA Student Survey given to Gettysburg 6th, 8th, and 10th graders and interviews with adults and youth, particularly where we had conflicting or nonsensical data. CTC then prioritized the risk factors and developed strategies. Specific goals, short term (3 & 5 years) and long term (10 to 20 years), were set to decrease risks and increase protective factors. The priority risk factors for the Gettysburg Area CTC include; Family History of the Problem Behavior – youth behavior mirrors problem adult behavior; Divorce – higher within the borough and often has a major impact on youth in those families & the stability of the community; Early Initiation – 6th graders reported using 11 out of 15 substances measured at a higher rate than other communities on average, statewide (while not all 6th graders are using drugs, it is significant that l1 and 12 year olds are using alcohol, tobacco, club drugs, inhalants and hallucinogens and the number of youth 13 and under prosecuted for committing crimes has increased); Alienation and Rebelliousness and Friends Who Engage in the Problem Behavior - increasing trend in youth coming together to engage in criminal activities and a peer culture that supports this behavior. Two risk factors that are of concern, but will be more difficult to impact are; Children Living in Poverty - over 20% in the Borough (county wide we fair better at 10% compared to the state & national rates of 17% but the trend is upward); Transition and Mobility - movement in and out of our county is at a higher rate than the state average which can contribute to instability in a community. It is important to note that the data collected affirms that our community has many strengths. In fact, GASD students who took the survey reported a higher presence of all protective factors than did their peers, on average, statewide. We are truly the perfect community for prevention. We can build on our strengths while putting in place strategies and programs to reduce our risk factors and reverse our growing trend of problem behaviors. The Gettysburg Area CTC has developed six strategies for preventing problem behaviors among our youth and building on our strengths. If you would like more information on CTC, volunteer or funding opportunities, contact Sharron Michels at 717-338-0300. –Sharron Michels is the director of the Gettysburg Area Communities that Care, an affiliate of Healthy Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - June 2002 This is only the second installment of our new column in the Gettysburg Times, but we are obliged to risk confusing our new readers by announcing that the Adams County Partnership For Community Health is changing its name. We are now - Healthy Adams County! We believe that Healthy Adams County will be easy to recite, easy to remember, and easy to identify with. And, we hope we are right. The intention is to find new ways to share information about the important work of so many Adams Countians who are engaged in daily efforts toward improving health status and quality of life in our community. Where did this name change idea come from? We have just concluded a comprehensive strategic planning process for the Partnership, which focused on the findings of a Community Health Needs Assessment update for Adams County, and on the Partnership itself. A series of planning retreats were conducted in April, May, and early June, attended by representatives from the Adams County Council of Community Services, task forces affiliated with the Partnership, and Gettysburg Hospital. The community needs assessment process involved four different methods of gathering information about actual and perceived issues, and on problems impacting health across Adams County. These methods included a questionnaire mailed to 5,000 randomly selected households, conduct of twelve different focus groups around the County, a joint telephone survey in cooperation with the York Healthy County Coalition and Wellspan Health, and collection of secondary data. This process resulted in a summary of recent trending data on population demographics, health status indicators, risk behavior, and quality of life. It also produced a summary reflecting perceptions about local health and human services and about community life. Third, it provided insights into the attitudes of people representing a variety of "walks of life" about what it takes to build a healthy community. Our planning meetings helped participants identify what appear to be the most critical health and human service issues facing Adams County currently, based on this community needs assessment, and on the discussions it prompted. The result? The primary recommendation is that health status in Adams County be improved by addressing those needs. The top five were prioritized, and they are as follows: medical care access, dental care access, affordable housing, and fifth (a tie): mental health access and youth issues (delinquency, teen sexuality, STD’s, teen pregnancy, violence/conflict resolution, recreation/activities, education/training, and smoking and smokeless tobacco). The other needs, included on the "most critical issues" list are: employment/financial problems, childcare, family violence, substance, elderly services/chronic disease, disease demographics (heart, stroke, tobacco, sedentary lifestyle, cancer), racism and intolerance, literacy, marketing (health and human services), providing services to undocumented residents, planning for rapid population growth, family stability/family composition, parenting skills, and motor vehicle accidents/seatbelt use. The implications of this up to date "hit list’ of issues on the allocation, or re-allocation of resources for our local community health partnership, Healthy Adams County, are obvious. We are a collaborative partnership dedicated toward improving the physical, mental, and social well-being of Adams Countians. We will establish task forces or seek affiliation with existing ones to continue addressing and monitoring health status and quality of life issues locally. The implications for the greater community, those who live, work, and play here, also present challenges for everyone concerned with community building in Adams. –William Taft is the executive director of Healthy Adams County (Return to Gettysburg Times Columns index)
Healthy Adams County - May 2002 Welcome to the Adams County Partnership for Community Health (A.C.P.C.H.). We are a collaborative organization of volunteers (now close to 400!) whose mission is to work together to address identified needs and improve health status in Adams County. We define health in its broadest terms, which was established by the World Health Organization, as "... A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease". A.C.P.C.H. is pleased to bring news of our efforts to the readership of the Gettysburg Times. Through our column we will share information about the activities and challenges of our collaborative groups who are working to make Adams County a healthier community. A.C.P.C.H. was established in late 1996 as a result of the first comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment of Adams County. This effort was coordinated by the Adams County Council of Community Services (A.C.C.C.S.), a not-for-profit health and human services forum that has served Adams Countians for close to forty years. Valuable information was gathered about the health and risk behaviors of local citizens and their families, including analysis of perceptions about our community life, household problems, and use of local health and human services. A range of critical issues and recommendations for improving health in Adams County were identified at that time. One of the recommendations was that local citizens, mirroring the make-up of the community, be created to begin the process of addressing those problems. The Partnership was then established, under the auspices of the Adams County Council of Community Services, with substantial support by Gettysburg Hospital. Task forces and committees began to form, in addition to other established local coalitions, who chose to affiliate with us. In June of 2000, Gettysburg Hospital dramatically increased its long-standing commitment to serving the broader health needs of our community by dedicating full-time staff (executive director and secretary) to support this "Healthy Communities" movement. In addition, the hospital made office facilities available to house this project. As a result, we were able to establish our own "World Headquarters" for the A.C.P.C.H. at 424 South Washington Street in Gettysburg. Today we have twenty-four task forces and seven "administrative" committees. Last fall A.C.P.C.H. received endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Department of Health, by being approved as a State Health Improvement Plan (S.H.I.P.) partner. This achievement signified our commitment to share responsibility with the Department of Health in efforts toward improving the health status of the Adams County population. Is there a way for you to get involved? Yes - all of our affiliated task forces would welcome new members and support for their many projects and programs. Here is a list of the current task forces (and there are more to come): Adams County Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, Adams County Breast Cancer Coalition, Adams County School Nurses Association, Aging Services, AIDS Service Providers Network, Children’s Health, Citizens With Disabilities, College Computer Network, Community Health Program, Diabetes, Domestic Violence, Emergency Mental Health Services Task Force, Families First Task Force, Grief & Loss Task Force, Homelessness Task Force, Interfaith Caregivers Alliance, Latino Services, Managed Care, Oral Health, Physical Fitness, Respecting Choices (end of life care decisions); Safe Kids Coalition, Tobacco Prevention, and Youth Resources Network If any of these task forces or "themes" trigger a hot button for you, please contact us at 337-4137, or by email: wtaft@wellspan.org. We will provide you with more detailed information, and put you in touch with the leaders of any of these groups. It is our belief that through the collective efforts of an ever-growing group of volunteers, we will continue this "grass roots" movement toward reaching our vision ... to create a higher quality of life throughout our community by improving health status.... –William Taft is executive director of the Adams County Partnership for Community Health |
