| APRIL 2009
HIGHLIGHTS: · Sandra Basgall joins SCVHC staff · Kathy Norwood of DHS meets with Board · Sally Christ visits to help with tobacco work plan · Colorectal Cancer Grant & Dinners · YAP meetings · District Public Health Systems Assessment meeting · Health Fairs · Edmunds Elementary School Hiking Club Sandra Basgall
Editor | | Sandra Basgall Joins SCVHC Staff |
| Sandra Basgall, recently from Vermont, has joined SCVHC as the research assistant. This new position was created to help fulfill SCVHC’s State reporting responsibilities and to help in program evaluation. Sandra brings an extensive background in community development, social marketing, and evaluation. She most recently worked as headmaster in an English school in South Korea and as a program evaluation consultant in various parts of the world. Prior to that, she was as a university professor and administrator in Vermont, Iowa, New Mexico, and Illinois. We feel fortunate to have her. |
| Executive Director DHS meets with Board |
| Kathy Norwood, Executive Director for Downeast Health Services, met with the board to discuss their relationship with the coalition. |
| Reconstruction of Tobacco Work Plan Assistance |
| Sally Christ from Healthy Peninsular and the District Tobacco Coordinator for the Downeast Region paid a visit to the office and assisted in the reconstructing of the tobacco component for the next year’s work plan. |
| Colorectal Cancer Grant and Dinners |
| SCVHC received a Colorectal Cancer Grant in January and will host two informational dinners and two lunch and learn presentations to educate people on the importance of colorectal screening. Dr. Robert Chagrasulis, a surgeon at Calais Regional Hospital, will be the guest speaker at the events which will be held at Bernadini’s Restaurant in Calais on May 19th at and Leen’s Lodge in Grand Lake Stream on May 21st, both at 6 p.m. Reservations must be made by calling the SCVHC office at 454-0761. The menu choice at Bernadini’s will be Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna, or Haddock; Leen’s will offer Broiled Salmon or Chicken Cordon Bleu. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. Fortunately, the number of people diagnosed has decreased in the last 20 years as a result of more people being screened which results in the finding and removal of colorectal polyps before they turn into cancer. |
| YAP Meetings |
| Four YAP meetings were held in Pembroke. Seven 7th graders planned a "Get Up and Go Dance" to celebrate Physical Fitness Month at the Pembroke Elementary School on Saturday, May 9th from 6-9p.m. They are planning organized dances for the event and will provide healthy snacks and water for the participants. Perry Elementary School, Edmunds Consolidated School, and Charlotte Elementary School have been invited. |
| District Public Health Systems Assessment Meeting |
| Paul and Gail attended three different District Public Health Systems Assessment meetings for the Downeast District. The Assessment, a health system performance instrument, is an important element for the MAPP process which is currently a State mandate for the work plan. |
| Health Fairs |
| SCVHC had a Health Fair at the Woodland High School and an information table at the Shead High School’s Health Fair. At Woodland, we provided information on tobacco cessation. At Eastport, all the students from Union 104, Charlotte, Dennysville, Perry, Robbinston, and Pleasant Point, were in attendance except Pembroke as a number of students were sick and they decided it was best not to attend. The students took the offered handouts and asked lots of questions. Strategies were discussed as to how they could get their family members and loved ones to quit smoking. |
| Edmunds Elementary School Hiking Club |
| For three years, the partnership sponsored an extremely successful hiking club at the Edmunds Elementary School with a consistent 100% attendance level from 4th and 5th graders. We are happy to announce that the program with be initiated once again. Starting next Wednesday, the club will meet weekly for the next six weeks and will utilize the public access lands/trails of Washington County to continue their hiking. |