Update for Week ending
August 22, 2009
Yéil Jeeyáx Ravens Way 20th Anniversary. On Thursday, Ravens Way held its 20th anniversary celebration and graduation of the 121st class. With the graduation of class 121, over 1,100 youth participated in the program since March 1989. The SEARHC Yéil Jeeyáx Raven’s Way residential substance abuse treatment program for adolescents (ages 13-18) is one of the first substance abuse treatment programs approved for funding by the Indian Health Service. Raven’s Way is unique because it combines a holistic program that includes treatment for co-occurring disorders with an Outward Bound-style wilderness experience and traditional Native culture elements. Since its start, Raven’s Way has been a national leader for youth substance abuse treatment and it has become a model for other programs around the country.
Kake Health Center Facility Opening. On Friday, we joined the Organized Village of Kake, City of Kake, and Denali Commission in the official ribbon-cutting of the Kake Health Center. This was the completion of the two-year, two-phase construction and renovation project. The facility is now 7,300 square feet with a new primary care wing and emergency room. The renovated space includes the Community Family Service Worker, Community Wellness Advocate, and Dental programs. SEARHC received $3.8 million from the Denali Commission and $2 million from the IHS Small Ambulatory Program for construction of the health center. McGraw Custom Construction of Sitka built the new primary care wing and renovated the original clinic space.
WISEWOMAN, Steps, and Partners Sponsor Policy Conference. The SEARHC Steps to a Healthier SE Alaska and WISEWOMAN programs, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, and Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, sponsored a Policy Conference last week (August 11-13, 2009). Policy has the potential to create broad and lasting change. The policies that are already in place – in our schools, workplaces, neighborhoods – influence health in our communities, everyday. Participants learned how policy is created, how we can engage in planning and implementation of policies that will improve community health. Over 80 participants attended from all over the state and region, including SEARHC employees. Topics covered the basics of how to start and grow a community coalition to how to influence your State Legislator. The evaluations were very positive.
SEARHC Receives Healthy Wrangell Project Funds. We received some good news this last week with a new grant to support our Healthy Wrangell project. The project goal is to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and reduce tobacco use. This grant will fund one full time health educator in Wrangell. The total budget is $100,000 for three years. The grant seeks to support and enhance the work of the Healthy Wrangell Coalition by assisting in the implementation of a school meals program in the Wrangell School District, increase community knowledge of the dangers of second hand smoke through an educational campaign and promote tobacco cessation, and assist the local coalition in advancing their health promotion priorities (community garden etc.).
CDC Consultation. Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB) hosted the 3rd biannual CDC/ATSDR Tribal Consultation in Anchorage. Three areas of concern were identified for discussion: Injury Prevention, Chronic Disease and Maternal & Child Health. SEARHC was asked to present for 6 minutes on the cross cutting Chronic Disease programs funded by the CDC. Nancy Knapp, Women's Health Manager, represented the five SEARHC CDC grants and presented on successes, challenges and unmet needs from those five grants. The presentation was supported by 5 beautiful displays developed by Corporate Communications to represent each grant program. The presentation was well received and the unmet needs were heard. SEARHC Injury Prevention Programs were also represented when ANTHC staff discussed successes, challenges and unmet injury prevention needs during a different section of the agenda.
Klukwan Fish Camp. Last week the second salmon camp of the summer took place in Klukwan. Funded in part by the SEARHC WISEFamilies grant, organizer Lani Hotch, community instructors and SEARHC staff worked together to provide a camp for approximately 10 students. The camp taught participants how to fillet, process, smoke or dry, and can the salmon. Alongside each process is an elder teaching Tlingit words for tasks and techniques.
Haines Health Center FESC Renovation. A building project in Haines, funded by the Frontier Extended Stay Clinic (FESC) grant and the Denali Commission, includes installation of an emergency generator and construction of a 1-hour fire barrier around the FESC unit (our emergency treatment room). Upon completion of the project, we will meet the life-safety code standards for the Frontier Extended Stay Clinic, allowing us to participate in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid FESC demonstration project. Work in the clinic started on August 3rd. The contractors have been very considerate of patients and staff. There has been no disruption to patient services. The duration of the project is expected to be from August 3rd through October 9th.
WIC Food Package Changes. The WIC Program is making dramatic changes to its food packages beginning October 1, 2009. SEARHC contracts with the State of Alaska to provide WIC services. These changes are being made at the national level to bring the food packages in better alignment with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics and to respond to food package change recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine. These changes have been much needed and literally took an act of Congress to bring about. The changes will not cost the American taxpayer any more money; all changes must be cost-neutral. A few key changes include providing:
- Less dairy products
- Whole grain options (like whole wheat sandwich bread, brown rice, corn and whole wheat tortillas)
- Monthly fruit and vegetable vouchers so clients may purchase their fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables of choice
- Soy milk and tofu as an option for clients with lactose intolerance
- Increased incentives for women to breastfeed their babies
- For infants, juice is not provided, and at 6 months, offering baby fruits and vegetables (and baby meats for fully breastfed babies)
SEARHC WIC staff is busy gearing up for the changes including becoming familiar with all the changes that are coming, communicating these changes to all our clients and working with our 26 vendors throughout Southeast. We ask for patience in the new few months as we work through all the changes with clients and work to ensure the vendors are adequately trained on the changes. For more information, go to: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/benefitsandservices/revisionstofoodpkg-background.htm
Just a reminder. . . SEARHC frequently brings in traveling medical specialists to hold specialty clinics at our various facilities. Please click here to view our upcoming specialty clinic schedules.
* PDF files require Acrobat Reader
Copyright © 2010, SEARHC
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium