KPHA Press Release—Read to a Preschooler Week

Kansas Public Health Association, Inc.
Affiliated with the American Public Health Association
P.O. Box 67085
Topeka, Kansas 66667
Phone: 785-233-3103
Fax: 785-233-3439
E-mail: director@kpha.us
Web Site: http://www.kpha.us

November 12, 2008

For Immediate Release

For More information Contact:

Elaine Schwartz, Executive Director
Kansas Public Health Association
director@kpha.us
Or
Barbara Mitchell, KPHA Community Health Section Chair
Johnson County Health Department
Barbara.Mitchell@jocogov.org

Fourth Annual Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week

(Topeka, KS – November 12, 2008) November 16-22, 2008 celebrates the 2008 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week. The theme this year focuses on health and Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson is the statewide book selection. The heart-warming story tells of the sniffles, sneezes, high temperature and general crankiness that Bear is feeling. Thanks to Bear’s good friends, he is nursed with herbal tea, lullabies, and tender loving care until he’s well again. The Kansas Public Health Association (KPHA) is partnering with The State Library of Kansas & the Kansas Center for the Book this year to promote the importance of reading to Kansas preschoolers & other youth. Additional co-sponsors include the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC), and the Kansas Association of Child Care and Resource and Referral Agencies (KACCRRA).

It’s estimated that during the Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week, more than 20,000 Kansas preschoolers will be read to by parents, grandparents, children’s librarians, mayors, elected officials, middle and high school students and many, many others. Governor Kathleen Sebelius serves as the honorary chair for this special week.

Each public library will receive a copy of Bear Feels Sick, compliments of the Kansas Center for the Book program. Local libraries play a big role in early childhood reading and are instrumental to the success of Kansas Reads to Preschoolers. Libraries all over the state will plan special displays of health-related books, schedule health and wellness activities, organize pre-school story hours, and invite participation by various health care professionals.

For more information about the program go to: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/kcfb/bear.htm

For those participating, you are encouraged to go to the above mentioned website and complete an evaluation form after you have read the book.

KPHA needs your help with Committees and Task Forces

At the October Board meeting it was decided to solicit the membership in a newsletter/email to see if we could find members to help with KPHA activities. Your association (KPHA) is what you make it. Becoming actively involved is the best way to promote the one and only statewide organization you belong to that represents all of public health in Kansas. Most Board members will tell you that they got involved with a particular activity and it led to their learning and participating in leadership for the association.

Here are the Task Forces and Committees that need additional names and faces!
Education Task Force
Health Day/Legislative Forums Committee
Annual Report Task Force
Bylaws Committee

Standing Committees that can always use additional members:
Membership Committee
Legislative Action and Issues Committee
Conference Committee
Awards Committee

If you are interested in serving on (or even Chairing) any of these please contact your President, Janis Goedeke at jgoedeke@crawfordcohd.org or send an email to the office at director@kpha.us.