| KPHA, KDHE and Local Health
Departments
Celebrate National Public Health Week
By Barbara Mitchell, Child/Family/Community Health Section Chair,
KPHA
The Kansas Public Health Association, the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment and local health departments
partnered to sponsor regional legislative forums to celebrate National
Public Health Week (April 7-13).
The forums consisted of area legislators presenting
and discussing health reform issues in Kansas and information on
the Get Ready campaign, presented by the Kansas Department of Health
and Environment, that provides education, resources and tools so
that individuals, families and communities are more prepared for
potential pandemic flu, outbreak of an emerging infectious disease
or other hazard or disaster.
There were fifteen public forums scheduled throughout
Kansas. Fourteen forums were held and sponsored by the local health
departments in the counties of: Crawford, Douglas, Johnson, Franklin,
Neosho, NEK Multi, Montgomery, Butler, Lyon, Logan, Riley, Shawnee
(sponsored by KPHA), Finney, and Cowley. Saline County had to cancel
theirs due to a lack of Legislative interest. And, Sedgwick County
held an Open House. More than 50 Legislators participated overall
and everyone felt that new and better relationships with elected
officials were the result of all the forums. In many cities, other
elected officials also attended. This helped to boost the awareness
and work of Public Health in Kansas! Most the forums also received
media attention (even some front page coverage) bringing more attention
and publicity to the work and effort of our KPHA members and public
health workforce.
The forums began with an overview of health legislation
and the 21 recommendations of the Kansas Health Policy Authority,
i.e. Tobacco tax increase that would fund health reform, Smoking
ban—SB 660, “Premium assistance”, SB 540 and SB8,
1Childcare licensing—HB 2972 and HB 2851 and Restaurant Inspections—SB
584. Legislators responded to these issues and also answered questions
from the audiences. KDHE staff also presented a 20 minute Power
Point Slide Show on Pandemic Influenza at the forums. Those, presenting
including Dick Morrissey, Gail Hansen, Mindee Reece, Charlie Hunt,
and Cheryl Banez-Ocfemia. The Get Ready Campaign (APHA) Fact sheets
were made available, and can be found at http://www.getreadyforflu.org/pg_facts.htm.
The forums were popular with
the public as they had the opportunity to ask questions of their
area legislators. This was the first of what will hopefully become
a Public Health Week tradition in Kansas in every county. The members
and staff from KPHA who organized these forums put in a lot of hours
and effort to make them a success. Here are those that worked on
the forums: Janis Goedeke, Amy Hallacy, Melissa Moss, Cindy Mullen,
Debbi Baugher, Mike Heideman, Mindee Reece, Dan Partridge, Midge
Ransom, Leon Vinci, Theresa Starr, Sheila Boos, Ruth Bardwell, Carol
Borger, David Brazil, Georgetta Schoenfeild, Lougene Marsh, Charles
Murphy, Cyndi Hornberger, Elaine Schwartz, and myself. And, here
are some pictures! Click the picture to view the full-size image.
View
the proclamation.
Back to Home
|
