September 2002	In this Issue:
	Recruiting Health Education Interns
	New Video on Shellfish Safety in Four Asian Languages
	West Nile Virus Web Site
	Mentor of the Month: Margaret L. Bolte
	What's New in H.E.R.E.inWA
	Upcoming Training and Events
	H.E.R.E.inWA Forms
	Contact Us

Recruiting a Health Education Intern

Improving connections between public health agencies and undergraduate programs in health education at universities in Washington was the thrust of a series of recent meetings initiated by the DOH Office of Health Promotion. DOH’s Ruth Abad and Theresa Fuller, Elaine Engle from Spokane Regional Health District, and Nancy Goodloe from Kittitas County Health Department met with faculty to discuss how to better prepare and encourage students to seek careers in health education at public health agencies. University participants included Andrew Jenkins and Melody Madlem from Central Washington University, Matt Flint and Michelle Pingee from Eastern and Evelyn Ames from Western. 

One of the best avenues for linking students with public health is through internships at local health departments. Students are required to do an internship as part of their academic preparation, and they seek challenging situations to apply their new skills. Public health programs can benefit from the additional help. For tips on recruiting interns, check out the new paper in the H.E.R.E. Toolbox, or contact Theresa Fumailto:theresa.fuller@doh.wa.govller.

New Video on Shellfish Safety in Four Asian Languages

Local environmental health staff whose territories encompass Puget Sound or ocean beaches may want to check out a new video on safe recreational shellfish harvesting intended for Washington residents who speak Korean, Samoan, Vietnamese and Cambodian. Good Food from the Beach was a collaborative project of the Korean Women’s Association, the Indochinese Cultural and Service Center, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington Department of Health. It is also available in English. The video provides information on shellfish safety, identification, preparation and storage, and the importance of conservation of marine resources for future generations. For more information call Marcia Henning in DOH Environmental Health Assessment at 360-236-3378 or toll free 1-877-485-7316, or email marcia.henning@doh.wa.gov

Department of Health
West Nile Virus Web Site

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety has published a new comprehensive web resource on West Nile Virus. It answers just about any question people may have about a disease that has been much in the news of late. The web site is organized by intended audiences, with a section for physicians and veterinarians, local health staff and mosquito control districts, and the public. It includes background information on the disease, the mosquito vector, indicators in bird populations, a host of prevention materials, fact sheets - even activities for children - and links to several online resources. If you have questions contact Anne Duffy 360-236-3372 or email anne.duffy@doh.wa.gov.

Mentor of the Month
Margaret L. Bolte

Margaret L. Bolte is a health educator for the Yakama Indian Health Center and the Yakama Nation tribal community in Toppenish. She got her Bachelor’s degree from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, and received her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Her studies focused on biology, environmental health and public health administration. She is a registered environmental health specialist with the National Environmental Health Association and is credentialed in health care administration by the University of Minnesota. 

Margaret is also a Commissioned Corps Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. “I’ve had great opportunities working in federal agencies,” she said. “I was a consumer safety investigator with the Food and Drug Administration in Denver, Des Moines and Salt Lake City. And I was assigned to the Indian Health Service Health Care Facilities in several capacities, such as injury prevention, environmental health, safety and occupational health and as an educator in South Dakota and Washington.” 

Margaret’s work with the Yakama Nation focuses on health promotion and injury prevention, which she considers key to reducing disease and keeping people healthy. “Because the of the large population spread over rural areas on the reservation, coordinating and arranging community events is critical to promoting community health and safety - events like the annual tribal health fair, cancer awareness seminars and helmet and car seat safety days. The recent Yakama Health Fair had 74 vendors and over 700 individual participants.” These programs are well attended and popular community activities because of the variety of information and the number of supportive organizations, she said. Plus she is often able to provide one-to-one patient education.

In addition to chairing committees on patient education, the health fair and breast cancer awareness, Margaret has an interest in occupational safety. She serves as the safety officer for the Yakama clinic. She also recently became involved in developing the clinic’s bioterrorism plan.

“Health education is an ongoing process and it’s not always evident we are making a difference,” Margaret said. But she advises us to keep a true belief in our work and know that someone is gaining valuable information and a positive direction. 

“The challenge is always funding limitations,” she said. “Health educators must be resourceful and take the initiative in seeking other resources to plan and promote educational projects. Write grants, ask for donations, bring on board private industry, nonprofit organizations and federal agencies as sponsors.” She stresses planning and organization as the foundation for any effective effort. 

Margaret’s outside interests include photography, reading and antiques—she collects medicine and beverage bottles and old medical and health books. She and her husband of 19 years enjoy traveling and walking the family’s two dogs, a cocker spaniel and a Brittany spaniel. She is available to advise on promoting health on a limited budget, developing organizational and coordination skills, and working with government and private agencies. You can reach Margaret by email mbolte@ora.fda.gov or phone 701-825-0023.

What's New

Materials Exchange

Training and Events

9th Annual Joint Conference on Health: "Public Health Priorities: Balancing Our Core Mission with Emergency Preparedness", Wenatchee, WA ~ October 7-9, 2002

Second Pierce County Oral Health Summit: "Improving Oral Health, Reversing Downward Trends", Tacoma, WA ~ October 11, 2002

Washington State Prevention Summit "United We Stand, Drug-Free We Soar", Yakima, WA ~ October  24-26, 2002

Preventing Obesity in an Obesogenic Society: Targeting the Adolescent Population, Seattle, WA ~ October 29, 2002

Click on these helpful forms

Do you have a community project to add? Submission Form -- Community Projects
Do you have health education materials to add? Submission Form -- Materials Exchange
Would you like to be added to H.E.R.E. in WA and receive this newsletter monthly?
Add Yourself to the H.E.R.E. Rolodex

H.E.R.E.inWA Team
Office of Health Promotion
Washington State Department of Health
Theresa Fuller, Don Martin, and Jennifer Livingston
PO Box 47833
Olympia, WA 98504-7833
(360) 236-3736
HERE@doh.wa.gov