Washington’s CHILD Profile program received the National Program Excellence Award from the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) at their annual meeting in November 2002. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the practice of health education. Developed in 1993, CHILD Profile is Washington’s health promotion and immunization registry system designed to help ensure that Washington’s children receive the preventive health care they need. Health promotion materials sent to parents of all children born in the state are also available on the CHILD Profile web site http://www.childprofile.org. Congratulations to the state and local staff who have contributed to the success of this program!
CDC Prevention Specialist Carla White, MPH, began working with the Office of Health Promotion and the Office of Epidemiology at the Department of Health (DOH) last fall. During her two-year placement at DOH, Carla will focus on healthy aging issues. Working with the DOH Healthy Aging Action Team, she will be researching and supplying data for several programs on the big health issues and changes that are expected as our 45+ population ages. Carla will report on prevention efforts that work, as well as effective policy and environmental interventions.
DOH has wanted to address issues leading to healthy aging for several years, but has not had the staff or budget. So it is a privilege to have been selected to receive a specialist from CDC’s Public Health Prevention Service (PHPS), a comprehensive training and service program that began in 1997. They recruit, train, place, and pay employment-related expenses for 30 Prevention Specialists nationally each year. Each successful applicant is a recent MPH graduate with 1-2 years of public health work experience, and a strong desire for a career in public health practice.
The results of Carla’s work are expected to be a major benefit to private, public, state and local partnerships on healthy aging. You can reach Carla by email at carla.white@DOH.wa.gov.
For any health topic chances are there is a day, week, or month that’s been
designated to promote awareness or action. The National Health Information
Center has developed a planning guide that lists national health observances
through healthfinder. It
includes the sponsoring organizations and collateral materials. Whether you are
planning an event or looking for contact information, this web tool is a
convenient way to locate a variety of organizations and key promotional periods.
Go to
www.healthfinder.gov/library/nho/ There is also a link on the
H.E.R.E. Training
and Events calendar.
Debbie
Ruggles is a Violence Prevention Specialist for the Washington State Department
of Health (DOH) Injury Prevention and Safety Program. She got her Bachelor’s
degree in Recreation and Parks Management with an emphasis in Outdoor Education
from the University of Oregon. Taking satellite and online classes from City
University, she also received her MBA with an emphasis in Leadership and
Organizational Development. Debbie says, “I majored in fun and games.”
Debbie’s interest in violence prevention began when she trained camp counselors on issues of child abuse. Her mother, a Child Protective Services social worker, was an early mentor. Debbie spent a few years working as the Crisis Volunteer Program Director at the Community Mental Health Center in Yakima. “The joys of that job were the people I got to work with and the community collaborations I got to facilitate or participate in,” she said. She also spent some time as Director of the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. “I really enjoyed policy and program development, touring the state and seeing what local rape crisis centers do and how they work to meet their challenges.” Debbie’s current work with DOH focuses on youth violence and injury prevention.
“I feel passionate about being a good ally for those who may not be at the 'table of privilege.' We need to go to oppressed and marginalized communities and be guided by them in order for health education to be effective. I also feel passionately that we need to build bridges to other fields and organizations to get the most out of our resources and find innovative ways to reach those we want to see health changes in.” Debbie advises never to forget that health educators play a special role, such as bringing recognition and mobilization to emerging problems. “I never used to think of myself as a health educator because violence prevention has only recently been recognized as a public health problem. Addressing more and more health issues, and being moved from topic to topic depending on funding, continue to challenge our profession.” Debbie sees flexibility as a key skill. She also sees challenges in being forever creative, and in building capacity to get messages out to our communities.
Debbie loves to exercise, especially running and, more recently, road biking. She enjoys time with friends and her golden retriever Zach. She also finds time for travel, to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, England, and Denmark, not to mention Canada, Mexico and all around the U.S. Debbie is available to consult on violence prevention—sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, suicide, youth violence. Also talk to her about coalition building, training, grant writing, and program development and management. You can reach her by email debbie.ruggles@doh.wa.gov or phone 360-236-3675.
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Trauma Nurses Talk Tough (TNTT) - Central
Washington Hospital, Education Services A curriculum that focuses on trauma injuries from sports activities and vehicular crashes. The trainer can tailor the presentation to the audience’s age. |
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Yakama Nation Breast Cancer Awareness Conference -
Yakama Nation Educate women and their loved ones about the importance of regular breast exams and mammograms. |
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Because You Love Me a Lot... Buckle-Up -
Kitsap County Full color seed packet contains forget-me-not flower seeds with messages about the importance of using seat belts. |
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Compliance Check Program - King County Describes the program to help ensure that merchants follow the law on tobacco sales and access to minors. |
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Dining Out Smoke Free in Kittitas County -
Kittitas County Lists restaurants in the county that don’t allow smoking or that have separate smoking areas. |
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Helping Your Family Clear the Air - Kittitas
County Full color brochure about the health problems from secondhand smoke and risks to children. |
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Out to Quit - Gay City Health Project Full color booklet discusses why people smoke and fears smokers may feel about quitting. |
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Scalds! Education = Prevention - Northwest
Burn Foundation 2-color brochure about burn injuries, prevention tips, first aid measures. Includes a magnet and a "Mr. Blister" bath water thermometer. |
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Secondhand Smoke: It's Your Home, Don't Poison Your Family
- King County Lists the problems of secondhand smoke in the home, and steps to reduce or eliminate exposure. |
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Secondhand Smoke: The Laws and Your Rights -
King County Explains laws and ordinances on smoking in public places, the workplace, and state offices. |
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Smoke Free Restaurants - King County Lists restaurants in Seattle and King County that are completely smoke-free, with a price guide. |
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Strong - Gay City Health Project Booklet covers a range of topics on the physical and emotional health of gay and bisexual men. |
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Your On-Site Sewage System - Thurston County This brochure gives practical tips for maintaining a septic system. |
Wired Communities: Putting the "e" in Public Health, satellite broadcast ~ January 31, 2003
Inhalation Toxicology and Environmental Challenges, Seattle, February 20, 2003
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Seattle, February 27-28, 2003
Do you have a community project to add?
Submission Form -- Community Projects
Do you have health education materials to add?
Submission Form -- Materials Exchange
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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