DIVISION ACTIVITY REPORTS January through March 2008 ADMINISTRATIVE Employee Safety Training/Tips: Juanita Peterka informs staff at monthly staff meetings about safety items. The following was reported during this period: Reminder to staff that when driving a city vehicle or a personal vehicle for city business, always wear your seat belt and never talk on the cell phone. Juanita reported to staff that the City received a 35% discount credit for WSI as a result of the goals that were obtained by all city employees for 2007. The discount is in the amount of $553,000. Juanita reported that city employees took 630 LMS on-line safety training classes. Media/Public Relations: Several public health related items were published in the newspaper/or covered on the radio and television to include the opening of the new Valley Community Health Centers Dental Clinic, and influenza. Care Day Community Benefits Fund: During this period $50.00 was donated to CVIC. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The semi-annual inspection of all school food service facilities was completed during this period. Inspection of all group homes was completed during this period. Environmental Health staff attended a railroad emergency response conference held at the Alerus in March. Environmental Health staff participated in the orientation of a family practice resident in the UND Family Practice Residency program in March. Environmental Health staff investigated numerous mold complaints in apartments and homes throughout the region. Recommendations for mitigation were made in each case where mold was found. Todd Hanson attended the American Mosquito Control Association annual educational conference held in Reno, Nevada in March. Tim Haak made a presentation on the Grand Forks Public Health Pandemic Flu response plan at a national conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. Del Streitz and Tim Haak have been working with local officials and the State Health Department in developing plans for a minimum care facility in the event a nationwide pandemic flu disaster should occur. Bids for mosquito control chemicals and equipment were received and chemicals and equipment were ordered. NURSING AND NUTRITION Health Promotion Team Members: Carrie Kaltenberg (team leader), Theresa Knox, and Haley Thorson, Mandy Burbank (Consultant for Wellness Program) Programs: Tobacco Prevention, Women’s Way, Wellness Rachel Salwei resigned her Women’s Way/Public Health Nurse position effective January 11. Carrie Kaltenberg is serving as interim Women’s Way program coordinator until the position is filled. Carrie participated in a state wide Women’s Way teleconference Feb 23. Mandy Burbank staffed a Health Promotion booth at the Health Trip 2008 kick off party. Over 1,200 community members are enrolled in the 16 week healthy living incentive program. Wellness program events include Wellness Wire Newsletter, lunch and learn presentations on Investing and 5 A Day challenge to eat more fruits and veggies. March 11, the Family Medicine Resident orientation was held at Grand Forks Public Health Department. This program is coordinated by the Health Promotion Team. Graduate Masters in Public Health (MPH) student, Brenda Bergman, completed her 6 month internship working with Theresa Knox on cessation and secondhand smoke topics. Tobacco prevention staff has been involved in organizational meetings of Tobacco Free North Dakota, and Healthy ND Tobacco subcommittees. Theresa Knox has been named chair of the cessation subcommittee, and Haley Thorson is assuming the chair of the youth subcommittee. Freedom from Smoking classes were offered at UND in January and February. Theresa Knox participated in a Freedom from Smoking facilitator training update. Theresa Knox received the North Dakota Public Health Association Public Health Worker of the Year Award at the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health on March 27 in Fargo. . Family Health Team Members: Allen Anderson (team leader), Mandy Burbank, Cindy Loiland, Betty Otteson, Danielle Kovarik Programs: Maternal & Child Health, ND Health Tracks, Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Needs, Public Health Nutrition March 10th marked the first ever National Registered Dietitian Day. Mandy Burbank taught a child nutrition and oral health class for 30 participants at LaGrave Learning Center. She also provided a display at the annual School Food and Nutrition Fair where 100 participants received nutrition education. Betty Otteson was appointed to serve on the Grand Forks County Child Protection Team. Her appointment will continue until July 2010. During January, February and March, the Health Tracks Program conducted well child exams on approximately 180 children from birth to age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. Cindy Loiland provided a presentation at the UND College of Nursing on adolescent health. Betty Otteson and Danielle Kovarik hosted the quarterly North Dakota Department of Health Child Passenger Safety meeting via videoconference in February. Allen Anderson and Mandy Burbank continue enrolling Grand Forks residents in the “Eat 5 A Day to Keep Cancer Away” challenge. This program was a result of a $5,000 grant award from the ND Cancer Coalition. UND Dietetics Student, Bobbi Horner, completed a five week practicum at Public Health with Allen Anderson and Mandy Burbank serving as her preceptors. Danielle Kovarik represented Grand Forks Public Health Dept. at Respite Care Committee meetings and the Regional Interagency Coordinating Council. The Boundless Playground Committee began fundraising last fall for a new handicap accessible playground in Grand Forks. The project is on track to begin construction the fall of 2008. Danielle Kovarik is a committee member and secretary for this group. Danielle Kovarik coordinates community based pediatric clinical experiences for UND College of Nursing students in a new collaborative effort this year between Grand Forks Public Health and the College of Nursing. On February 22, the Northern Valley Dental Health Coalition sponsored on open house for Valley Community Health Centers Dental Clinic. The event was well attended and several dignitaries offered congratulatory messages. The clinic will serve persons with low and moderate incomes who have Medicaid or no dental insurance. Disease Prevention Team Members: Kathy Dunn (team leader), Terri Keehr, and Twyla Streibel Programs: Immunization, TB, Refugee Health, HIV, Ryan White, Influenza Grand Forks Public Health Department was presented with a certificate for the “Most Improved Immunization Rate” by the North Dakota Department of Health. GFPHD increased their childhood immunization rate by more than 10% in 2007. Grand Forks Public Health received their vaccine for the State Viral Hepatitis Program. Twyla Streibel coordinates the program which runs until June 30, 2009. The program provides testing, counseling and vaccination for individuals who meet program guidelines. Terri Keehr served as a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness. The committee presented their final recommendations to City Council. Implementation of the new PROtect ND Kids immunization system began at Grand Forks Public Health Department on March 31. Grand Forks Public Health Department will now bill insurance companies for vaccines. State supplied vaccine is still available to children eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. Health Services Team Members: Kathy Mack (team leader), Linda Opstad, Bill Lund, Stacie Olson Programs: Correctional Center, Home Visits, Office Nursing, School Nursing During January, February, and March, 1,243 clients were served by public health nurses in our office for services including TB skin tests, health teaching, immunizations, STD counseling, blood pressure monitoring, medication administration and head lice checks. During January, February, March, public health nurses made 595 home visits to residents in Grand Forks County. Services included health assessments, education, and medication setup, prenatal and newborn assessments. There were 39 admissions and 20 discharges during this period. During January, February, and March, Kathy Mack provided seven “Heart at Work” screenings for newly hired city employees. Kathy Mack provided additional nursing services at the Grand Forks County Correctional Center during January, February and March. Stacie Olson works fulltime at the correctional center and a part-time position is expected to be filled in the near future. On February 13, Stacie Olson, correctional center nurse, administered 61 flu shots to inmates. UND nursing students assisted her with this activity. During the first week of March, Stacie Olson provided education and training on medical protocols to correctional officers. In January, scoliosis screening was completed in the Grand Forks city and county schools. The screenings included 298 girls in sixth grade, and 673 boys and girls in eighth grade. Four children were referred to their physician for follow-up care. In February, puberty education was provided to 124 children in the fifth grade and HIV education was provided to 136 children in the sixth grade in the Grand Forks county schools. On March 11, Bill Lund provided information on public health services to the “Vision Impaired Support Group.” Theresa Knox, Twyla Streibel and Debbie Swanson attended the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health in Fargo on March 26-28. Galen Cariveau of UND Workforce Development conducted training with the Public Health Team Leaders on conducting effective performance appraisals.