What's New In Our Area
Current Clinic & Program Calendars
Current calendars that show dates and times
of clinic
services and Healthy
Beginnings programs.
Communicable
Disease Data (Updated 2/4/10)
Up to date tracking of the most common
communicable diseases including; chicken pox, flu,
head lice, hepatitis and tuberculosis.
H1N1
Clinics (Updated 2/1/10)
Clinics are currently being scheduled in our area.
Anyone who is over the age of 6 months is encouraged
to get vaccinated. All H1N1 vaccinations given by the
Health Department are given free of charge.
Check back periodically to find out if there is a
clinic that you can attend.
Kids Count in Michigan (Posted 1/12/10)
Childhood poverty, abuse and neglect continue to
rise in Michigan, but child deaths are down
dramatically, the latest Kids Count report finds.
These are the primary trends identified in the Kids
Count in Michigan 2009 Data Book being released
today. The 2009 Kids Count report also examines
county level trends in child well-being with a focus
on ‘Place Matters’ – looking at trends in rural,
midsized and urban counties (Branch, Hillsdale and
St. Joseph Counties are considered mid-sized
counties by definition in this report, between
20,000 and 65,000 population). The report ranks
the 83 counties on 15 measures of child well-being
with No. 1 ranking being the best in the state. So
how did we fare? Let’s take a look at the numbers
this time around.
Smoking or Non-Smoking? Not for long! (Posted
1/11/10)
On
December 18, 2009, the Governor signed into law a
ban on indoor smoking in almost all workplaces and
public places. The Legislature passed an amended
House Bill 4377 on December 10th after years of
stalemates over exceptions in the law. The measure
allows indoor smoking only in three Detroit casinos
on the gaming floors, cigar bars, specialty tobacco
shops, home offices and motor vehicles, including
commercial trucks. The smoke-free law, which takes
effect May 1, 2010, makes Michigan the 38th state
with such a law. You can see
a copy of the law or a
Question and Answer sheet to find out more.
H1N1 Information for Parents (Posted 1/6/10)
Clinics are now being scheduled in area schools to
provide the second dose of H1N1 vaccinations to
school age kids less than 10 years of age. These
kids require 2 doses (28 days apart) to be fully
protected. Consent forms are being sent home to
parents for this second vaccination. The new
consent form is slightly different, in that it gives
parents an option to request (based on availability)
why type of vaccination their child is to receive.
While we cannot guarantee availability of any
specific type of vaccine, some parents have
expressed concern that they were not given a choice
in the first round. We are trying to accommodate
this concern as much as possible for round 2
vaccinations.
Again,
this vaccine
is not mandatory to attend school. It does,
however, provide the best protection from this new
strain of flu which has been spreading rapidly in
school settings. If you child was not vaccinated in
the first round (out sick or absent) they can still
be vaccinated in the second round. If they require
2 shots (under 10 years old) they will have to come
to the Health Department (or a community clinic) to
receive their second shot.
Got Ink?
Tattooing and Body Art Are Now Being Regulated by
the State (1/4/10)
Michigan’s Public Act 149, states that –
beginning January 1, 2010, no person shall tattoo,
brand or perform body piercing on another individual
unless it occurs at a body art facility possessing a
valid Body Art Facility License issued by the
Michigan Department of Community Health. Body art
is becoming increasingly popular and the
implementation of PA 149 sets statewide requirements
for body art facilities aimed at decreasing the risk
of transmission of blood borne diseases such as
hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Owners or
operators of body art facilities will be required to
apply for a body art facility license through the
Michigan Department of Community Health.
Radon, A Silent Killer (Posted 12/28/09)
The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health
Agency is Working with the U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency in a nationwide campaign to
educate Americans about the dangers of radon
exposure and to encourage them to take action to
protect their homes and families.
Smoking Cessation Workshop (Updated 12/28/09)
A FREE NO PRESSURE, 2
hour one-time program that will give you the
important tools you need to successfully quit using
tobacco when you are ready. Classes are
currently scheduled for Branch and Hillsdale
counties in
January.
Local Resources for Tough
Times
(Updated 12/18/09)
Knowing how to navigate the system, whether
it be unemployment, Medicaid or any other
assistance one might need in tough economic
times, is a matter of keeping calm and
knowing what options are available to you.
It might be as simple as getting on Medicaid
for a couple of Months while you are between
jobs, or getting the Kids insured with
MiChild if that is a better fit.
Perhaps you need dental care or just need some help with
food. There are many services in our
local communities who can help and are more
than happy to do so. The key is
knowing where to go for assistance.
Here are some key places to start if you
have been hit by the economic bus that seems
to wheeling out of control. If you
don’t find what you need, call us, or call
someone else you know and trust.
Furnace out? Cold? Don’t do
Something Silly
12/09/09
When power outages occur during winter storms,
the use of alternative sources of fuel or
electricity for heating, cooling, or cooking
sometimes might seem like a good solution to
your immediate problem. However, most of
these
solutions can cause CO to build up in a home,
garage, or camper and to poison the people and
animals inside. If the power goes out, please,
don’t be foolish, stay with family or friends if
you can’t get things fixed right away. The
holidays are a time for celebration and joy,
let’s not spoil it with a call to 911.
H1N1 Flu Outbreak
Information (Updated 11/24/09)
The outbreak of disease in people caused by a new
influenza virus of swine origin has continued to
evolve since first being reported in April. The
number of deaths in the U.S. continues to be low but
State and regional outbreaks are numerous. Testing
of probable cases here in Michigan continues but
only on a limited basis. A
map of all states and the level of flu activity
is now included with our updates. The CDC has
issued guidance documents for;
clinicians,
Parents,
epidemiologists,
lab workers,
patients,
pregnant women,
communities,
schools (school
administrators toolkit),
employers, and
travelers. All of these documents and more can
be found in the
guidance section of the CDC’s H1N1 site.
Michigan also updates case counts and information
specific to Michigan daily. The Community Health
Agency continues to stress common sense measure that
all citizens can take; washing hands frequently,
staying home when sick, don’t touch your eyes nose
or mouth if you haven’t recently washed your hands.
Seasonal Flu
Shots Available Locally (Updated 11/24/09)
The Health Department is out of seasonal flu vaccine
and is no longer giving seasonal flu shots (this flu
season). However, many providers in our communities
have been providing seasonal flu shots. Flu vaccine
has been unavailable in many areas since the
beginning of November; however, vaccine supplies are
expected to increase after Dec. 1, 2009. Pick your
county of choice to see a listing of local providers
that may begin to receive vaccine.
10 Things You
Need to Know (Posted 10/1/09)
With the constant barrage of news about
H1N1(including what to call it!); we have put
together the 10 most important things we think you
need to know about this disease and what is being
done about it. Take a look.
Food Manager Certification (Posted
9/1/09)
As of June 30, 2009, all food service
establishments are required to employ a minimum
of one certified managerial employee. We currently do not
have any additional classes scheduled but we can
add your named to a waiting list and you will be
notified when classes are available.
Archives
Information that was previously highlighted on the
front page of our web site.
What's New in Michigan & Nationally
Michigan
Department of Community Health
U.S.
Centers for Disease Control
International
Health News- World Health Organization
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