Thanks go to the people who responded to our call for "what public health means to you" and for the organizations who sent in the activities they did during public health week. Below are our winners!

And thanks to all the others who submitted entries!

INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Tom Quade, Akron Health Department

I am an epidemiologist. I count things. I analyze and interpret data and communicate my findings to others. Numbers permeate every aspect of my work. I have a quote hanging next to my desk that reads, “Not everything that counts can be counted; and not everything that can be counted counts.”

I am asked to count so many different things. Every day, it seems I’m counting something new. I remember, growing up, when my mother would remind me to count my blessings. I sometimes still do it, though probably not often enough.

First mentioned, and often taken for granted, is our health. “At least you have your health,” people say.

At the end of the day, I count that among my blessings. I have my health.

During the day I count how many people in my community don’t have their health.

At the end of my day I count on the health and safety of my family.

During the day, I count the number of victims of domestic abuse and other crimes and the numbers of children or their parents who are hospitalized or have died due to one cause or another.

At the end of the day, I count my blessing of having a home and food on my table.

During the day I count how many in my community don’t have either.

At the end of my day I recognize that I have counted on a supportive family and a quality education that has culminated in a good job, one with health insurance.

During the day, I count the number of people in my community not fortunate enough to have had the support of a family or the benefits of a quality education. I count the number of people who can’t read, the number of people who are unemployed, the number of people living in poverty, the number of people without access to health care when they’re ill.

At the end of the day, I wonder if good health is the foundation of this list of blessings or simply the first thing we notice when we look at that list. Is good health what all those other pieces provide or is it what allows us to pursue the other components of our amalgamate of blessings we call the quality of life. Who knows. They’re all things we count on at the end of the day.

We can count them and count on them if we have them. What do those who don’t have all those blessings count on? Oh, yeah. They count on those of us in public health to recognize disparity when we see it. Not everyone’s list of blessings reads the same. To me, Public Health is not a profession, it is not a set of tools, or services. Rather, Public Health is a context in which we exercise our humanity toward others.

ORGANIZATIONAL WINNER: Middletown City Health District

Middletown City Health District

What We Did for Public Health Week in 2002

During April 1-5, 2002, the Middle town Health Department observed National Public Health Week by participating in health promotion and public health awareness activities. The theme this year was Healthy People in Healthy Communities with a mission to promote physical and mental health and prevent disease, injury, and disability.

The Middletown City Council and the Middletown Board of Health invited citizens to join in on the up coming activities by passing proclamations supporting Public Health Week. The Middletown Journal, TV Middletown, and WPFB radio helped promote special activities and events that were scheduled each day of the week throughout the city. Promotional messages and a schedule of events were posted on the City of Middletown’s website and sent out on the electronic bulletin board. Posters and informational displays were placed throughout the community, including the lobby of the city building, senior center, the social and health center, the YMCA and the Towne Mall.

The events kicked off at the Middletown City Building on Monday with a free lunch on the plaza in front of the building. This included low-fat turkey hotdogs, fruit, chips with cheese dip, and drinks. There was a “poker walk” with door prizes fro anyone that wanted to participate in heart healthy physical activities. Inside the building there were blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings, and a Healthy Start, Healthy Families representative available for Medicaid eligibility information. There were several public health displays set up in the lobby of the city building that remained there all week to increase public awareness on a variety of health issues. Informational pamphlets were provided to the public.

On Tuesday, public health displays were set up in the senior center. There were blood pressure checks and osteoporosis screening. The Ohio Department of Agriculture offered training on retail food label requirements at the city building. The training emphasized the importance of labels, what the basic parts of a label include, and the different types of labels in a food establishment. Sanitarians from surrounding local health departments came to participate in the training.

On Wednesday, public health displays were set up at the social services and health center. The Healthy Start, Healthy Families representative was available for Medicaid eligibility information. In the city building, a lunchtime presentation on the four steps to food safety was given by the environmental health staff.

On Thursday, public health displays were set up at the YMCA and blood pressure checks were given. The free lunch was so successful on Monday; we did it again in front of the YMCA. Again, we were able to feed and educate many people on public health issues.

Other organizational entries:

Healthy Lucas County
Public Health Week 2002 Essay
 Submitted by Kathy Silvestri, MPH

Healthy Lucas County, a standing committee of the Lucas County Family Council, celebrated public health week (April 1-7, 2002) with diversity and collaboration.  On April 4, 2002, members of the Native American Indian, African American, Asian, and Hispanic communities participated in a press event to begin Minority Health Month which features 30 days of events to promote health education and healthy lifestyles for Lucas County minority and disadvantaged populations.  Saturday, April 6, 2002 marked the kick-off of a six-week community-wide event to increase physical activity among Lucas County residents entitled “A New You in 2002: Accept the Challenge.”

Committed to data-driven health improvement planning and sustainable action, the Steering Committee of the 1999 Lucas County Community Health Assessment organized Healthy Lucas County (HLC). HLC currently features ten focus work groups, modeled after Healthy People 2010 objectives (See Attachment A for HLC Steering Committee/ Focus Group Lists).  Each focus group is a “mini” coalition of community members from various sectors.  The ten focus work groups follow a planning template that begins with the findings of the 1999 community health assessment and other data sources to determine health improvement recommendations or goals. The groups have also identified key indicators or health improvement measures.  The top 3-5 health recommendations from each of the ten focus areas were recently shared with the Lucas County community at a press event on March 20, 2002.  Over the next few months, the HLC work groups will research best practices for each of their recommendations and complete the planning template with a list of possible action steps.

“A New You in 2002” resulted from the collaboration of over twenty health and fitness organizations and/or local businesses and was spearheaded by the Healthy Lucas County  Physical Activity and Nutrition Focus Work Group.  The goal of “A New You in 2002” is to motivate 2000 Lucas County residents to increase their level of physical activity during the six-week period of April 6-May 18, 2002.  Registration for this challenge began at the kick-off event at the Franklin Park Mall from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, which featured displays from local fitness centers, hospitals, the Metro Parks, as well as blood pressure and cholesterol screenings conducted by the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department (See Attachments B for vendor and sponsor list and photographs). WTOL TV-Channel 11 featured the event on their AM Saturday Morning Show.  Incentives for Challenge participants include a free 2-6 week trial membership at participating health clubs, walks at Metro Parks, free seminars on exercise and nutrition, discounts on health related products, fitness assessments, a National Employee Health & Fitness Day, and the Ultimate Challenge event to be held on May 19, 2002 at the Franklin Park Mall (See Attachment C Challenge brochure). To be eligible for prizes, participants must turn in a personal fitness log with at least 10 stamps from the participating fitness centers, YMCAs, seminars or Metro Park walks.  To date, many Lucas County residents have already accepted the challenge for “A New You in 2002.”

The Mayor’s Commission on Minority Health has worked closely with the Ohio Commission on Minority Health to organize Lucas County’s first Minority Health Month.  Nearly fifty community sponsors have embraced this unique opportunity to provide health education, showcase local resources, and promote healthy lifestyles for the various minority populations and cultures that flavor the county (See Attachments D & E Minority Health Month Planning Committee & Community Sponsors and Calendar of Events).  Their press event during public health week featured dancing, music, and folk lore from the Native American Indian community, singing and a demonstration of the art of Tai Chi by Asian senior citizens, and the discipline, talent, and enthusiasm of local African American youth by the group SETT (Self-Expression Teen Theater) (See photographs).  Members of the Hispanic community added to the festivities through visual displays of local health resources.  Mayor Jack Ford and Representative Edna Brown were honored guests and speakers on hand to lend their support to this effort.  The assistant director of the Mayor’s Commission on Minority Health serves on the Steering Committee of Healthy Lucas County and currently facilitates the Health Disparities focus work group.

In summation, the Physical Activity and Nutrition and Health Disparities focus work groups of Healthy Lucas County demonstrated what true partnership and collaboration can do during public health week, 2002, events.  These examples of leadership and successful collaboration will help sustain the energy, drive, and determination needed for community health improvement in Lucas County.  

The Healthy Communities Foundation of the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio provides staffing and technical assistance to Healthy Lucas County.

Three hundred fifty persons attended the barbecue chicken dinner prepared and served by Maudie Raber, an Amish lady who has operated a licensed food service in her home for many years and who has elected to continue voluntary licensure as a food service operator irregardless of the exemption provided by current Ohio Law. In addition to local elected officials, State Senator Ron Amstutz attended. Bernie Schlueter and Frank Holtzhauer were present from the Ohio Department of Health.

Chris Spielman, former Massillon High School Tiger, Ohio State All-American and All-Pro linebacker with the Detroit Lions, the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns was the guest speaker. Mr. Spielman delivered a powerful and inspiring message on his answer to the question why he was put here on earth. His answer is "to serve God, family and community." He related his family's response to his wife's battle to recover from breast cancer at the age of 30 and reminded students of the setbacks and challenges that would come along when trying to accomplish their goals. "if you get knocked down, you will bleed for awhile, but rise and fight again," he said. He told everyone "to celebrate health by celebrating life and serving others." Following the program, he graciously signed autographs for everyone requesting one.

The Health District's Safe & Healthy Youth Program, partially funded with the Wellness Block Grant targeted at preventing teen pregnancy, utilizes the Asset Building approach developed and advocated by the Search Institute of Minneapolis. Search Institute research indicates that the more of these forty internal and external "developmental assets" a teenager possesses, the less likely it is that the teen will engage in behaviors which place their health at risk. The third annual Youth Asset Builder of the Year Award was presented by Judge Thomas Lee, Juvenile/Probate Court judge and inaugural winner of the award. The honorees this year were Marlyce Yoder, Guidance Counselor at West Holmes High School and Craig Hershberger, Guidance Counselor at Hiland High School.  They were nominated by a former student and a current student respectively because of the success each of them has demonstrated in building internal and external developmental assets in students in their respective schools.

This year's "Amazing Kids" were recognized. A total of 113 students were nominated as "Amazing Kids" because of their amazing accomplishments. By recognizing kids who are achieving, we hope to inspire more kids to get involved in their own "amazing" activities and to inspire adults to get involved in helping kids realize their full potential.  Fifty four of the "Amazing Kids" attended the event to receive their certificates. Those not attending will receive their certificates at school.

The Esther Spreng Award was presented to Carol Maurer, RN in honor of her many years of service in the emergency department at our county hospital, and in recognition of her efforts to continually improve high quality trauma and emergency care with compassion and her becoming the county's first Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner(SANE). The award was established by the Board of Health in 1986 in honor of Esther Spreng, RN on the occasion of her retirement as a member of the Board of Health after40 years of service on the Board. The annual award recognizes a Holmes County woman who has made a significant contribution to promoting and protecting the health of Holmes County Citizens.

The inaugural Public Health Ally Award was presented to Mark Lonsinger of radio station WKLM in recognition of all that he does in the community to promote the youth of our community by broadcasting high school athletic events, spearheading the Share-A-Christmas fund drive, providing public health public service announcements and for promoting the health of the community. The award was established by the Board of Health to periodically honor individuals in the community, who are not traditionally thought of as part of the public health system, but who have made significant contributions to the health of the community and thus are "allies" of public health.

In the aftermath of September 11, all volunteer fire and EMS personnel in the county were invited to attend in order to be recognized and honored for their dedication and high quality service they provide to the county. Bill Smith, CEO of Pomerene Hospital, gave an eloquent tribute to the men and women who serve our county so well as volunteers in these vital health services.

The program closed with the audience singing God Bless America.

The dinner and lengthy program concluded in a little over two hours. Feedback from both students and adults has been extremely positive with individuals indicating that they are looking forward to next year's event. The event provides an opportunity for health district staff in different divisions and of different professional disciplines to work together as a team to put together a fun event.

Marion County and City Health Departments
A Combined Community Effort for Public Health Week

In Marion County we have two small health departments, the Marion County Health

Department and the Marion City Health Department. A committee made up of the Health Educator from the County Health Department and the Nursing Director at the City Health Department began Public Health Week (PHW) efforts by having a meeting to decide what our Departments should do to promote PHW 2002. It was very helpful to have the Ohio Department of Health's PHW planners' guide to help us plan our events. We used every resource available to us in that packet. We decided to spotlight a few of the services we provide, in addition to a few publicity events for every day except Saturday during Public Health Week. Neither health department has the advantage of having a staff that works exclusively on Health Promotion, so employees from both Health Departments' Nursing, Environmental, WIC, Help Me Grow and Administration divisions teamed up with the tone Health Educator to staff events. Here is how it turned out.

First of all we designed flyers for all public health week events and distributed them in key community agencies we partner with. Second, we notified our local media partners in Radio and newsprint that we were celebrating Public Health Week during the first week of April 1-7, 2002. We sent a press release explaining the weeks events that saw print in the Marion Star on Saturday March 30'h. We sent seven different articles relating to each aspect of public health including the "A Day in the Life of Public Health" which the Marion Star printed on Easter Sunday March 31, 2002. Two articles on the City and County's District Licensing Councils creation(April 4,5), and a great article and photos from the Stand for Children Festival printed(April 8). We sent out all of the canned public service announcements from the planners guide to our Local radio stations WMRN (1490 AM), WDIF (94.3 FM), Country 107 (107FM). County Health Department Health Educator promoted PHW events on the Marion community radio program "Morning Magazine" on 3-29-02 to explain all planned PHW activities. The Health Educator appeared on the radio again by way of press conference coverage soundbite on 4-2-02, and live on-air appearances twice on 4-5-02 to promote the

Wellness walk, Car Seat Check, and Stand For Children festival. The best thing about all of this coverage was that we didn't pay for any of it. Our media partners sponsored it all.

On Monday April 1, we started off our PHW activities by having a press conference and community awareness event. We obtained proclamations from the Marion County Commissioners and Marion City Mayor proclaiming April 1-7, 2002 as Public Health Week. We sent sample proclamations provided in the PHW planners guide for the Mayor and County Commissioners as guidelines or suggestions. We also had speeches from both Health Commissioners from the City and County Health Departments about Public Health in Marion. We also used this conference as a time to build pride and camaraderie in Marion's Public Health workforce.

Tuesday April 2, the focus was on Child and Maternal Health. The Well Baby Clinic is a weekly immunization program that addresses the importance of infant immunizations.

The County and City Health Departments' Nursing staff works collaboratively with the Marion General Hospitals Twig Volunteer program to provide free infant immunizations for children birth through kindergarten age. Combined Public Health efforts at the Well Baby Clinic provided 55 immunizations free of charge to continue preventing the spread of disease.

The second Public Health Week activity offered to the public on Tuesday April 2, 2002were two family nutrition classes offered by the Marion City Health Department's WIC program. 5 families attended the "Finding the Fat in Food" education class and 4 families attended the "Infant feeding" class for 9 families total.

Wednesday, April 3, 2002 was "Meet Your Public Health Departments Day" at an open house at Marion City Hall. The Marion City Health Department, WIC, and the Marion County Health Department offered a nutrition quiz on serving sizes, a raffle for a $25 Meijer gift certificate, free blood pressure screenings and education, and of course information about how public health protects you every day. Representatives from both City and County Health Departments educated 60 Marion County residents about our programs between 1Oam and 2pm.

Thursday, April 4, 2002 we decided to spotlight the Marion County Health Department’s Child Family Health Services Well Child Clinic. The Well Child Clinic provides physicals for children birth through age 21 for day care, pre-school, sports, job/work permits, or for preventative general health. We provided seven physicals by appointment to promote better access to health care for underinsured Marion residents.

Friday, April 5, 2002 was "Get Moving Stay Healthy Day!" The Marion County and City Health Departments worked with the Marion City Recreation Department to provide a lunchtime Wellness Walk downtown. Education on incorporating physical activity and healthy eating into your lunch hour. 18 community members and employees of both Health Departments joined together for stretching and then a 1 mile walk.

Sunday, April 7, 2002 was "Child Health and Safety Day!" at Marion's Stand For Children festival. Over 300 children, parents, and family members participated in the family event on a beautiful Spring day. One boy's, girls', and toddlers' bike with helmets were raffled off at the event. Both Health Departments serve on the planning committee that organized the event. A free Child Passenger Safety Seat Checkpoint was also offered at the fair. 15 safety seats were inspected and one seat had no misuse. 4 safety seats were found to have defects or recalls and were replaced with new seats. The car seat checkpoint was planned with the Central Ohio Safekids coalition, Marie English Early childhood Center and the County Health Department.

After it was all said and done more residents in Marion County and City, Oh were more aware of what Public health is and who provides it. The Marion County and City Health Departments combined forces for the benefit of "Healthy People" in our "Healthy Community".

“What we did for public health week/day in 2002.”
Youngstown City Health District
Submitted by Charlotte, Stahl, Health Administrator

In celebration of National Public Health Week, the Youngstown City Health District sponsored their annual Public Health (Day) Fair.  The theme for this year was Healthy People in Healthy Communities.  Our Public Health Fair was held on Monday, 1Apr02, at the Youngstown City Health District located in the Oakhill Renaissance Place, Youngstown, OH.  The celebration began at 10: a.m. and continued until 2:00 p.m.

A number of community agencies collaborated in this special event as follows:

Ø      Dental Sealant Program – provided toothbrushes/toothpaste/flossers

Ø      Eye Care Associates – provided glaucoma screenings

Ø      Easter Seals Society – provided parent education and pre-school program literature for children with special needs

Ø      Head Start School Program – provided materials on pre-school education for children

Ø      Healthy Families/Healthy Start – insurance program for underinsured

Ø      Humility of Mary Healthcare Partners – provided bone density screenings

Ø      Immunization Program – free immunizations for children ≤ 3 years

Ø      Lead Poisoning Prevention Program – active in lead screenings and assessments

Ø      Litter Control – promoted reducing, reusing, and recycling wastes

Ø      Mahoning County Tuberculosis Clinic – provided tuberculin skin tests

Ø      Mahoning Valley Dispute Resolution Services –offered mediation services

Ø      Mahoning Valley Scrappers – donated four game tickets for raffle

Ø      STARS Program – Diabetes Outreach Project for the underserved

Ø      Struthers Health District – Nurse performed blood pressure screenings

Ø      WIC (Women, Infant, Children) Program

Ø      Women’s Health Initiative – education and outreach regarding breast and cervical cancer

Ø      Youngstown Fire Department – provided fire prevention literature and tours of fire trucks

Ø      Youngstown Health District staff – provided cholesterol and blood sugar screenings, environmental health activities, HIV Prevention, and Air Pollution Control activities

Ø      Youngstown-Mahoning County Public Library – provided readings on books about healthy lifestyle for children and adults

Ø      Youngstown Police Department – bike patrol officers met citizens and discussed diversion activities

Over 150 citizens participated in the fair, plus the agency staff; healthy foods were served and enjoyed by all.

Also, as part of Public Health Week, staff from the Health District and the Oakhill Renaissance Place participated in a “Wellness Walk” on Wednesday, 3Apr02.  These health-conscious individuals walked for one mile in the local historical cemetery that is located across the street from their offices.  They enjoyed walking on the brick roads and observing the many impressive monuments in the cemetery.