June - July 2010
Public Health Teams with Parks & Rec for Youth Lessons
Thousands of children registered for Parks & Recreation's Summer Youth Program will receive free dental services and lessons on the dangers of tobacco and lead poisoning along with how to resist peer pressure - all courtesy of Metro Health's Dental Division, Project WORTH, Tobacco Prevention Program and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
The interaction with public health will mark the second consecutive summer of Metro Health's presence at a variety of community centers where the program takes place. Starting in mid-June and continuing through the first week of August, Project WORTH (the City's Metro Health-based teen pregnancy prevention program) will provide Summer Youth Program participants with the skills and tips they need to handle peer pressure. Members of the Project WORTH team also plan to incorporate developmental assets into their sessions with the youth.
Free onsite dental screenings, cleanings and sealants will be offered to youth participants with the hope of improving the oral health of youngsters in need. In Texas, 44% of children have untreated tooth decay, compared with 26% for the U.S.
Along with these services, the tobacco prevention program will focus on teaching young people about the dangers of tobacco use. Lessons will center on the toxic substances used in cigarettes and the health impact on the smoker's body and oral health. Select youth also will be screened for lead poisoning and educated on the dangers of lead.
Various other agencies and City departments are partnering with Parks & Recreation to assist youth in the summer program. The youngsters will learn about recycling, graffiti prevention, animal care, and food nutrition during the months of June through August.
Last summer, Metro Health provided dental services and education on tobacco prevention and gun injuries to participants in the Summer Youth Program.
In the Community
Metro Health is giving the gift of life.
On June 21 and 28, the department will partner with the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for a summer blood drive at the Main Immunization Clinic, 345 W. Commerce.
Anyone who is eligible to give is encouraged to participate.
Summer is usually the lowest giving time of the year, making it critical for donations. Last year, STBTC collected 155 units of blood during Metro Health blood drives. Overall, the City family gave nearly 4,000 units in 2009.
Featured Team
Four new faces joined current Population-based Services Division member, Len Trevino, as Metro Health moves forward with an obesity prevention initiative. The team will help lead San Antonio to a new "norm" for healthy eating and maintaining consistent physical activity.
See related article.
Did you know...?
June 1 is the beginning of the
Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting
up to 23 named storms this year,
of which 8 to 14 may turn into hurricanes.
Are you ready?
Each year, 30 million children receive emergency care in the U.S.
Help reduce risks of injuries with
some basic safety tips.
In the News
Smart Choices: Dining out with better menu info.
Read the column...
Bexar County's health assessment expanded.
Read the story...
Food-borne bacteria cause of two Bexar County deaths.
Watch the story...
Snapshot
of Health
Dr. Fernando Guerra and Spina Bifida Texas (SBTX) board of directors president Mike Flores joins Nora Oyler with SBTX and the Naco-Perrin WIC team. The ladies won SBTX's annual Folic Acid Bulletin Board Contest.
Read more...
Healthy Link
Enter the American Academy of Pediatrics 2010 Children's Art Contest! The theme is Protecting the World's Children from Tobacco
and Secondhand Smoke.
Cash prizes up to $500 available.
Deadline is July 30.
More info and entry forms
Get your copy of the
Photovoice Smoke-Free Project commemorative publication.
The book highlights the photograpy of eight local high school students who captured the problem of tobacco.
The project was sponsored by the
San Antonio Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition and led by UTHSC's Institute for Health Promotion Research.
The Artwork
In 2007, the Steps to a Healthier San Antonio Program (Steps-SA), in
collaboration with San Antonio ISD and the Southwest School of Art and
Craft, presented "A Healthy Community Through the Eyes of a Child" in
which children from local schools expressed their creative vision of
health
concerns and issues affecting their community through the use
of art.