CHAB Health Action Teams (HATs)  & Task Force Groups
(* = Chair Person)

     *Roger S Case, Duane Gimbel (affiliate member), David Macys, Trish Rose, Chuck Scurlock
          Staff Support: Katie Hicks & Karen Grossman

Issues                                                                                ... PowerPoint presentation

• Adults and children/youth not current on their immunizations

• Rise in sexually transmitted diseases, especially among 15-24 year olds 

• Increase in disease rates that are communicable through food and water

Goals
Increase the percentage of children up-to-date at age 5 (or by school admission) to 87% by 2012 from 79.9% in 2006; increase adults over age 65 immunized for flu and pneumonia to 75% by 2012 from 63% in 2005 and adults with a current tetanus immunization to 80% by 2012 from 65% in 2006; reduce STD rates among 15-24 year olds; and reduce incidences of food and water borne communicable disease rates.

 Strategic Actions

Childhood Immunizations 

• Work with local school districts to publicize the need to be current on immunizations at school entry. 
  

• Publicize the Washington State Vaccine for Children program so families know they can get immunizations free or at reduced cost.

• Public Health nurses within each district work closely with school staff to 1) provide communication on the need to children to be current on their immunizations and 2) Have public health offices open for immunization clinics on days of school registration.

• Use other health department programs (WIC, MSS, home visits) to talk about the importance of childhood vaccinations and making sure children are up-to-date on their immunizations.

• Work with pediatrician offices to have a campaign to alert pediatric office staff and parents to inquire whether their child is current on immunizations; and possibly, input data into Child Profile.

• Island County Public Health will maintain information on their website as to current immunization clinics and will mail this information to physician offices and schools.  Education materials will also be distributed to childcare providers so they can inform their families of the clinics.

• For both child and adult immunization rates, Island County will piggyback on Washington State Department of Health’s social marketing campaign to be current on immunizations.

• CHAB and ICPH will be available to support state legislation (with policymakers or within the State BOH initiative on this issue) to educate on the need to make exceptions only on the basis of personal choice (not because it is an easy way to get children registered for school).

Adult Immunizations

• In September and January:  Publish short articles in WGH’s Pulse magazine (go to all Whidbey households) about the need to be current on immunizations and how to locate flu shot clinics.  Headings might be “Are You Current?”  Or “Its Not Too Late to Vaccinate” with ICPH website and phone numbers and other community flu clinic sites.

• In May publish a short article in the PULSE for adults to get current on their tetanus shots.

• Publish an article in the Senior Currents (if possible) on the need for older Island County residents to get their flu and pneumonia shots.  Also post flyers in senior centers and physician offices.

• Ideally, wish physician offices sent out reminder cards for adult immunizations.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases     (Action Plan to be determined later in 2008)

Diseases Spread by Food or Water

• Develop a targeted social marketing campaign using the “Wash, Separate, Chill, Throw Out” campaign materials.  Post laminated poster in Senior Centers and place an article in Senior Currents.

• Work with ICPH Food Inspection staff to post posters at grocery stores, senior centers, food shelves, and publicize proper food handling practices.

• Develop a CHAB Youth Public Health Ambassadors Program that includes a food safety unit.

• Publicize the potential to contract diseases through higher risk foods such as shellfish, unpasteurized dairy products, eggs, etc.  Publicize the need to cook meat/poultry thoroughly; separate raw meat and poultry from other food activities; cook to proper temperatures; hand and utensil washing; chilling and disposing of foods properly.

• Discuss ways to target these messages through current ICPH programs and events.

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Issues 

• Overweight and obese adults, children and youth   (Obesity in the United States, state specific info)

• Lack of physical activity among adults

• Too much screen time among children and youth (TV, recreational computer, video games)

• Lack of healthy nutrition choices, including snacks, fast foods, convenience foods, consumption of soda, and skipping breakfast

• Families not eating meals together

• Tobacco use

Goals: 

• Increase healthy nutrition by increasing (1) consumption of fruits and vegetables, (2) healthy snacks served at schools, child and youth service organizations, and worksites, and (3) family meal times

• Increase the percentage of Island County resident to 30% of adults and 85% of children and youth who engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on 5+ days a week

• Increase the number of Island County residents who bike or walk to school/work or for recreational activity

• Decrease overweight and obesity rates in Island County by (1) reducing the proportion of overweight children and adolescents in Island County to 5% and (2) increasing the proportion of adults at a healthy weight to 60%

• Reduce sedentary activity by limiting screen time for children to no more than 2 hours per day

• Increase knowledge, awareness, and prevalence of nutrition and physical activity policies

• Increase the ability of community-based groups and public and private agencies to understand and utilize assessment and policy development and implementation skills with respect to chronic disease prevention

                                                                                                                                               

Strategic Actions

 Create a social marketing campaign aimed at increasing healthy behaviors among Island County children, youth and adults. 

• Develop and distribute informational outreach materials such as fact sheets
• Help design and develop content for a Healthy Island County website that shows trails, events and resources for walking and making healthy lifestyle choices
• Design and create brochures/flyers/articles on healthy meals and family meal times; and active living, including reduced screen time
• Develop and distribute Healthy Snack Guidelines for local youth agencies, service clubs, early childhood providers, park and recreation departments and schools

Work actively as liaisons to school districts and public and private agencies to promote policy changes that impact healthy living in Island County

• Advocate, monitor, and communicate changes in land use to promote active community environments

• Actively partner with others to increase marked trails in Island County and safe pathways to schools; increase school participation in Safe Routes to Schools and Walking School Bus programs, adapted to rural districts

• Advocate to school districts to incorporate healthy meal choices, healthy celebrations and snacks, and healthy vending machine choices, including limiting the availability of soda pop & energy drinks

• Work as a partner with other public agencies to design and implement policies and strategic plans that lead to more and improved places to walk and be active, specifically more safe and connecting trails.  We will support the Non-Motorized Transportation Improvement Plan and Trails Plan; future expansions of right-of-way space; advocate for safe, connected, marked trails; and on-line mapping.

• Design and implement a “Transportation Tour” for elected officials that showcases the work of neighboring communities promoting healthy living

Work with schools and Whidbey on Wheels to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety awareness through special events and school curriculum.

Work with Park and Recreation Departments to strategically plan for increasing opportunities for residents to be more active, e.g. increased trails, increased youth programs, youth sports equipment

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Geriatric Screening and Prevention Recommendations: (Family Practice) 

By the year 2050, a total of 21% of the world’s population will be 60 years or older. Delivering comprehensive preventive services to this population is vital. The leading causes of death in older adults include heart disease, malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic lower respiratory tract disease (listed in descending order of frequency). However, the many aspects of mortality among older adults may be preventable through modifying lifestyle behaviors (ie, tobacco use, poor diet, and physical inactivity).

Study Highlights

• Preventative therapies for patients 65 years and older should be focused on smoking cessation, diets rich in healthy fats (eg, the Mediterranean diet), aerobic exercise, and strength training.
• Specific preventative measures include the following:
  • 3-minute smoking cessation counseling session with patients with or without the use of pharmacologic aids
  • Nutrition counseling for patients with diet-related illness such as diabetes or hypertension and those with other risk factors for coronary heart disease
  • No more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day for men and 1 per day for women
  • Aerobic exercise 3 times per week for a minimum of 1 half hour as well as strength training at least twice per week
  • Preventive aspirin therapy with patients at increased risk for coronary heart disease
  • Aggressive statin therapy for patients with high cholesterol levels who have established cardiovascular disease or for those at high risk for coronary heart disease
  • Tetanus toxoid and diphtheria toxoid (Td) vaccination series for those who have not previously received it and a Td booster every 10 years thereafter
  • Annual influenza vaccine for those 55 years and older and a 1-time pneumococcal vaccine at 65 years of age
• When cancer screening recommendations are made, it is best to review life expectancy, functionality, and co-morbidities (eg, diabetes with complications, cancer, heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and oxygen-dependent lung disease) with older patients.
• A survival benefit from cancer screening is not seen unless the patient's life expectancy exceeds 5 years.
• Functional status can be determined by self-reported activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.
• Specific recommendations for cancer screening from the USPSTF include the following:
  • 1-time screening with ultrasound examination for aortic abdominal aneurysm in men 65 to 75 years of age who have ever smoked
  • Mammography every 1 to 2 years starting at 40 years of age for women with a life expectancy of 5 years or more
  • No routine Papanicolaou test in women 65 years and older who have been previously screened and for those who have had hysterectomy for benign reasons
  • Colon cancer screening for men and women 50 years and older with a life expectancy of 5 years or more. The frequency of screening depends on the modality used: colonoscopy is performed every 10 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy is done every 5 years, and guaiac-based fecal occult blood screening is done every year.
  • Osteoporosis screening for women 65 years and older or sooner if risk factors such as daily steroid use, decreased exposure to estrogen, or infrequent menses are present
  • No recommendations for or against prostate-specific antigen testing or digital rectal examination for prostate cancer because of unclear benefit of treatment

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CHAB Task Force Teams: 

Community Liaison Task Force
Task:  To make and solicit periodic reports to/from the Board of Health and other community activities on the progress of the various community projects initiated by or of possible interest to CHAB members. Works closely with the CHAB leadership committee. (See 2006-2007 Work Plan for this Task)

Members: Chuck Scurlock, Chair, David Macys, Trish Rose,  (student)
...Staff Support: Melinda Kurtz

BRFSS Task Force
Task: Fashioning and initiating the 2006 cycle of the of the Behavioral Risk Factor Safety Survey (indicator evaluation completed in early December 2007); preparing and maintaining flyers and information to facilitate community awareness and participation in the phone survey process.

Members: Catherine Howard-Clark, (student position), Vacant position
...Staff Support: Carrie McLachlan

Health Indicators Evaluation Task Force     Key Indicators Update 2005 (a pdf file)
Task:  to review outcomes, access and formulate data so that CHAB members can present the information to the community, prioritize issues, recommend policy for  the Board of Health and assist in mobilizing the community to address these issues; to track issues laying the groundwork for future health assessment activities for CHAB. The BRFSS survey cycle is an integral part of this process.

Members: Catherine Howard-Clark, Kathryn Stevens, Tricia Terry, Krista Voigt
...Staff Support: Melinda Kurtz and Carrie McLachlan

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