The New Mexico Department of Health’s Family Health Bureau has launched an on-line survey to measure which issues New Mexico residents believe are the most important in their communities. The brief, anonymous survey covers basic demographic information and then asks people to rank the importance of 25 health issues.

Issues include prenatal care, hunger, child/youth obesity, youth violence, male involvement, intimate partner violence, infant mental health, maternal depression, child abuse, harm reduction, special needs services, asthma, diabetes, immunizations, teenage pregnancy/STDs, youth mental health, breastfeeding, oral health, and access to care.

Fill out the survey here: www.nmhealth.org/titlev/survey/index.html

Participants in the Health Council's Teen Outreach Program, with a little help from some adorable four-legged friends, recently practiced the art of COMPOSTING at T or C's Community Garden (a project of The Bountiful Alliance).

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TOP is a project of the Sierra Health Council.

Attend our STOP SMOKING WORKSHOP!

This FREE 7-week course will meet on Fridays beginning March 5.

ENGLISH SPEAKING WORKSHOP
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Place: Hacienda Orgullo, 1425 E. 2nd Street, T or C NM

SPANISH SPEAKING WORKSHOP
Time: 4-5pm
Place: Arrey Church, Arrey NM

Any one interested in learning the tools needed to quit smoking is welcome to attend.

Refreshments will be provided and a $50 incentive is available upon completion of the course.

--- Help spread the word - download a flyer! ---

Call Jennie for more information:
575-894-0543
575-740-0600

By Health Council Coordinator Wendy Sager Evanson

In this issue:

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GRANT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

The Health Council/ Maternal Child Health grant proposal was submitted in January.  Many, many  thanks to Reilly Hamil for her work with both the proposal and the edit of the Health Profile. Additional help from Claire Dishman, Tom Hamil , Jane Greene and Sandi Gardner- reading and commenting – made this feel like a team effort. This is what the council is meant to be.  We are now in a place to look for other funding opportunities with clear narratives and assessment and data- well organized.

The third priority of Health Literacy was added, as decided by the council with appropriate analysis and planning laid out. The World Health Organization vision and definition fit like a glove with our discussion, intentions and understandings.

“...Health literacy represents the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health.”

STAFF UPDATE

Contracts are being drawn up for Reilly Hamil and Denise Rodriguez as 10hr/wk adjunct staff for the Health Council Coordinator and MCH coordinator. Jennie and Wendy will reduce their hours to 30hrs/week. This will be a big support to task forces, communications, and planning. It is already proving a good use of our resources - human and financial. Their additional support will go towards:

• Strengthening media outreach
• Supporting a system of Information and Referral/ Service Directory update with ongoing data collection for Health Profile Maintainance
• Stronger bilingual outreach for Sierra County, and building diversity in the Health Council
• Research for funding, grant writing support, and education
  

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

• NM Association for Infant Mental Health - Wendy will be working with this organization, based in Albuquerque, to support parenting, and healthy early childhood development  in Sierra County.
• Regional Substance Abuse Collaborative/ Border Health Initiative - recent meeting focused on the high rate of prescription drug abuse by youth- Sierra County rates are the highest in the region- almost double most counties.   There was also a presentation on nutrition related to substance abuse -  a factor overlooked.

PROGRAM UPDATES

• Healthy Living  with Chronic Conditions - Millie McLeod and Priscilla Visarraga just completed a six week series. Again, very well received. Participants actually wrote a letter to the editor sharing their gratitude for the classes.   In order to do a series, 12 participants need to be registered- please spread the word. Contact Shirley Hopkins for more info: 894-3871.  The class is also designed for caregivers, at home or professional. Wendy will be facilitating a class as soon  as she has 12 participants.
• TOP - Ari Cervantes is doing really well in the coordinator position. Providing both good boundaries and sensitivity with the teens.  There is room for 8 more teens. TOP will be working more closely with the Boys and Girls Club – as all youth programs need to join forces, share resources, and build a community that is youth friendly.

NEW ACTIVITIES

• LIFE force ( Suicide Prevention Task Force) - will sponsor a four week grief recovery support group for people who have been touched by suicide. LaVonne Jewell will facilitate. Groups will meet March 1.8,15,22  from 11am-1pm at the Health Council office –Wellness education room!- Contact Shirley Hanna at Ben Archer School Age Clinic for more info - 894-8053.  
  

PRODUCTS UPDATE

• The Community Health Profile- has been edited and updated – Jan. 2010
• The Community Health Plan—has been updated with a formal Addendum – Adding Health Literacy as the third “priority” for the Health Council to address.- Dec. 2009
• Health Council Newsletter- will be produced again. Production team so far: Wendy, Reilly, Claire and hopefully with technical support from Kathleen Smith and Jane Greene
• Website - www.sierrahealthcouncil.com – growing and expanding. Now has a good calendar, grant sites, workshops and training site and more. Check it regularly, new postings every week.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Head Start will be expanding- to include infants – 24months.  – Six positions are opening. Openhouse forum this Saturday- Jan. 6th, at Head Start 11am
• Peer Specialist Training- Feb. 22-25th. Applications must be in by Feb. 12th. For more information call Marsha Hawthorne- 575-418-1701, info available at the NM BehavioralHealth collaborative website.- also listed on the health council website.
• Head to Toe Conference – coming up  - “google” to find it
• NMGirls Conference- coming up in March. 2 or 3 TOP teens plan to go!

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ANNUAL MEETING

MARCH 10, 2010

5 - 7:30 PM  St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
(Welcome and snacks 5-5:30)

Potluck.

(This meeting will replace the March 3rd meeting)