WashtenawCountyHealth Improvement Plan
E-Newsletter: Winter, 2006

Congratulations New Community Health Committee Chair and Vice-Chair!

Measie James, program manager at Headstart, and Jeanne Thomas, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at EMU, were elected Chair and Vice-Chair of the CHC at the January 10 meeting.  [more]

Growing Hope Announces 2006 Community Garden Development Institute and Garden Assistance Grants

Thinking of growing together?  The Community Garden Development Institute is a series of practical and hands on sessions for  groups interested in starting and maintaining organic gardens in community settings. [more]

Walking Map Becomes Community Meeting Spot

Next time you’re in Chelsea, look for the new wall map mounted to the side of Chelsea Market on Main Street. The map is an enlarged replica of the walking maps created by the Healthy Communities Coalition with Washtenaw Steps Up funding.  [more]

Biking Gets a Boost in Ypsilanti

On December 6, the Ypsilanti City Council gave the Ypsilanti Health Coalition unanimous approval to install a series of bike racks along the Michigan Avenue business district.  Four of the inverted “U” style racks have been installed in front of businesses and two placed at City Hall, for a total of 12 bike parking spaces.  

The racks are the first wave of bike parking to be installed in key locations throughout the city to support biking in the community.  The bike rack project is one of the Ypsilanti Health Coalition’s initiatives in the “Washtenaw Steps Up” project.  [more]

Free Adult Abuse and Neglect Prevention Training for Long-Term Care Staff in Southeast Michigan

Beginning in April 2006, a free Adult Abuse & Neglect Prevention (AANP) training program will be offered to all medical and non-medical staff in Southeast Michigan who work with adults in long-term care settings. (more)

Washtenaw County Public Health has released a new “Cancer Profile of Washtenaw County,” which includes statistical information on lung, prostate, breast, colorectal, and bladder cancers.  The report is available on the WCPH website: http://publichealth.ewashtenaw.org.

Community Resources

• All Children Exercising Simultaneously (ACES) – Schools can sign up now to participate in this annual event which will be held May 3, 2006. Those who register early can get free materials and idea kits. Visitwww.michiganfitness.org or call 1-800-434-8642.

• www.communitygrants.org  The new Community Grants Online Application system allows Washtenaw County area nonprofit organizations to submit online applications to several local funders.  The NEW Center (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work) offers training on how to use the new system, for a list of upcoming trainings visit www.new.org or www.communitygrants.org.
  

• Safe Routes to School – training March 15, 9:00 – 3:00, in Jackson, MI.  If you'd like to begin a Safe Routes to School program at your school, attending a training session is the best place to get started. Click here for more information: www.saferoutesmichigan.org
  
  
• Michigan Action for Healthy Kids Toolkit -  Your Guide To Action!  Step by step information and resources necessary for the development and implementation of a local wellness policy.  Regional meetings on how to use the new toolkit are being scheduled, visit www.tn.fcs.msue.msu.edu/MAFHK.html

HIP Committee Updates

• HIT Team: The next HIT team will meet on February 22, 8:00-10:00 AM at Zingerman’s Next Door.

Welcome Lily Guzmán!

Washtenaw County Public Health welcomes Lily Guzmán, recent graduate of the UM SSW/SPH program, as a new health educator in the Health Promotion/Disease Prevention division. Lily was an intern for the Washtenaw Steps Up program last summer, and will be providing support to the Healthy Communities coalition in Chelsea/Manchester/Dexter coalition and the Ypsilanti Health Coalition. 

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Let us know here: bacolorj@ewashtenaw.org.