GED classes now offered at the Health Department's TEEN Center in Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Mobile County Health Department's Teen Center has become a preparation site for those who want to take the GED, a high school equivalency exam given to those who did not complete 12th grade. The MCHD has partnered with Bishop State Community College to offer classes to clients of the agency and anyone else in the community who wants to be better prepared for the GED.

Felecia Allen, who is the Teen's Center's director, said the classes have already begun, and are offered twice a week in a group setting in the auditorium of the Newburn Building on Cox Street in Mobile. Classes are from 9 a.m. until noon on Mondays and from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, she said.

The Teen Center serves clients between the ages of 10 and 19, many of whom are pregnant or are new mothers. Many of them have dropped out of high school because of the challenges facing young mothers with little family support. "Taking the GED will help them become more self-sufficient," Allen said. "In the long run, it will help them be better prepared to take care of themselves and their families."

The push to get more high school drop outs to take the GED now instead of later has become an issue because plans have been announced to make the test more expensive beginning in January 2014, with the price rising from about $50 to $150 to take the test. The GED also will change with the new year and become more of a college entrance exam, according to those familiar with the new test. 

On January 2, 2014, GED Testing Service will unveil a new assessment  that ensures the GED testing program is no longer an endpoint for adults, but a springboard for more education, training, and better-paying jobs, according to officials with the testing service.

The new assessment will continue to provide adults the opportunity to earn a high school credential, but it goes further by measuring career- and college-readiness skills. Four content areas—literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies—will measure a foundational core of knowledge and skills that are essential for career and college readiness.

According to the GED testing company, evidence suggests that test-takers who demonstrate fluency with the skills measured in the new assessment will be better prepared for the future. The company called it a stepping-stone toward a college classroom or a better career and a family sustaining wage.

"We are trying to get as many clients as we can to take it now," Allen said. If someone is already attending at another site and wants to change to the TEEN Center they need to bring their GED assessment scores with them and contact the TEEN Center to ensure a spot in the program, she said.

Those who are not already part of a GED study program can visit the Bishop State Carver Campus on Mondays and Thursday at 6:30 a.m. to sign up. A 9 a.m. sign up is also available at the Clinton Johnson Community Center on Fridays, Allen said. For more information about the Teen Center program, call Allen at 251-694-5039.

  

Who was at Babypalooza on Saturday? Your Health Department staff, that's who

WIC staff member Stacy Parrish waits to speak with those

taking part  in Babypalooza on Saturday, June 15, at Government Plaza

in downtown Mobile. 

Mobile, Alabama -- Hundreds of expectant mothers, new parents and grandparents crowded Government Plaza in downtown Mobile on Saturday for Babypalooza, a baby expo held to showcase services and products available for families and caregivers of young children.

The Mobile County Health Department participated in the community outreach initiaitve, with representatives from its WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition education program, as well as Aura Wellness Center, manning tables at the day-long event. Other vendors included Springhill Medical Center, the county Head Start program, local preschools, area law enforcement agencies and other businesses.

Elizabeth W. Smith, who oversees the WIC program in Mobile, said she is always looking for creative ways to spread awareness about the nutrition initiative among postpartum and breastfeeding women and the parents and caretakers of young children up to age 5. The goal of WIC is to educate the community of the vital need to balance food intake and daily physical activity, as well as promote increasing the healthy consumption of fruits and vegetables, and to increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding.

Elizabeth Williams, Aura's administrator, said she passed out more than 150 gift bags that included a promotional card, to those who stopped by the table to find out more about the wellness center. She talked with expo participants about the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle no matter what stage of life, which includes keeping up with annual wellness screenings.

Aura administrator Elizabeth Williams talks with visitors during Babypalooza.

"Everyone was very positive and very excited," Williams said of those she spoke with about the Health Department's newest program. "Thye loved the wellness concept."

While Aura began in late 2012 as an incentivized wellness program only for patients of the Mobile County Health Department, Williams said, it quickly has transformed into a resource for the entire community and is open to all. Now, Aura offers laser hair reduction treatments and other collagen stimulating services that have been shown to improve skin laxity resulting in smoother skin.

Other programs coming soon to Aura inlcude customized facial treatments and chemical peels as well as clinical weightloss and nutrition programs, Williams said. To find out more about all of these programs, and many others offered by the Mobile County Health Department, visit www.mobilecountyhealth.org Or check us out on facebook and Twitter.

An Aura gift bag handed out at the event.

Free HIV rapid tests offered June 27-29 at Walgreens Loop location in Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama -- Free, rapid HIV testing will be available at the Walgreens at the Loop, 2050 Government St., in Mobile on June 27 and June 28 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., and June 29, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., in support of National HIV Testing Day, health officials said.

The tests will be confidential and provided at no cost. The Mobile County Health Department, along with other groups, have partnered with the Walgreens pharmacy chain and a coalition of public and private sector groups known as Greater Than AIDS to provide the free testing. Other similar events are being held throughout the state during the same time period.

Locally, the Mobile County Health Department, AIDS Alabama South and Franklin Primary Health Center are partnering with the local drug store for the testing initiative in response to the domestic epidemic. In Mobile, there are an estimated 2,876 people living with HIV/AIDS, health records indicate.

“Statistics show that as many as 20 percent of those who have HIV/AIDS are not aware that they have it. That’s about a quarter of a million people who don’t know,” said Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department. “We encourage residents to get tested for HIV and know their status.”

State and local health departments and AIDS service organizations are coordinating testing and providing on-site results at participating Walgreens locations, as well as supporting outreach. Research indicates that about a third of those who are infected with HIV/AIDS are diagnosed so late in the course of the illness that they develop AIDS within one year. Early diagnosis and treatment saves lives and is known to reduce the spread of HIV, Eichold said.



Health officials: Make appointments for blue cards and needed immunizations now

Courtesy/National Institutes of Health

MOBILE, Ala. – Appointments are now being accepted at the Mobile County Health Department’s Immunization Clinic in downtown Mobile for children who need vaccines to update their Certificate of Immunization, also called a blue card, for the upcoming 2013-14 school year. Appointments also are accepted at the agency’s other clinics located throughout the county.

"Now is the perfect time for people to come because there won't be a huge line or long wait," said Monica Z. Knight, Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at the Mobile County Health Department. "When you come, please be patient and prepared."

Previously, clients were seen on a first-come first-served basis at the immunization clinic at 251 N. Bayou St. In the days leading up to the start of school, crowds of up to 100 people or more have been common as parents and caregivers seek to make sure students have the paperwork needed to attend public schools and day care centers across Mobile.

Now, when you schedule an appointment to update vaccines, you won’t have to go to the back of the line, and will instead be seen at the appointed time, health officials said. Appointments for the immunization clinic may be made by calling 251-690-8908. Because of high volumes, among other factors, it typically takes 48 hours to process and create a new Immunization Certificate.  

Children in Alabama who will attend day cares, Head Start programs, or public or private schools must have an Immunization Certificate showing that immunizations are up-to-date, health officials said. Aug. 19 is the first day of classes for public school students in Mobile County.

New immunization certificates are issued when appropriate immunizations are received. Students who are not changing schools this year, and don't have an expired blue card, should already have their Immunization Certificates on file at the school. If your child sees a private physician or other provider, their blue card can be obtained from the medical clinic where you see that doctor, health officials said. 

Useful tips

Here's what to bring when coming in for school immunizations and Immunization Certificate:

Parent’s photo ID; Child’s Social Security number; Child’s immunization record; Insurance card.

Immunizations are available on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mobile County Health Department's Immunization Clinic. All required and recommended vaccinations are free or low-cost based on eligibility. 

If a child’s immunizations are up-to-date and only the child’s Immunization Certificate is needed, the parent may drop off the child’s immunization history at the MCHD’s Immunization Clinic in downtown Mobile at 251 N. Bayou St., and the certificate will typically be available for pick-up 48 hours later.

Mobile County Health Department begins seasonal mosquito control efforts

Image courtesy CDC

MOBILE, Ala. – The Mobile County Health Department’s Vector Control Division has begun its seasonal mosquito control program, according to Jerry Folse, who oversees the initiative.

A fleet of trucks will conduct the spraying procedure primarily in early evening hours, typically from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., unless otherwise warranted, Folse said. Mosquito activity peaks at dusk and dawn.

The vehicles used for spray operations dispense low volumes of insecticides through variable flow technology at vehicle speeds up to 20 mph. The insecticides are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in mosquito control. Health officials ask that people not approach spray trucks while they are operating.

Those engaged in beekeeping activities and those who are allergic to insecticides used for mosquito control, and have not been recently contacted by the Mobile County Health Department, should notify the agency's Vector Control Division at 251-690-8124.

Vector Control workers drive as many as 50 unique routes across the county, Folse said, noting that later this summer, a department-owned airplane will be used to cover sites not accessible by trucks, primarily in coastal areas. Mobile County includes some 1,200 square miles.

The risk of mosquito-borne viruses is highest from August through the fall, according to Dr. Bernard Eichold II, health officer for the Mobile County Health Department.

Mosquitoes can spread diseases, including West Nile virus, by feeding on the blood of infected birds, then biting another host, such as a human.

Tips for keeping mosquitoes away

·       Eliminate breeding sites by emptying all water from old tires, cans, jars, buckets, drums, plastic wading pools, boats, tarps, toys and other containers.

·       Because mosquitoes are more active at dusk and dawn, limit outdoor activities at those times.

·       Use a good repellent on exposed areas. Some of the most reliable repellants contain the chemical DEET.

·       Repellents containing DEET in concentrations up to 30 percent can be used on children as young as 2 months.

·       Wearing long sleeves and long pants used with a mosquito repellent help to limit bites.



Mobile County Health Officer: New bridge needs a lane for bikes and pedestrians

MOBILE, Alabama -- A longtime champion for healthy communities, the Mobile County Health Department’s Dr. Bernard Eichold is gaining media attention this week for a letter he sent to Victor Mendez, head of the Federal Highway Administration, asking that a proposed bridge spanning the Mobile River include a plan for pedestrians and cyclists.

The same day the letter was published on al.com, the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee voted (Wednesday, June 5) to recommend to the Department of Transportation that bicycle and pedestrian facilities be included on the future Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge, according to Tom Piper, Senior Transportation Planner with the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.

If that plan is deemed unfeasible, according to Piper, the MPO asked that mitigation alternatives to crossing the river be included in the Environmental Impact Statement.

The June 5 resolution, along with comments, letters, and a petition the MPO  received, will be formally submitted to ALDOT during the upcoming comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Piper said in an email sent to community members.

A petition also is being circulated asking for the inclusion of a bicycle and pedestrian path along the proposed I-10 bridge to be constructed over the Mobile River. More than 1,800 electronic signatures had been collected by Wednesday afternoon.

Another opinion piece published last week pointed out that bridges in other states have been well received and successful in drawing tourists in their respective communities. For example, the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston features a walking/biking path that is 2.7 miles long. Since opening in 2005, hundreds of thousands of cyclists and pedestrians have visited. The city of Charleston now holds a popular Cooper River Bridge Festival and Run that also brings in visitors from across the U.S.

The recently rebuilt Woodrow Wilson Bridge between Maryland and Washington, D.C., lies on the I-95/I-495 corridor. Since 2009, the 1.1-mile long bridge trail across the Potomac River has been shared by cyclists and pedestrians.

Eichold also sent a copy of the May 29 Mendezletter to President Barrack Obama. To read the letter in its entirety, which was published on al.com June 5, click here: http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/06/county_health_officer_bert_eic.html#incart_river

Disney Institute staff shared culture strategies with Mobile County Health Department

Kelly Warren holds up some of the props brought in by members of the Disney

Institute who were in town to talk corporate strategy with members of the Mobile

County Health Department this week.  

Team Disney was in the house this week -- sort of. Representatives from the Disney Institute visited the Mobile County Health Department on Tuesday, June 4, to present ideas on how to take the agency from good to great when it comes to everything from corporate culture to customer service. During a two hour discussion, MCHD staff members -- who have been heavily involved in strategic planning -- talked about internal and external challenges and asked questions about how the Disney Institute team could help bring about meaningful changes on North Bayou Street and beyond.

Without giving away the keys to the kingdom, the Disney team outlined some of the strategies they have successfully used with other private and public organizations seeking to be more successful. They also talked about what works for the Walt Disney Company, a publicly traded entity with more than 80 years in the entertainment business and some 65,000 employees worldwide.

“It’s common sense, it’s just not common practice,” said the Disney Institute’s Angie Deluca.

Deluca and her associate, Patrick Jordan, offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how they make the magic happen at theme parks and resorts 365 days a year. It’s not really magic at all, said Jordan. It’s about working hard, paying attention to every detail, exceeding expectations and embracing a culture that gives employees permission to do their jobs.

Jerry Folse, Paul Betros, Joel Tate, Peggy Howat and Stephanie Crawford

wait for the Disney Institute presentation to begin on June 4, 2013 in Mobile.

Here’s a good example, he said. When he went to work for Disney in Orlando a few years ago, he wondered how they managed to keep the streets and parks so sparkling clean. They don’t use pixie dust to keep Main Street U.S.A. pristine. They power wash it every single night. Every Disney employee, from the CEO to the street sweepers, is expected to wear a name tag, dress modestly and pick up trash whenever they encounter it.

“It’s not for the faint of heart,” said Jordan of changing a company’s culture. “It calls for some fearlessness.”     

The leadership difference at Disney, Jordan said lies in transferring much of the decision-making authority to those who are closest to the issues, including front-line workers. “Everyone gets a seat at the table because everyone has a story to share,” he said during the Monday presentation.

For the last 25 years, thousands of professionals from more than 35 countries and 40 industries have collaborated with the Disney Institute, learning how to adapt Disney’s best practices within their own organizations, according to information provided by the Disney Institute.

Mobile County Health Department leaders will see presentations from three more local and regional groups in coming weeks as they determine how to move forward with creating and sustaining dynamic customer service and corporate culture practices.