Americans are now experiencing record lows for measles, hepatitis B, diphtheria, mumps, and many other preventable childhood diseases through vaccines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dutifully following the list of vaccinations recommended by the CDC not only protects your children from serious illness, it also protects the other children and adults around them. Beginning at birth with a Hepatitis B vaccination, a schedule of shots is advised that continues regularly until the child is six years old, some requiring boosters after that.

How Vaccines Work
The only natural way to build up immunity to disease is to actually contract the illness and allow the immune system to create the antibodies. Unfortunately, for many diseases this could lead to serious consequences or fatality. Vaccines are a safe method of creating an immunity during childhood, without risking a full blown illness. The child is minimally exposed to the disease – enough for his immune system to learn how to fight back, but not enough to actually create the sickness inside him. Some vaccines may have minor short-term side effects such as muscle soreness or a slight fever.

Vaccines often work best at a certain age, so following the recommendations of the CDC and your doctor is crucial. If your child has fallen behind, it's not too late. Talk to your doctor about the most effective way to catch up.

Preventable Diseases
The CDC lists the following childhood diseases that have an effective vaccine for prevention:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Diphtheria
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Influenza
• Polio
• Meningococcal
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Pneumococcal disease
• Rotavirus
• Tetanus
• Chicken pox (varicella)

You may not see many of these illnesses anymore, thanks to childhood vaccinations. It may seem tempting to skip these recommended shots, assuming that exposure won't be common, but these viruses and conditions still spread among the unvaccinated, especially when leaving the country or even enjoying the company of international travelers. If childhood vaccination numbers decrease, instances of these diseases will increase in America.

The Hillsborough County Health Department provides vaccinations for both children and adults at a variety of medical facilities. Find a location that's close to you.

Related Posts:
Making Breastfeeding the Norm
Vitamin D Deficiencies in Minority Children

Envisioning health equity in Hillsborough County: where we are, where we need to be and how we’re going to get there.

Schools supplies and a new backpack aren’t the only things children need to get back to school. Hillsborough County schools require students to have up-to-date immunizations and a routine health physical within one year of entrance. There are several locations in Hillsborough County that provide free back-to-school physicals and immunizations. The last two free events are this week:

SouthShore Community Resource Center
201 14^th Avenue SE, Ruskin, FL 33570
Saturday, August 20, 2011
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Appointment required; call (813) 443-3048 for more information

Webb Middle School
6035 Hanley Rd., Tampa, FL 33634
Saturday, August 20, 2011
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Walk-ins only; call (813) 443-3048 for more information

A parent or guardian must accompany child at all times, and a valid immunization record is required for free immunizations. Physicals for sports, Head Start or childcare will not be provided. Any school-aged K-12 child is eligible to participate. Hillsborough County will also be providing free backpacks with school supplies at these back-to-school events.

Sources:
Back to School Physicals (SDHC)
Hillsborough County Hosting Back-to-School Fair (Bay News 9)

Related Posts:
Access to Healthcare and Immunizations
The Importance of Early Screenings and Medical Checkups

It’s not a secret; the education system in Florida needs help. Far too often, children who live in poor neighborhoods drop out of school or do not meet the graduation requirements because the education system has failed them. Whether it is a lack of empowerment, lack of resources or the fact that our curriculum is built to teach to tests and not to instill critical thinking skills — our youth is suffering.

Sometimes learning has to extend beyond the classroom. As a busy parent, or one who did not excel in algebra or calculus, you may find it difficult to give your child the help they need to understand and excel. There are options! Turn to a Hillsborough County tutoring program for help.

Tutor-a-Bull

Tutor-a-Bull is a program designed to help students in need in Hillsborough County and Education Majors of the University of South Florida. The program provides one-on-one tutoring sessions for middle- and high-school students. The partnership provides both education training for soon-to-be teachers and tutoring for children who need it.

Hillsborough Reads

This program is dedicating to helping struggling readers in Kindergarten through 3^rd grade. The program provides one-on-one tutoring to 14 different Title I schools in Hillsborough County for children who qualify.

A Plus Tutor U

This is an after-school tutoring program that provides tutoring for children who attend a school that has been designated “In Need of Improvement”. This particular program has a full and personalized instruction plan for your child that includes a completion ceremony.

Hillsborough Literacy Organization

There is also a free adult literacy tutoring program offered by the Hillsborough Literacy Council that needs special mention. Did you know that 15% of Hillsborough County citizens are functioning at the lowest levels of literacy? How can they be expected to be an asset to their children’s education, if they cannot read? This organization offer tutoring to both speakers and non-speakers of English. If you know a parent who needs help with literacy or learning English, check out their website.

The future of America lies in our youth. Education should be accessible to everyone. Don’t be afraid to open up the lines of communication with teachers and principals – they are there to help. Together we can help our children achieve.

Sources:

Tutor-a-Bull (University of South Florida)

Hillsborough Reads (Education Foundation)

A Plus Tutor U

Learn to Read (Hillsborough Literacy Council)

Related Posts:

Objectives of the Hillsborough County Health Department’s Office of Health Equity

Overview of Tampa Communities in Need

The Importance of Early Screening and Medical Check-ups

Sometimes you have to be the change that you want to see. As a citizen, a neighbor, a parent, a resident, and a community member the more you reach out into your community and get involved, the better and safer your neighborhood will become. What is a great way to be involved? A neighborhood watch program.

Isn’t This What We Have Police Officers For?

Police officers can’t be everywhere. The more eyes and ears they have and the more communication that goes on among neighborhood residents, the better. That is why neighborhood watch programs are so successful: because there are at least concerned citizens in the neighborhood who care – who want to take a stand to keep their streets safe and alert the residents of any danger.

Where Do I Begin?

First, you need to organize a group of residents in your neighborhood and establish some goals and concerns about the criminal activity that may be going on. Only know a few neighbors? Try connecting with local associations like churches, synagogues, youth and senior groups, and civic organizations.

Next, schedule a meeting with your local law enforcement agency – if you want to have an effective neighborhood watch group, a good relationship and open communication lines are important with local law enforcement.

Once you do that, you can come up with plan of action to address the concerns of the neighborhood – focus first on the top three. USA on Watch has a great website with a publication library that will be useful for your group. Check out what they have to offer and work your plan around what you find. You can also register for their newsletter, which will keep you in the loop about other organizations.

Finally, register your group officially!

What Are Our Next Steps?

The following things are common in a neighborhood watch:

· Plan and attend meetings.

· Set up a phone tree with all members.

· Report suspicious and criminal activity.

· Look after residents when neighbors are away.

· Recruit new members.

· Work toward specific goals agreed upon by the group.

· Establish a media relationship.

· Set up a community patrol (citizens drive or walk through the neighborhood for monitoring)

You’re probably wondering, does all of this actually work? The answer is yes, it does. Research by the U.S. Department of Justice conducted a study of 18 different neighborhood watch programs and found that crime in these neighborhoods went down by 16%. It takes an engaged neighborhood – one that communicates and looks out for each other. So what are you waiting for? Join or begin a neighborhood watch today!

Sources:

Register Your Watch Group in Five Easy Steps (USA on Watch)

Mobilizing a Community with a Neighborhood Watch Program (National Service Resources)

Does a Neighborhood Watch Reduce Crime? (C.O.P.S)

Related Posts:

Neighborhood Benefits of Community Gardens

Facing Food Desserts in Hillsborough County

Overview of Tampa Communities in Need

Sometimes in order to improve, you must take a glimpse at other successes around you. The Boston REACH Coalition is in its tenth year of existence and going strong and we would like to highlight some of the efforts they have made towards eliminating health disparities in their community.

The coalition’s roster includes members of the Boston community, community groups, health care providers, business and faith leaders, and academic partners. Their coalition has recently gained more funding and will expand its scope of work to include the Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities (CEED).

The coalition currently addresses, raises awareness for and educates on the following issues:

• Health issues in the black community
• Health disparities among all racial and ethnic groups in the community
• Cardiovascular disease
• Public health issues among both men and women
• Adolescent wellness
• Public policy
• Community Advocacy
• Environmental Health

They hold various different in-depth and successful public policy training sessions. In fact, 50 of the coalition members have successfully organized and led a community campaign to support funding for breast and cervical cancer programs across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The greatest strength of the Boston Coalition is its public awareness campaigns. Currently, they promote a series of documentaries called "Unnatural Causes: Is inequality making us sick?" This series seeks to examine the root causes of health inequalities and presents a call to action for its viewers to get out and spread awareness. It is used as a tool to motivate and educate a number of different audiences.

The tool kits include materials and presentations that are tailored to reach a variety of specific groups with the goal of educating and enhancing conversations. They are designed to help recipients understand the factors involved in health disparities that make some communities healthier than others. There is a tool kit for:

• Community residents
• Policy makers
• Health care institutions
• Educational institutions
• Neighborhood organizations
• Youth

The coalition has also been successful in their community interventions, especially their Women’s Health Demonstration Project, which has reached more than 3,500 women in Boston. This project was designed to provide women with resources and information through four different area health centers. The coalition was able to enroll more than 900 women.

They also held workshops called “Our Women’s Health Ambassadors,” which reached thousands of women in hundreds of workshops between 2000 and 2007.

Does this inspire you to go out and help in the communities of Hillsborough County? We hope so! For more information on the Health Equity Coalition of Hillsborough, check out our website!

Sources:

Office Health and Human Services, Massachusetts

Boston REACH Coalition

Related Posts:

A Great Success

Objectives of the Hillsborough County Health Department’s Office of Health Equity

Overview of Tampa Communities in Need

When we started the Office of Health Equity in Hillsborough County, we set out to accomplish six main goals within our communities:

1. Promote physical activity and nutrition

2. Build capacity for communities to be able to institute environmental, organizational and policy changes related to these health risk factors

3. Foster improved and increased access to quality care

4. Help eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities

5. Reduce incidence of and complications from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity

6. Reduce tobacco use and exposure

Here’s how community gardens help to serve our neighborhoods in some of these ways:

Promote Physical Activity and Nutrition

Setting up a community garden is not just the job of one community member — it is the job of all community members. Each household or person has an individual plot to tend, and in some cases there is a community plot set aside for everyone to work on. This promotes physical activity because it forces residents to get out of their houses and do physical work to keep up with their own plot.

The beauty of it is the end result is fresh vegetables that members can take home and serve their families! For many families, that means better access to nutritious foods.

Build capacity for communities to be able to institute environmental, organizational and policy changes related to these health risk factors

Starting a community garden is inherently social. Families are not growing vegetables in their own yards – they are doing it on the community plot. Not only does this help engage citizens in being active members of their neighborhoods, but it gets people out of their houses and socializing. The stronger the bonds neighborhood residents build, the less crime you will see because they will look out for each other.

This also builds a system of sustainability within the neighborhood – a way to educate about good nutrition and start up a variety of different learning workshops — it provides a catalyst for further community development and programs by getting people talking.

Help eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities

Creating a space for neighborhood residents to work and communicate does more than beautify the neighborhood; it helps to eliminate one of the reasons for disparities among racial and ethnic groups. Many racial and ethnic disparities occur due to the lack of resources and access to fresh food.

Community gardens provide free, self-grown food in a community environment that will allow its residents to have access to fresh foods, help conserve resources, and provide a green space. Many community gardens in the area are used as an arena for health workshops and further education as it is an easy way to gather and engage a specific community.

Reduce incidence of and complications from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity

Ultimately, everything already discussed will lead to a decrease in incidence of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes by providing the following:

· Access to free, locally grown and nutritious fresh foods

· A space for both physical and recreational activities

Here are some other great benefits that community gardens provide:

· Preserves green space within the neighborhood

· Creates possible income opportunities as residents learn a skill: gardening

· Provides opportunities for cross-cultural and intergenerational connections

· Raises nearby property values

Sources:

Health Equity Coalition of Hillsborough County

American Community Garden Association

Gardeners in Community Development

Related Posts:

Community Gardens in Hillsborough County

Overview of Tampa Communities in Need

About Us

Promote the local economy, increase your nutrition, eat fresh vegetables and maximize your taste buds at dinner time. These are just some of the reasons you should get your vegetables from local sources. Vegetables sourced locally reduce the carbon footprint, are more nutritious, and they just taste better! The problem most people have is that they either assume their local grocer stocks local vegetables, or they just don’t know where to get them.

You would think that the Publix or Sweetbay around the corner was buying produce from local farmers – I mean, it makes sense right?

Yes it makes sense, but that doesn’t mean that’s what they are doing.

Did you know?

· From field to fork, an average dinner travels 1,500 miles.

· Buying direct from local farmers supports the local economy.

· Locally grown fruits and vegetables are usually sold within 24 hours of being harvested.

· Produce picked and eaten at the height of ripeness has exceptional flavor and, when handled properly, is packed with nutrients.

· Traveling tomatoes are picked green and then gassed with ethylene prior to shipping.

The best way to get local vegetables is to invest in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), or join a community garden. A CSA is a local farm that grows and harvests vegetables for the surrounding community. Its members pay a yearly fee and commit a predetermined amount of time to helping farm the land. In return, they receive a weekly share of the crop.

A community garden is a little different. In a community garden, a neighborhood or small group of people find a plot of land and commit to farming it as a community. Each family has a private plot, and additionally there is a community plot. The community garden is entirely run and cared for by each member in the group and the harvest is split up into shares.

As for community gardens, several neighborhoods have established gardens in Hillsborough County.

The Seminole Heights Community Garden

This community garden was started by resident Robin Milcowitz in Seminole Heights. Each member pays a monthly fee for an individual plot. There is also a community part of the garden that people commit their time to keeping. There are rows of rain barrels to collect water for the plants. There is also a community compost pile, so all of the plants are cared for without insecticides or chemical fertilizer.

Progress Village Community Garden

This community garden is located in East Hillsborough – in a neighborhood called Progress Village. The garden has been operating for over 10 years now and helps to feed over a thousand people a year. The Progress Village Civic Association aims to expand the garden to include a building for education.

The Eden Project

A community Garden started in the Ybor City area, the Eden Project is headed by Natalia Denglar Blair.

The East Tampa Community Garden

Across the street from Middleton High School, East Tampa residents started this community garden last year. Their goals: to promote community, spark friendships, educate children, and provide free produce to the residents.

The Moses House

This is a non-profit organization that works within the Sulphur Springs area and in partnership with the USF Urban Anthropology department to help raise awareness of nutrition, promote education and help the residents of this community get by. They have just received funding for their community garden project and will begin planting soon.

Wimauma Intergenerational Community Garden Project

This community garden was started adjacent to the Wimauma Senior Center in 2008. The project was started to benefit both the elderly and youthful citizens of the area. Its goal: to provide education, beautification, and of course vegetables!

If you know of a community garden started in Hillsborough County we have not talked about, feel free to leave a comment. To find out more about communities within Hillsborough County, and the efforts that are being done to eliminate health disparities and promote nutrition, education and physical activity, visit our website by clicking here: Health Equity Coalition.

Sources:

Hillsborough County

Eat Local

St. Pete Times

The Moses House

Related Posts:

Overview of Tampa Communities in Need

Objectives of the Hillsborough County Health Departments Office of Health Equity

Eating Out and Staying Healthy

We’ve all used one before. Sometimes you’re short on time but hungry. Maybe you are visiting a friend at the hospital or can’t get out of the office for lunch. Regardless of your situation, you have likely made a food purchase out of a vending machine. What did you get? Was it a candy bar, a bottle of soda, both? The fact is, those types of choices are what the average vending machine has to offer: high-calorie, low-nutrition snacks that tide us over for a short period of time but don’t provide our bodies with anything of value. While this snack gives you as many calories (and far more fat and carbohydrates) as a meal, you won’t be full.

We want to start a conversation about healthy vending machines. We aren’t saying that candy bars should be illegal; we are saying that people should be able to choose something healthy when they need a snack from a vending machine. We think that vending machines are great. They are a convenient, reasonably priced (generally) means of getting something to eat. There is no reason that they should not be stocked with healthy options. Healthy vending machines would give people access to snacks that not only stave off hunger for a bit, but also provide nutrients.

Recently the Senate voted on a bill that would affect the health content of food provided for students in public schools. We are happy to say that the bill includes a section that pertains to vending machines. Soon, by law, public school vending machines will be required to provide some healthier options. We think that this legislation is very forward thinking. There is already a middle school in Pasco County that has done this on its own. They have replaced some of the unhealthy snacks in their vending machines with healthy ones. Guess what? The kids actually like the new choices. We don’t see any reason why this trend should not take hold in Hillsborough County. Healthy vending options would just be one more way to give our kids better quality food and promote healthy eating in general. We suggest that you bring this up at the next PTA meeting you go to.

Why not take it past schools and find out who supplies your office vending machine and tell them, too? If that doesn’t work, try the money angle. The bottom line is, if people buy the healthy options out of the vending machines and leave the candy bars and doughnuts, the distributers will make changes. They will start providing more healthy options and less processed sugar. Don’t believe us? Try it!

Healthy snacks can also be tasty snacks. Think about options like these for your next vending machine purchase.

• Unsalted nuts
• Fresh veggies(yes this is a viable option from a vending machine)
• Low fat granola bars
• Pretzels
• Reduced fat popcorn
• Fruit wraps
• Pretzels
• Baked potato and whole grain chips

SOURCES
Hillsborough County Office Of Health Equity
Fitness Magazine.com
St. Petersburg Times
Parent Dish.com