Friday I met with Andrea Waner, the PIO for the Columbia/Boone County Health Department. We spoke for about 45 minutes about the work the health department is doing and discussed potential story ideas. The health department has many projects that aren't actually listed on the website, which was interesting - I can't just rely on the website for information. Andrea just started working as the PIO and in the process of updating their website.
Some potential story ideas:
FIT WIC Program: a health educator provides healthy cooking lessons, activities for kids, time in the community garden. The program aims to help mothers learn how to prepare healthy food from the store. (Feature on one of the mothers?)
STD Clinic - 5-7pm Tuesday, but family planning/preventative services are offered everyday. (Calendar event?)
Free spay/neuter for dogs/cats of low-income residents (Brief?)
Follow-up on the vaccination grant launched in 2011 that provides children 6 months - 18 years free flu vaccines. Need to cite this, but Andrea mentioned that children 5-14 year old are most affected by the flu.
Out Proud and Healthy - health program that encourages lesbian and bisexual women over 40 to be out, proud and health conscious. (Feature on one of the women participating?)
Follow-up on the smoking cessation program launched in 2012. Nurses run counseling sessions and classes are Thursday noon to 4 p.m. What are some of the results from the program we could report? (Feature on someone who has successfully quit smoking?)
Hot Topic - a safe sex program at the Activities Recreation Center for teens 14 - 17 years old. They educate teens in safe sex, the connection between sex, drugs and alcohol, focus on relationships and communication.
Rural vaccines at schools and community centers occur every so often. Consult Andrea for upcoming dates.
The health department cut the rural health program about five years ago because of low turnout. That was interesting to me. What has that meant for rural health in Boone County? People must travel for care.
Some potential story ideas:
FIT WIC Program: a health educator provides healthy cooking lessons, activities for kids, time in the community garden. The program aims to help mothers learn how to prepare healthy food from the store. (Feature on one of the mothers?)
STD Clinic - 5-7pm Tuesday, but family planning/preventative services are offered everyday. (Calendar event?)
Free spay/neuter for dogs/cats of low-income residents (Brief?)
Follow-up on the vaccination grant launched in 2011 that provides children 6 months - 18 years free flu vaccines. Need to cite this, but Andrea mentioned that children 5-14 year old are most affected by the flu.
Out Proud and Healthy - health program that encourages lesbian and bisexual women over 40 to be out, proud and health conscious. (Feature on one of the women participating?)
Follow-up on the smoking cessation program launched in 2012. Nurses run counseling sessions and classes are Thursday noon to 4 p.m. What are some of the results from the program we could report? (Feature on someone who has successfully quit smoking?)
Hot Topic - a safe sex program at the Activities Recreation Center for teens 14 - 17 years old. They educate teens in safe sex, the connection between sex, drugs and alcohol, focus on relationships and communication.
Rural vaccines at schools and community centers occur every so often. Consult Andrea for upcoming dates.
The health department cut the rural health program about five years ago because of low turnout. That was interesting to me. What has that meant for rural health in Boone County? People must travel for care.
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