August Health Observances 

Medical Alert Awareness Month

Medical Alert Awareness Month promotes persons with any medical problem or condition that is not easily seen or recognized to wear a medical identification bracelet, tag, necklace or on clothing.  The identification mechanism provides important medical information to emergency responders, physicians and law enforcement in the event an individual is unable to communicate.  Typical conditions include diabetes, anaphylactic allergies (food, drug, insect), adrenal insufficiency, pacemaker or other medical device, blood thinners, heart disease, and epilepsy.

Tragic and even fatal mistakes can be made in emergency medical treatment unless special medical problems are know, a shot of penicillin could end the life of one who is allergic to it.  Whenever you can not speak for yourself, due to unconsciousness, shock, delirum, hysteria, loss of speech, etc the Medic Alert emblem speaks for you.  To learn more visit www.medicalert.com

National Immunization Awareness Month

August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). The goal of NIAM is to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span, from infants to the elderly.

To download an adult immunization schedule visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/rec/schedules/adult-schedule.htm

To download a child and adolescent immunization schedule visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/rec/schedules/child-schedule.htm

World Breastfeeding Week   August 1-7

The breastfeeding campaign funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, hopes to empower women to commit to beastfeeding by highlighting new research showing that babies who are exclusively breastfed for at least six months are less likely to develop ear infections, diarrhea and respiratory illnesses, and may be less likely to develop childhood obesity.  For more information visit www.fitpregnancy.com/yournewlife/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-awareness-month-40726312.htlm

Mother Friendly Worksite Wellness Tool Kits are available at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/hwi/toolkits/lactation/index.htm

and http://ask.hrsa.gov/ConsumerPublications.cfm?start=All

Friendly Reminder:

The Act to Facilitate Lactation in the Workplace by New Mothers was signed into law May 6, 2009.  As Public Law Chapter 84 LD 373, item 1, an employer shall provide adequate unpaid break time or permit an employee to use break time or meal time each day to express breast milk for her nursing child for up to 3 years following childbirth.  The employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide a clean room other than a bathroom, where an employee may express breast milk in privacy.  An employer may not descriminate in any way against an employee who choose to express milk in the workplace. 

National Night Out, Tuesday, August 2

America's Night Out Against Crime

The 28th Annual National Night Out, a unique safety and community event sponsored by National Association of Town Watch (NATW).

National Night Out is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
• Send a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organizaed and fighting back

To learn more visit www.nationalnightout.org/nno/index.html

Join Gardiner Police Department for a Night Out at the Common, watch VillageSoup and The Kennebec Journal for details.

Join Monmouth Police Department for a Night Out, call the town office for details.

Cateract Awareness Month

National Health Center Week (Aug 7-13)

International Day of the World's Indigenous People (Aug 9)

September Health Observances

America on the Move-Month of Action

Healthy Aging Month

Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

Fruit & Veggie Month

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

National Cholesterol Education Awareness Month

National Food Safety Education Month

National Pain Awareness Month

National Preparedness Month

Whole Grains Month

Take a Loved One to teh Doctors Day (Sept 20th)

Family Health and Fitness Day (Sept 24th)

National Women's Health & Fitness Day 

Guest Columnist-Nancy Markowitz 

Try Mediation First

Conflict happens in everyone's life - the workplace is no exception. Pressure is high, communication styles differ and expectations - well let's just say everyone hears things differently - you do remember the old telephone game...

When it happens, conflict distracts everyone from the work at hand and it can damage morale leading to absenteeism, resignations and lawsuits. However, mediation, a voluntary, confidential process can help reduce this conflict, resulting in a workplace that works. Why? Because mediation can help with both the present conflict as well as the underlying issues that created the conflict in the first place.

Mediation provides individuals an opportunity to talk together, discover what is not working for them and then generate creative solutions that will work for everyone. Mediators help people reach workable and sustainable agreements about how to solve current conflicts and as well how to avoid future conflicts.

Conflicts stem from different sources and understanding this can help find the right solution. The role of the Mediator is to help people figure this out. Some sources of conflict include;

·         Informational conflicts - caused by a lack of information or miscommunication. Once parties understand the importance of gathering the correct information they can figure out to communicate information more successfully in the future to also avoid future conflicts.

·         Relational conflict coupled with high emotions - these conflicts may occur due to different personalities, misunderstanding or a variety of mishaps that have occurred between people. Helping people to understand each other better can deescalate the tension between people.  

·         Value conflicts occur when people have different beliefs about issues that are important to them. Sometimes just having a safe place to talk about these issues helps everyone understand what can and can't happen or be discussed in the workplace.

·         Structural conflicts occur when there is limited (or perceived) scarcity of resources. Creating a definite plan of action to meet people's needs can eliminate this source of conflict.

Contact Mediation Services to find out how you can take advantage of their  low cost mediation and conflict coaching services. Mediation Services is a  program of Volunteers of America Northern New England. Please contact Nancy Markowitz, Program Director at

(207) 373-1140 ext 229, mediate@voanne.org or www.voanne.org

Resources:

Tobacco Cessation:

Maine Tobacco Helpline - It is Free - It is Confidential and it Works! 

Website - www.thequitlink.com

Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/QuitLink

Twitter page - http://twitter.com/quitlink

Medication Drop Boxes:

The following police departments have secure medication drop boxes and accept unwanted and outdated personal and veterinarian medications for disposal from the public any day their lobby is open:

Augusta Police Department, 33 Union Street

Gardiner Police Department, 6 Church Street

Winthrop Police Department, 15 Town Hall Lane

Kennebec Sheriff's Office, 125 State Street, Augusta

Hallowell Police Department is accepting medications to be disposed but the site does not have a drop box.

Educational Resources:

Wellness Council of Maine

Save the Date: October 13 and 14

Annual Workplace Wellness Symposium

Sunday River, Bethel, Maine

For a full listing of Wellness Council of Maine training opportunities visit: www.wellnesscouncilofmaine.org

For more information contact Willow Sherwood

email: director@wellnesscouncilofmaine.org

Telephone: 207-947-0307

Southern Maine Wellness Council

September 20, 2011

Depression in the Workplace Cost and Solutions Conference

8:30am-4:30pm

Augusta Civic Center 

To register online visit conferences@usm.maine.edu

For a full listing of Southern Maine Wellness Council training opportunities visit www.mmc.org/lifeline_body.cfm?id=7119

For more information contact Thomas Downing, Director

Lifeline Workplace Wellness Program

Maine Medical Center

Division of Community and Prevention Medicine

Falmouth, ME 04105

P: 207-781-1545

E: downit@mmc.org

W: www.mmc.org/lifelinewellness

Kennebec Valley Entrepreneurial Network

KVEN is a regional effort supported by entrepreneurs, service providers, educational institutions, business organizations and individuals who believe that entrepreneurship is the key to prosperity for Kennebec and Somerset Counties.

In additon to regular meetings that take place every six weeks, you are invited to join the online community on 'LinkedIn.'  Just go to www.linkedin.com and register to become part of the LinkedIn online community.  Once you are registered, go to the top of the menu bar and click on 'Groups.'  Type in Kennebec Valley Entrepreneurial Network and become a member of the group.  For more information about events or to learn more about KVEN, please contact Ken Young, 453-4258, ext 16, kyoung@kvcog.org or Shelley Payne, 453-4258 ext 19, spayne@kvcog.org

Webinars, Webcasts, Reports and White Papers

Bucks Consultants www.bucksconsultants.com

Fisher and Phillips  www.laborlawyers.com

Health Promotion Live  healthpromotionlive.com

Human Nature @ Work  David Lee  www.humannatureatwork.com

Institute for Health and Productivity Management  www.ihpm.org 

National Wellness Institute  www.nationalwellness.org

WELCOA  www.welcoa.org

Wellsteps  new.wellsteps.com

Learning Resources Network (LERN) at MSAD #11 (RSU #11) For more information or to register, contact Diann Bailey, Director MSAD #11 Adult Education, Telephone 207-582-3774,

email: dbailey@msad11.org

Safety Works!

SafetyWorks!  can help you prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths and reduce related costs. Our services are free and confidential and we don't issue fines or citations.

Safety Works! help keep workers safe and healthy. And we help businesses thrive, because you will save 4-6 dollars for every dollar you invest in safety. The old adage is true - it pays to be safe!

SafetyWorks! specializes in practical solutions to help make workplaces safer and healthier.

They want your workplace to be as safe and healthy as possible.   To learn more visit http://safetyworksmaine.com/

Healthy Lifestyles Resources:

SparkPeople

A FREE online site site that offers free nutrition and exercise trackers, recipes, shopping lists, online communities to join, and health information.  Members set goals and can receive online support.  To learn more or join visit www.sparkpeople.com

Live Strong

This FREE online site tracks daily food intake, using MyPlate for Diabetes and non-diabetes, exercise and weight, includes detailed exercise routine, calculates body mass index (BMI) and recommended daily caloric intake based weight, height, weight loss goals, activity levels, etc for FREE.  To learn more or to join visit www.livestrong.com

Fit Day

A FREE online site where members can calculate and record daily food intake and exercise, track weight loss and monitor goals.  To learn more or join visit www.fitday.com

CDC Physical Activity Planning and Tracking Tools (also FREE)

www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/tools/index.html#Physical%20Activity%20planning

My physical Activity Diary

Meals Matter

Small Steps.gov

MyPyramid Tracker

MyPlate

The President's Challenge  

Heart 360

Heart 360 is a convenient and secure location for you to track and manage your heart health.  Record your health data with Heart 360 online trackers, access additional information and resources on how to be heart healthy, and even share your results with your healthcare provider.  To learn more visit www.heart360.org

Start!

Start! is the American Heart Association's program to get Americans walking to improve heart health. To learn more visit startwalkingnow.org

Trail Finding Resources:

Healthy Maine Walks  www.healthymainewalks.org

Move More  www.movemore.org

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area  www.healthycommunitiesme.org

Maine Trail Finder www.mainetrailfinder.com

Maine State Parks Trails  www.trails.com/state-park-trails.aspx?keyword=state%20park&state=ME

Kennebec Land Trust  www.tklt.org

Kennebec River Rail Trail  www.krrt.org

Viles Arboretum  www.vilesarboretum.org

Trails  www.trails.com

Substance Abuse Resources:

Does Someone You Know Have an Opioid Addiction?

Free monthly meetings to learn about addiction, medication-assisted treatment and recovery 

Augusta:

Meetings are held the third Tuesday at noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 69 Winthrop Street.  For more information call Jayne Harper at  621-3740 or Helen Pare at 266-8881

Waterville:

Meetings are at 12:30 pm at the Eskelund Center at the Maine Children's Home, 93 Silver Street, Waterville.  The meetings dates are September 7, October 5, November 2 and December 7, for more information call Jayne Harper at 621-3740 or Brenda Radel at 872-7272 

All Recovery Support Meetings

Sponsored by the Maine Recovery Communities Coalition.  All Recovery Support Meetings welcome people from every addiction recovery pathway.  Meetings are free of charge.

When:  Thursdays

Where: Green Street Methodist Church, 14 Green Street, Augusta

For more information call Deb Dettor at 458-4366 or Peter Wohl at 626-3448

Find a Meeting Near You:

To find Alcohol Anonymous, Al Anon, Cocaine Anonymous, Co Anon, Narcotics Anonymous and Narcotics Anon meetings near your visit www.usrecovery.info/AA/Maine.htm

Health Risk Assessment Resource:

KeepMEWell

To take the free, easy, private health risk assessment visit www.keepmewell.org

The goals of KeepMeWell are to assist Maine adult residents to:

* Assess their risk for chronic disease

* Receive feedback that promotes action to address identified health risks

* Link to local community resources that assist residents in taking action to lower their risk for disease and improve their health

*Link uninsured and underinsured residents to healthcare services at no cost or slide scale cost

KeepMEWell is a free public service offered by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), Maine Department of Health and Human Services.  No personal information about individuals will be collected.  Only the individual will decide what to do with their personal results.  To participate fully, you will need a computer, internet access and a printer.

One great use of the personal results report is to use it as a conversation starter with your primary healthcare provider to develop a personal health plan with personal goals to address your health concerns.

 Still looking for a resource check out 211

Call 211 or go online at www.211maine.org

Healthy Maine Works

Farmers Markets

Viles Aboretum:

Fridays 2-6 pm

Turnpike Mall:

 Wednedays and Saturdays 10 am - 1 pm

Mill Park:

Tuesdays 2 - 6 pm

Gardiner:

On the Common

Wednesdays 2 - 6pm

Hallowell:

On the River Bank

Saturdays 11 am - 3 pm

Wayne:

Main Street, Village Center

Saturdays 9 - 11:30 am

Winthrop:

Main Street

Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm

Our Board of Directors 

Mary Frances Bartlett

Rebecca West Dick

Dick Dyer

Rob Gordon, Treasurer

Patricia Hopkins

Kala Ladenheim

William McPeck, Vice Chair

Emilie van Eeghen

Kathi Wall

Frederick A. White, PhD

Jim Wood, Chair

Mark Yerrick, Secretary

Our Towns

Augusta

Chelsea

Farmingdale

Fayette

Gardiner

Hallowell

Litchfield

Manchester

Monmouth

Mount Vernon

Pittston

Randolph

Readfield

Richmond

Vienna

Wayne

HCCA has FREE signs: metal, corrugated plastic, window clings and laminated, Call Amy at 588-5019