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LiveHealthyPA News 4th Quarter 2018

Pennsylvania shines at APHA Annual Meeting

The American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo is the largest annual gathering of public health professionals. More than 12,000 people attend, and thousands of new abstracts are presented each year, making APHA 2018 the most influential meeting in public health.

APHA's 2018 Annual Meeting and Expo, "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now" was held in San Diego, CA from November 10-14^th.

Pennsylvania was represented across the conference, with poster and oral presentations on nutrition and physical activity, tobacco prevention and control, cancer prevention and control, oral health and health literacy that highlighted an array of critical public health issues.

APHA presentations in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and its partners included early cancer detection; encouraging safe physical activity; immigrant health literacy, characteristics of PA Free Quitline clients and other critical public health/health equity issues.

Attendees also learned of other state, local and federal public health initiatives in a vibrant atmosphere that encouraged collaboration and enthusiasm for public health, focusing on the theme of health equity.

Pennsylvania presentations at APHA were titled:

APHA's Annual Meeting and Expo brings together more than 12,000 peers from across the U.S. and world to network, educate and inspire each other. #APHA2018

Pennsylvania Cancer Plan & Conference

2019-2023 Pennsylvania Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
The 2019-2023 Pennsylvania Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan (Plan) is currently in the final stages of development. The Plan will be released in early 2019. The Plan sets out clear goals and comprehensive strategies for addressing the continuum of cancer care across prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, and survivorship through end-of-life care for Pennsylvania.

The Plan is a product developed in partnership by the Pennsylvania Cancer Control, Prevention and Research Advisory Board, its Data Advisory Committee, the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition, and the Pennsylvania Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.

2019 Pennsylvania Cancer Conference
To announce the goals in the 2019-2023 Pennsylvania Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan and engage Pennsylvania in reaching these goals, the 2019 Cancer Conference is being held. The conference is scheduled for April 10-11, 2019 in Harrisburg, PA at the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. Registration to begin in January 2019. If you would like a notification that registration is open, please send a request to info@livehealthypa.com.

Great American Smokeout – 2018

Great American Smoke Out ACS Since 1976, the American Cancer Society has hosted the Great American Smokeout®, a public awareness event that is celebrated on the third Thursday of November.

You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one.

Great American Smokeout® events in Pennsylvania were held in workplaces, communities and health systems this November to encourage smokers to Start with Day One. Events in Westmoreland, Fayette, Armstrong and Indiana counties included:

#BlowBubblesNotSmoke - school events to raise awareness about the effects of smoking on the lungs led by Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) Youth groups

Skate Your Butts Off – roller skating party for teens to raise awareness about smoking and tobacco litter

“Journey Towards a Smoke Free Life” competition - Fayette Drug and Alcohol Commission held this contest to win a turkey and, with the Uniontown YMCA, challenged local businesses to “Walk to Quit” on November 15^TH. Several County Commissioners in Southwest, PA, counties signed Proclamations declaring November 15^th as the Great American Smokeout.

Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. Great American Smokeout® is a day for smokers to start their journey toward a smoke-free life.

CDC State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Grant

Pennsylvania (PA) was one of 16 states to receive the highly competitive CDC State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) grant. The SPAN grant provides funding to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (Department) from September 30, 2018 – September 29, 2023 to implement evidence-based strategies at state and local levels to improve nutrition and physical activity. “Promoting and providing healthy environments is a top priority of the department,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Through this grant, we can continue to work on improving the health of individuals across the state. State programs, such as WalkWorks, will have the available resources needed to continue to operate and enhance the health of our residents.”

Through this grant, the department will be able to implement a comprehensive set of strategies to create healthy environments for Pennsylvanians. Including enhancing the outreach of the PA Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) Program. The NAP SACC program is a free, web-based quality improvement tool used to implement and improve nutrition and physical activity policies and practices in child care facilities. Technical assistance is provided to licensed child care centers to support the development, adoption and implementation of nutrition and physical activity standards. The department will also work with the Keystone Kids Go! work group, Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Department of Human Services and the Department of Education to identify opportunities to implement and integrate nutrition and physical activity standards into statewide early care and education (ECE) systems to prevent childhood obesity.

PA SPAN will also implement interventions supportive of breastfeeding that address maternity care practices in birthing facilities and continuity of care. In addition, the Department will work with local health departments and health systems to implement food service guidelines (FSGs) in hospitals, state government facilities and in community settings (e.g., parks, stadiums, buildings/areas where community organizations meet) to increase the availability of healthy foods. The department will also be able to increase safe and accessible physical activity through WalkWorks by supporting local communities to develop and adopt active transportation plans and policies to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit transportation systems and increase connectivity to everyday destinations.

Pet Therapy Across Central Pennsylvania

Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services (KPETS) has been sharing their mission to touch lives and warm hearts through human/animal interactions for 15 years across central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. With over 400 registered therapy teams, composed of a handler and his/her pet, KPETS volunteers are spreading their mission in a wide variety of settings all free of charge - totaling over 10,000 hours annually, across 14 counties in Pennsylvania. Teams can be found in cancer treatment centers, long term care facilities, hospice, hospitals, schools, or wherever there is a need for comfort and support from the animals.

The human/animal interaction is beneficial for people of all ages and with a variety of needs. In medical settings such as oncology, infusion, rehabilitation, and behavioral health, KPETS volunteers help motivate patients and ease their stress during treatment and recovery. In addition, the pet therapy visits help support patient families and staff as they tackle their day or help support their loved ones. Pet therapy can help provide a positive environment that is needed in difficult times.

If you would like to find out more about KPETS or how to request their services, become a volunteer or supporter, please visit www.kpets.org.

Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) First Summit

The Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) for youth, ages 12 to 18, aims to prevent and stop youth tobacco use through education and advocacy. A statewide youth coalition, TRU is managed by the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT) and the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania.

TRU kicked off the 2018-2019 school year at its first Tobacco 21 Summit! During this summit, leaders of TRU and tobacco prevention youth groups learned the program goal: to raise the minimum age of sale for all tobacco products to 21 years old and learned how they can make a difference! TRU advocacy efforts continue throughout the school year. TRU student members can become TRU advisors and learn additional skills of leadership. TRU Ambassadors take part in youth engagement training to learn how to motivate their peers to stop youth tobacco use and to advocate for Tobacco 21.

Why Tobacco 21?

The younger smokers are when they start, the more likely they are to become addicted to nicotine.
Nearly 90% of cigarette smokers try their first cigarette before age 18.
244,000 kids in Pennsylvania will die prematurely from tobacco use if something doesn’t change[1].
E-cigarette use increased 900% among high school students from 2011 to 2015.
Pennsylvania spends over $6 billion per year on healthcare costs due to tobacco.
32.3% of Pennsylvania high school students use tobacco or nicotine products.

Over 1,500 students are in TRU across the state and the numbers continue to grow. TRU youth learn about the dangers of tobacco and being tobacco- and nicotine-free, and they create Advocacy Action Plans. To learn more, visit truinpa.org.

Pictured: TRU Youth working on Advocacy Action Plans

Resources:

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids: Taking Down Tobacco training at www.takingdowntobacco.org - free, online training covers the basics about tobacco products and their health effects, as well as strategies for the fight against tobacco

[1] Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Pennsylvania data: https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/problem/toll-us/pennsylvania