Decatur Chiropractor Has License Summarily Suspended
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the chiropractic license of James R. Mc Canse, D.C. The MDCH Bureau of Health Professions orders a summary suspension when it believes that the public's health, safety, and welfare warrant emergency action.
Mc Canse's license was suspended based on an investigation that was initiated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mc Canse was charged with four felony counts of Child Sexually Abusive Material Possession, in the 4th Judicial District Court, Cass County, Michigan. The criminal matter is currently pending.
On April 16, 2007, MDCH issued an order immediately suspending Mc Canse's chiropractic license. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of McCanse's license.
For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Health Profession Licensing.
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MDCH Kicks Off Public Health Week 2007
April 17, 2007
LANSING-The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH)-in conjunction with its partners in local public health across the state - is recognizing National Public Health Week today, followed by a statewide awareness campaign launch next week highlighting several core health issues.
"Today we gather together to recognize the importance of our public health advocates and workers throughout the state and to illustrate how their hard work positively affects our day-to-day pursuits, as well as our families, and our communities," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "From quality drinking water to the control of infectious disease, public health has been integral in advancing our society."
Olszewski recognized five "Public Policy Champions" who have either introduced new legislation to address gaps in the state's safety net, or who have been long-time supporters and advocates of programs that are crucial to maintaining good public health - particularly in the areas of access to healthy food and opportunities for physical activity, injury prevention, clean air and public health preparedness.
Michigan's 2007 Public Policy Champions include:
- State Representative Kathy Angerer-(D-Dundee)
- State Representative Edward Gaffney-(R-Grosse Pointe Farms)
- State Representative Gary McDowell-(D-Rudyard)
- State Senator Deb Cherry-(D-Burton)
- State Senator Gilda Jacobs-(D-Huntington Woods)
Dr. Greg Holzman, State Chief Medical Executive, called on individuals and organizations to work together on a community-wide approach to promote public health and emergency preparedness and to help recognize the eight extraordinary individuals, coalitions, and schools - the state's 2007 Hometown Health Heroes - that have worked collaboratively to make their community a healthier place to live and grow.
"I would like to congratulate these Hometown Health Heroes for their exceptional contributions to their local communities," Holzman said. "Their remarkable efforts, dedication, and compassion for public health have helped to create a safer and healthier Michigan."
The 2007 Hometown Health Heroes include:
- Michigan Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, Ingham County
- Kathleen Kleinert, DO, Covenant Community Care, Inc., Wayne County
- Jenny Atas, MD, FACEP, Region 2 South Co-Medical Director, Detroit Medical Center, Wayne County
- Bill Fales, MD, FACEP, Region 5 Medical Director, Kalamazoo County
- Carol Klukas, RN, Berrien County
- Beal City Schools, Isabella County
- Grand Traverse County Health Department, Grand Traverse County
- Region 7 Biodefense Network, representing the counties of northwestern lower peninsula (Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Montmorency, Benzie, Leelanau, Grand Traverse County, Charlevoix, Alpena, Crawford, Kalkaska, Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, and Roscommon)
- Mary L. Spalding-Antilla, Community Health Representative for the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Gogebic County
Additional information on each Hometown Health Hero is attached.
The University of Michigan School of Public Health, Michigan State University, the Michigan Public Health Association, the Michigan Public Health Institute, and the Michigan Association for Local Public Health have partnered with MDCH to implement Public Health Week activities and promote each daily theme.
National Public Health Week 2007 focuses on empowering Americans to be prepared for public health threats with an emphasis on vulnerable populations, such as mothers with children in the household, local food banks, hourly workers, K-12 schools, and individuals with chronic health care needs.
Local health departments, community coalitions, schools, businesses, health care, and faith-based organizations are encouraged to identify areas for improvement and implement model programs for emergency preparedness. Resources are available at www.michigan.gov/michiganprepares.
To learn more about Public Health Week and events taking place across the state this week, please visit www.nphw.org.
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Boomers And Their Families Should Have LTC Plan
April 13, 2007
Free Own Your Future planning guides from the federal government are being offered through the Michigan Department of Community Health's Office of Services to the Aging (OSA) to assist baby boomers and their families with long term care (LTC) planning.
"We are at the beginning of a long-term care revolution in our state," said Sharon Gire, OSA Director. "With boomers retiring, the need has never been greater and people want to stay in their own homes as long as possible."
The Own Your Future planning guide offered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), contains information about planning for LTC services and options for obtaining them. It also discusses subjects such as advanced directives, talking with family members about LTC decisions, and how to pay for it, as Medicare does not cover the cost of LTC services.
Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm sent 1.7 million letters to households with members aged 45 to 65 informing them about the need for LTC and the Own Your Future campaign in January 2007. Those within this targeted age range represent those needing immediate LTC services.
Citizens who responded to the letter from the Governor received the Planning Guide, as well as a packet of information and a CD regarding LTC options and services, chronic illnesses that may result in the need for LTC, LTC insurance, and services provided by area agencies on aging and the Michigan Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP).
The Planning Guide, CD and LTC brochures are available upon request by calling 1-866-PLANLTC (1-866-752-6582) or can be ordered via the web at www.aoa.gov/ownyourfuture.
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MDCH Recognizes April As Alcohol Awareness Month
April 12, 2007
In conjunction with Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, the Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) within the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is recognizing April as Alcohol Awareness Month in an effort to bring attention to alcohol abuse.
"There are a number of problems that revolve around the use and abuse of alcohol within our state," said Don Allen, ODCP Director. "We are extremely concerned with alcohol being a factor in motor vehicle crashes, unintentional injuries, homicides, suicides and the high incidents of sexual assault and date rapes occurring in both high schools and colleges."
Nationally, alcohol is typically a factor in four leading causes of death (motor vehicle crashes, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide) among persons ages 10-24. There are approximately 9.7 million current drinkers in the U.S. between the ages of 12-20, with alcohol being the most frequently used drug by high school seniors. Those who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependency than those who begin drinking at the legal age of 21.
Alcohol abuse is linked to as many as two-thirds of all sexual assaults and dates rapes of teens and college students and is a major contributor to unprotected sex.
Younger populations are also disproportionately affected by alcohol related motor vehicle crashes with males between the ages of 21-29 having the highest death rate.
Jumping nearly 8 percent from 2005, approximately 40 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths throughout the state in 2006 involved alcohol, other drugs, or both. As part of the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant, Michigan identified alcohol-related traffic crash deaths as a priority problem to be addressed heavily throughout the state during the next two years.
During the month of April, parents, educators, and community leaders are reminded to help educate those around them of the dangers of alcohol abuse and the tragedies of underage drinking, binge drinking, and drinking while operating a motor vehicle.
To learn more about the state's prevention efforts or for links to treatment programs within your area, please visit the MDCH site at www.michigan.gov/mdch and click on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
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Senior Citizen of the Year Nominations Being Accepted
April 12, 2007
The Michigan Department of Community Health's Office of Services to the Aging (OSA) is joining with the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging (CSA) and the Michigan State Fair to honor two individuals, age 60 or older, for their valuable contributions on behalf of others.
"These awards are presented every year to recognize special older adults for their contributions to our state," said Sharon Gire, OSA Director. "The example they set is an inspiration to others, and they deserve to be recognized."
The 2007 Senior Citizen of the Year Awards will be focused on the two categories of leadership and service. They recognize leadership in the community and service to others, and they highlight contributions made by those age 60 and older to civic and social life. Selections will be determined primarily by service or leadership contributed during the past year and honorees will be recognized at the 2007 Michigan State Fair.
Nominees must be age 60 on or before July 6, and all nominations must be submitted by an organization. A presiding officer of the organization must sign the nomination. Nominees can be employed at the time of the nomination, but will be judged on service or leadership in unpaid positions.
Award recipients will be invited to attend an awards ceremony that will take place on Senior Citizens' Day this summer at the Michigan Fair in Detroit. For more information or to obtain a nomination form, please go to www.michigan.gov/miseniors or call (517) 373-8230.
Nominations must be postmarked by Friday, July 6 and should be sent to: 2007 Senior Citizen of the Year Award Program, Michigan Office of Services to the Aging, P.O. Box 30676, Lansing, MI 48909-8176.
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Senior Project FRESH to Expand this Summer
April 12, 2007
Again this year, Senior Project FRESH, through the Office of Services to the Aging (OSA), will provide coupons to enable senior adults to obtain fresh fruits and veggies at Michigan farmers markets and roadside stands.
Last summer, Senior Project FRESH served 7,500 older adults in 36 Michigan Counties. Many of them were at risk of being nutritionally deficient. This summer, Senior Project FRESH plans to provide fresh fruits and veggies to an estimated 10,000 senior adults in 45 Michigan counties.
In addition to the coupons, Project FRESH applicants will receive a printed list of local congregate meal sites, information about home delivered meals, and a nutrition education folder. They also will receive food counseling and nutrition education through MSU Extension.
To be eligible to participate, senior adults must be age 60 or older and be at 185 percent of the poverty rate. They must live in the county where they receive the coupons.
Project FRESH is part of a national program sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) called the Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program, which promotes the eating of fresh fruits and vegetables, and is conducted through OSA, within the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), with help from the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, also within MDCH.
If you are interested in participating in Senior Project FRESH, or your group or agency is interested in starting a Senior Project FRESH program in your county this summer, please call the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging at (517) 373-4064, send an email to kings1@michigan.gov, or access TDD at (517) 373-4096.
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Michigan Receives Grant to Benefit Student-Led Health Initiatives in Cities of Promise Middle Schools Across State
April 10, 2007
Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Director Janet Olszewski announced today that MDCH has been awarded a $5 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to empower middle school students in underserved communities to drive policy, environmental, and behavioral changes related to physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and tobacco use.
The "Generation with Promise" initiative will begin with two middle schools in Benton Harbor and eight middle schools in southeast Michigan (Pontiac, Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park). These schools have been selected to participate in the most intensive level of the project-receiving grants for assessment, planning, and implementation of school health improvement efforts.
In addition, middle schools in Saginaw, Flint, and Muskegon Heights also will be eligible to receive small grants, and students will be invited to participate in a Youth Summit and other leadership-building opportunities.
"We are grateful to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for generously supporting our efforts to reduce health care costs and demonstrate that healthy students, employees and community members are a great investment," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "MDCH and its partners have built a solid foundation and developed evidence-based tools that will strengthen this project considerably."
The four-year "Generation with Promise" project-spearheaded by Michigan Surgeon General Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom-links Governor Jennifer M. Granholm's Cities of Promise initiative in vulnerable communities with the Surgeon General's Michigan Steps Up healthy lifestyles initiative. This unprecedented project strives to lessen racial and ethnic disparities in health risk behaviors, increase access to culturally appropriate, understandable and meaningful information, and create opportunities for sustainable changes that are self-empowering and student-led. Community mentor teams will work directly with youth to support student leadership development.
"Obesity and tobacco use will continue to have a devastating impact on Michigan's health and economy if we do not invest in prevention today," Wisdom said. "Overweight children are more likely to be obese as adults and suffer from chronic disease, and half of Michigan's current smokers in grades nine to twelve report that they began smoking between ages 11 and 14, making early intervention critical."
While education around these issues is important, Wisdom said, information does not easily transfer into behavior change if students do not have the opportunity and support to make healthy choices throughout their day and throughout their educational career.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930 "to help people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations." The Foundation targets its grants toward specific areas, including health, food systems and rural development, youth and education, and philanthropy and volunteerism. Grants are concentrated in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. For further information, please visit the Foundation's Web site at www.wkkf.org.
To learn more about Michigan Steps Up and find out how your school can make healthy changes, please visit www.michiganstepsup.org.
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