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SubscribeThe Department of Public Health and Wellness will host a Birth Equity Town Hall Meeting on Thursday September 5 at 6 p.m. at 400 E. Gray St.
The meeting will consider policy initiatives to close the gap in infant and maternal mortality between the general population and minority communities. The meeting will seek input from community residents and will hear from local and national experts on best-practice policy solutions.
“Louisville has made progress in lowering overall infant mortality rates over the past twenty years,” said Public Health director and the city’s chief health strategist, Dr. Sarah Moyer. “However, there is still a significant gap between the rate at which white and black babies die before their first birthday. African American women are also still far more likely to die in childbirth. The Town Hall Meeting will seek solutions to bring about the day when every child and every community in or city thrives. I encourage people to attend.”
A panel at the Town Hall Meeting will be led by Dr. Edward Ehlinger, Acting Chair of the U.S. Health and Human Service’s Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality. Panelists will include Dr. Carol Brees of the University of Louisville; Dr. Brittany Watkins of Centerstone; Dr. Olugbemisola Obi of U of L Physicians; Dr. Kelly Pryor, a mother; Arthur Lemons, a Healthy Start father; Asia Ware, a Healthy Start mother and Emily Whitsett-Pickett of Mama to Mama. Dr. Moyer will also offer remarks.
While the overall infant mortality rate, the rate at which infants die before their first birthday, has fallen in Louisville from 7.6 to 6.1 per 1000 live births (five year averages of 1995 – 1999 and 2013 – 2017), African American babies still average 5.8 more deaths per 1000 live births than white babies. Also, according to the American Medical Association, African American women in the United States are two to six times more likely to die of complications from pregnancy than white women.
Each month, Neighborhood Place partners provide numerous events and resources to benefit the entire family. Activities in September include four hiring events conducted by FedEx, Sodexo, the U.S. Census Bureau, and Kentucky Health Care Center; two outreaches by Humana CareSource and Passport to discuss health plan benefits options; and a free educational series for parents and caregivers who have youth with a mental health diagnosis. To learn more about these offerings, please refer to the list below.
Sept. 3, Humana CareSource Community Engagement at NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 4018 W. Market St. Humana CareSource representatives will be onsite for one-on-one consultations to discuss plan benefits and options. This is a great opportunity as Humana CareSource seeks to increase health benefits awareness and educate the community about the Humana CareSource Health Plan mission.
Sept. 4, FedEx Ground Employment Opportunities at First Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24). Call (502) 313-4700 for more information. A FedEx human resources recruiter will talk one-on-one with individuals interested in a career as a Package Handler with FedEx Ground.
Sept. 5, Sodexo Hiring Opportunities at First Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24). Call 313-4700 for more information. Sodexo, a food-service agency, will provide on-the-spot interviews for positions with Jewish Hospital, Our Lady of Peace and University of Louisville Hospital. Bring your resume and be prepared for an interview. This is one of Sodexo’s busiest hiring seasons. Stop by if you are looking for employment that can lead to a full-time or part-time position.
Sept. 6, U.S. Census Bureau’s Hiring Event at NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 4018 W. Market St. Call 313-4892 for more information. A U.S. Census Bureau’s representative will be available to share information about the hundreds of entry-level office and warehouse clerks employment opportunities for the Jeffersonville location. National Processing Center (NPC) is the U.S. Census Bureau’s primary center for mail processing, survey processing, data capture, imaging/scanning and warehouse operations. NPC recently increased the starting hourly pay rate for entry level clerks to $14.54 per hour.
Sept. 6, 9, 23, 27 and 30 Kentucky Health Career Center at four locations
Call 502/595-4003 for more information. If you are looking for a job in healthcare, the Kentucky Health Care Center can help with resume writing, career assessments, training funds, job leads and referrals. A representative from the Kentucky Health Career Center, part of KentuckianaWorks, will be on hand to discuss the multiple opportunities the center has to offer.
- Sept 6, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24), 10 a.m. – 1 p.m
- Sept, 9, NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 4018 West Market Street, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- September 23, South Jefferson Neighborhood Place (Valley Location), 10200 Dixie Highway, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Sept 27, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24), 10a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Sept. 30, South Jefferson Neighborhood Place (Fairdale Location), 1000 Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sept. 10, Passport Health Care Community Engagement at NorthWest Neighborhood Place
Located at 4018 West Market St. Call (502) 585-7301 to leave a message to RSVP. Passport Members are invited to join with representatives from Passport Health Care for one-on-one consultations to discuss plan benefits and options. This is a great opportunity as Passport aims to raise awareness and educate the community about the Passport Health Plan mission. Passport members will receive a $10 retail gift card for attending.
Sept. 19, A Healthy Journey for Two Educational Baby Shower at First Neighborhood Place, 1 – 3 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd. For more information, contact Mendy Mason at 502/341-5400. A Healthy Journey for Two is an educational baby shower open to any expectant mothers. The class will include a range of information and resources, as well as free baby items, gift cards, prizes, and snacks. Hosted by Seven Counties and KIDSNow. Fathers are welcome but must be registered.
Sept. 19, The Center for Women and Families Outreach at First Neighborhood Place, Thursday, 1 – 4:30 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd (door #24) side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. For more information, contact Nayelyi Sanchez, Domestic Violence Advocate at (502) 581-7270. Staff with The Center for Women and Families will be on-hand to give an overview of their services which include trauma-informed advocacy and support for qualified families and individuals with supportive services, emergency shelter, sexual assault services, housing, children’s services and more.
Wednesdays, Sept. 25 – Oct. 30, NAMI Basics Educational Class at Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Located at 1411 Algonquin Pkwy. Call 502/588-2008 to register or with any questions or email martha.theobald@namilouisville.org. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Basics is a free six-week educational program for parents and caregivers of youth 6 to 22 years old with a mental health diagnosis. This six-week series is free to attend and will be held six consecutive Wednesdays.
Metro Council Members Kevin Kramer (District 11), Anthony Piagentini (District 19), Stuart Benson (District 20), and Robin Engel (District 22) are sponsoring a Breast Cancer & Sun Damage Screening on Monday, September 9, 2019 at the Glenridge Health Campus (6415 Calm River Way) from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
All screenings require an appointment, and there are some openings still remaining. Breast Cancer Screening is for women 40 years and over. There is no cost to program eligible women. Mammograms and facial sun damage screenings will be provided by UofL Hospital, the James Graham Brown Cancer Center.
Call Angela Webster at 574-3465 to schedule an appointment.
President Donald Trump visited Louisville yesterday to speak at the American Veterans 75th National Convention. At the end of his speech, the President signed a presidential memorandum that will cancel student loan debt for approximately 25,000 disabled veterans. He was joined on stage with Governor Bevin, Sergeant Katherine Castle, Sergeant Nick Stefanovic, Deputy Secretary Byrne, and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
During his speech, President Trump touted the improvements that have been noticeable at the VA since he took office. The wait times have decreased by more than 33% and that patients’ trust in the VA has increased by nearly 100%. He also went on to say, “We’ve secured a record $8.6 billion for mental health services”, which includes a White House VA Hotline and same-day emergency mental care.
President Trump also talked about other improvements to veterans lives, such as finding permanent housing for over 30,000 veterans over the past two years and stating: “Veterans unemployment has reached the lowest level ever recorded.” The GI Bill has also been expanded to allow veterans to use their benefits to get a higher education at any point in their lives.
President Trump also mentioned the opioid crisis and the effect it has had on veterans over the years. Recognizing that many of the veterans affected are in pain, he wants scientists to find a pain killer than is non-addictive: “Get a pain killer that, when you break your arm and you go to the hospital, you don’t come out of the hospital addicted to opioids.”
His entire speech can be read here.
Thousands of cyclists, paddlers and walkers will be in motion at the Mayor’s Subway Fresh Fit Hike, Bike & Paddle Monday, September 2 as it returns for a 15th consecutive Labor Day at Waterfront Park.
“One of our goals is to make Louisville a healthier city, and one way to do that is to ensure we are a more active and accessible city for people of all ages,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “I’m excited to join thousands of residents from across Louisville for this beloved annual tradition.”
Subway Restaurants is again the title sponsor of Hike, Bike & Paddle, with presenting sponsors, Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated, Norton Healthcare and Neil Huffman Subaru. Academy Sports + Outdoors is a contributing sponsor.
“Subway Restaurants is proud to again be the title sponsor of the Mayor’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit Hike, Bike & Paddle, celebrating its 15th year. The events happening today give people an opportunity to be outside in the fresh air and lead healthy, active lifestyles,” said Umang Patel, Louisville SUBWAY Board Chair.
“Coca-Cola Consolidated is passionate about serving the Louisville community,” said Brian Outland, Vice President of Retail Sales at Coke Consolidated. “That’s why it’s an honor to support wonderful events like the Hike, Bike, and Paddle, that bring so many people together in the community for family fun during the holiday weekend.”
Norton Healthcare is pleased to once again sponsor the Mayor’s Hike, Bike & Paddle. “As a nationally-recognized healthiest employer, we are committed to providing a culture of health and wellness within our organization and throughout the community,” said Russell F. Cox, president and chief executive officer, Norton Healthcare. “We encourage everyone to live a healthy, active lifestyle and to participate in this fun event.”
“Neil Huffman Subaru is proud to again be a partner with Mayor Greg Fischer and the Office of Special Events for the Memorial Day edition of the Hike, Bike and Paddle,” said Dow Huffman, Managing Partner, Neil Huffman Auto Group. “Throughout the Neil Huffman Auto Group’s 50-year history, community involvement has been one of our core values and we salute this signature healthy city initiative and applaud the thousands of members of our community who participate each year.”
For hikers, this year features three routes, including a 5K route, that will all travel along Waterfront Park to the Big Four Bridge, all ending back at the Great Lawn. All routes are dog friendly, except for the route across the Big Four Bridge. The dog friendly route will take hikers with animals on a path leading to the Louisville Community Boathouse and back to the Great Lawn. All dogs must be leashed, and their owners must pick up waste during the walk. For those needing a shortened route, a third route will travel along Waterfront Park and circle back at the Big Four Bridge. All routes are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
For cyclists, this year’s 13.5-mile route will start near the Flock of Finns on Witherspoon Street and include travel through the Beecher Terrace redevelopment and parts of Smoketown and Shelby Park neighborhoods, past the Logan Street Market and Paristown developments, past the Louisville City FC’s under-construction stadium, and more. Cyclists who do not wish to do the entire course may turn around at any point after the majority of participants have passed.
All of the cycling and walking routes will be marked with signage and will have water stops at the halfway points to refill water bottles. The Louisville Bicycle Club and Scheller’s Fitness and Cycle are providing “bike captains” to help cyclists obey the rules of the road.
“Bike doctors” will be stationed in Waterfront Park before the ride and along the route to assist cyclists with any equipment problems. Louisville Metro Police will provide traffic assistance at key intersections, and the Louisville Metro EMS bicycle team will patrol the route. All cyclists are asked to remain behind the lead Police vehicles.
The paddling activity will begin at the Harbor Lawn in Waterfront Park and the route will be about 5 miles along Ohio River. At 10 a.m., paddlers will go through the McAlpine locks to New Albany. TARC will have free shuttle for the return trip to Waterfront Park.
Paddlers can enter from the University of Louisville Rowing dock located at the east end of Waterfront Park near the Community Boat House and will proceed downstream to the Harbor Lawn to await the start of the event. Free parking is available at this location. Volunteers will be on-site to assist paddlers at both locations.
Back by popular demand again this year, the Louisville Kayak Company will be offering kayak rental services at the event. You can reserve your kayak at the event or before you go by visiting here.
Police and safety boats will be nearby during the paddling activity, and participants can get assistance if needed in launching their canoe or kayak. Safe paddling instruction and demonstrations will take place in the harbor area of the Great Lawn.
More than 50 vendors and information booths will open at 8:30 a.m. at Waterfront Park. Yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba and Pickleball demonstrations will be offered starting at 8 a.m., along with group participation.
2,500 free t-shirts will be available for those arriving early and completing a brief survey. Thanks to sponsor support, this year’s t-shirt is an upgraded performance sport material.
Subway will be handing out free cash gift cards to be used at any Subway location, while supplies last. The Brain Injury Association will distribute 500 helmets to riders who don’t have one. Neil Huffman Subaru will be giving away a free bicycle and kayak at the event. Participants are encouraged to be “green” and bring their own water bottles, which they will be able to fill at Waterfront Park and at various water stations along the routes, as part of Louisville Water’s Pure Tap To Go.
This is the 15th year for the Hike, Bike & Paddle events, which are held each Memorial Day and Labor Day. The events are part of the city’s Healthy Hometown Movement, created to encourage Louisville residents to be more active and make healthier lifestyle choices.
To view interactive route maps, a full schedule and for more information, visit here. RSVP on the Hike, Bike and Paddle Facebook event page. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @AroundLou!
Measles Remerges in the U.S. with Five Current Outbreaks
In the wake of five current measles outbreaks throughout the United States, the University of Louisville Division of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Public Health and Wellness are teaming up to host two reduced-cost immunization clinics on for Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and chickenpox April 19 and April 20.
The clinics will be held at the University of Louisville Vaccine and International Travel Clinic at 501 W. Broadway, Suite 110, on Friday April 19 from 5 – 8 p.m. and on Saturday April 20 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Vaccines are $40.00 per dose and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. This special rate is considerably less than the regular price of $80-$120 per dose for MMR vaccine and the $100-$150 per dose for chickenpox vaccine. Because of the below-cost rate, insurance cannot be accepted at the clinic. Cash, credit card and medical spending accounts will be accepted.
Anyone who falls into one or more of the following categories should be immunized:
- Adults who do not have evidence of receiving 2 doses of MMR vaccine in the past
- Children and adolescents under the age of 18 years should have received MMR vaccine and chickenpox vaccine from their pediatrician or primary care provider. If not, they may come to one of the clinics for evaluation
- Adults who do not have evidence of receiving 2 doses of chickenpox vaccine and have not had diagnosed chicken pox
- Individuals preparing for international travel
- Adults previously vaccinated between 1963-1967 (typically, adults now in their fifties) when the measles vaccine administered may have been ineffective
- Adults previously vaccinated between 1963-1991 who may have received only a single dose of MMR vaccine
- Anyone wanting to be vaccinated who is unsure of their vaccination status.
Measles can be deadly, particularly in children; two to three out of every 1000 people infected will die from measles. Measles is reemerging in the United States largely because of pockets of unvaccinated populations throughout the country. As people travel outside the United States to countries where measles is prevalent and then return home, or when unvaccinated international travelers visit our country, the disease has the chance to spread among those who have not been immunized.
“Many visitors will be traveling to Louisville for Derby, both from outside the United States where the disease is prevalent and from areas inside our country that are currently experiencing outbreaks. Our focus at the Vaccine and Travel Clinic is on illness prevention, and that’s why it’s so important to us that parents and children get immunized now,” said Dr. Ruth Carrico, of the Division of Infectious Diseases of the University of Louisville.
“Measles is one of our most contagious diseases and MMR is one of our most effective vaccines. It’s totally unnecessary that children and adults should be unprotected against this deadly disease. We urge everyone to be immunized,” said Dr. Lori Caloia, Medical Director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness.
Measles outbreaks of three or more cases had been reported in five states including Washington, New York City, New York’s Rockland County, Texas, Illinois and California. Seven other states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Oregon, had also seen measles cases. Louisville has not had any measles cases so far this year. Kentucky’s sole case involved an unvaccinated child living in the south-central part of the state who had traveled outside the United States.
Uninsured individuals can also receive MMR and chickenpox vaccines from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. Phone 574-5380.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is offering free radon test kits while the supply lasts. You can request a kit by visitng this link or by calling 574-6650.
Radon is a gas that you cannot smell, taste or see. It forms naturally when uranium, radium and thorium break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes in through cracks and gaps in homes and other buildings. Radon can cause lung cancer through prolonged exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, causing between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
The entire state of Kentucky is at high risk for radon exposure with about 40 percent of homes estimated to have unsafe levels. The only way to know if radon exists at dangerous levels in your home is to test for it.
“People can’t see or smell radon so they may not know that it can exist at dangerous levels in their homes and be exposing them to deadly health effects,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and the city’s chief health strategist. “We encourage people to take advantage of the free test kits to test their homes for radon.”
The lung cancer risk factors of tobacco smoke and radon are related. More radon-related lung cancers occur in individuals with a history of exposure to tobacco smoke. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, with the highest mortality rate of any cancer. Kentucky has the highest incidence rate of lung cancer in the nation with a rate of 93.4 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 59.4. According to the recently released 2017 Health Equity Report, cancer is the leading cause of death in Louisville.
The death rate from lung cancer in Kentucky is 69.5 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 43.4. In Louisville our lung cancer incidence and mortality rates are also well above the national average. According to the Kentucky Cancer Registry the incidence rate of lung cancer in Louisville is 94.8 per 100,000 compared to 59.4 nationally. The death rate is 61.7 compared to 43.4 nationally.
Here are a few tips to help prevent radon in your home:
- Stop smoking and discourage smoking in your home.
- Smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer from radon.
- Second hand smoking in the home is also a leading cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air.
- Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
- Seek a qualified contractor to help remove the radon from your home.
Mitigation costs generally range from $1,200 to $2,500 depending on the size and foundation of the home. Consult the Kentucky Association of Radon Professionals or the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists National Radon Proficiency Program to locate approved contractors near you.