WellCommons

Willard Epling and Paula Hladky of the Douglas County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) will be recognized today for their volunteerism at the the Celebration of Volunteers party, hosted by the United Way Roger Hill Volunteer Center.

During the celebration, nominees for the Galluzzi Award and agency volunteers of the year will be honored. Willard and Paula have been MRC volunteers for more than six years. The Douglas County Medical Reserve Corps, based at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, is a community-based volunteer organization of people who wish to engage in response and public health-based volunteerism.

Volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, not just health professionals, are needed, including interpreters, chaplains, office workers, legal advisors or those that simply want to be involved in healthy living and disaster preparedness and response. Currently, 18 MRC units are located throughout the state, including one statewide Kansas Veterinary MRC unit.

The 2009 H1N1 vaccination clinics kept Paula and Willard especially busy.

“We met practically everyone in Douglas County then,” Paula laughed, explaining that one of the best rewards of being a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer is the opportunity to meet people.

Another great benefit that volunteers receive is, “training, training, training,” as Paula puts it.

She said that being a part of the MRC is, “not only good for preparing you for things that might happen in your own homes, but your family and community as well.”

Through the program, they have learned skills that will be critical in many different types of situations. Becoming a part of the MRC also opened the door to many other organizations that they have volunteered with over the years.

"After you start, you catch the bug,” Paula explained. Their work in the MRC has led Paula and Willard to volunteer with Keep America Beautiful, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) of Douglas County and the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.

Paula and Willard are certainly familiar faces around the community and do absolutely everything they can to make a difference in the county they live in.

“The secret of retirement,” Paula explains, “is to appreciate what you have and to share it with others.”

Paula Hladky is one of two Douglas County Medical Reserve Corps volunteers who will be recognized as volunteer of the year. She and Willard Epling will be honored today at the Celebration of Volunteers party, hosted by the Roger Hill Volunteer Center. by ldchealth

Parents need and want to be involved in the sexuality education of their children, but often do not how to teach them. “Kids Need to Know,” the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department’s family-based sexuality education program, is now enrolling.

The class, geared for fifth- and sixth-graders, meets for two hours once a week for five weeks. The course begins with a “parents only” night where curriculum and materials are discussed and any questions are answered. Following Parents’ Night, the class continues with weekly parent-child sessions for four more weeks. One parent accompanies the child to each class.

Reproductive body parts and purposes, puberty, pregnancy, childbirth and sexually-transmitted diseases are discussed. Decision-making skills are emphasized. Videos, games and other interactive activities help make the classes fun and interesting.

The girls class will be held Tuesdays, Jan. 17- Feb. 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. The cost is $50 per family.Registrations must be received one week prior to the first night of class. For more information or to register, visit www.ldchealth.org or call (785) 843-3060.

Kids Need to Know logo by ldchealth

Douglas County residents who are interested in learning more about operating a child care are encouraged to attend a FREE orientation meeting at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

The meeting will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, in the first floor meeting room at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, 200 Maine.

The meeting will provide information regarding licensing of family day care homes. Kansas law requires that homes be licensed or have a temporary permit when child care is provided away from the child’s own home for one or two children more than 20 hours a week total or for three or more children.

Licensing is not required when a family member provides care for a relative.

To register for the orientation, call the health department at 843-3060.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department board approved to submit a proposed 2011 budget of $2.9 million on Friday to the Douglas County Commission and City Commission.

It’s just 2 percent less than this year’s budget of $3 million. But, it’s 8 percent less than 2009’s budget of $3.2 million.

They are seeking level funding from both entities:

• $940,487 from the county.

• $648,929 from the city.

No cuts in services or its work force are expected in 2011.

Three new board members were welcomed to Monday night’s board meeting:

• Maley Wilkins, community president at Peoples Bank and a former school board member.

• Amy Biel, Kansas Health Institute analyst.

• David Ambler, retired Kansas University vice chancellor for student affairs.

Last month, the Douglas County and Lawrence City Commissions approved the expansion of the board from five to seven members, and added an ex officio member appointed by the KU chancellor.

Monday night was the new board’s first meeting.

Ray Davis, retired KU professor in public administration, and Carol Seager, director of KU’s Student Health Services, were not present.

Dan Partridge, director, wants to beef up relations with board members. He has started a new orientation program, which was praised by Ambler, who serves on numerous boards. Before, board members were introduced to the department in varying ways. They joked about how some got lunch and some didn’t.

Dan Partridge by Mike Yoder

Also, Partridge wants to put the expectations of the board members on paper. He presented a timeline of when the board is expected to have certain projects completed, such as a strategic plan by December. He asked for the members to weigh in on the timeline and expectations.

Dr. Gerald Pees, chairman of the board, said he also would like more direction on what’s expected of the health department’s director, so the board can better evaluate the position. Partridge agreed.

Dee Evans is a receptionist for the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. She helps answer one of two direct phone lines to the health department. Soon, the department will upgrade the phone system, so clients can call employees directly and not have to go through a receptionist.

Ring. Ring.

When clients call the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, one of two phones will ring. A receptionist forwards the call to one of the approximately 40 employees.

There are NO direct lines, so ALL phone calls go through a receptionist.

That’s about to change.

The department, which provides public health services such as immunizations, child care licensing and swimming pool inspections, is upgrading its phone system for the first time since moving into the Community Health Facility 10 years ago. The upgrade will cost $2,000, due to having to convert from analog to digital lines, and the monthly bills will increase by about $500.

Dan Partridge, director, said it would be well worth the expense.

By month’s end, if clients need lab results, there will be a number to directly call the lab. If they need to schedule an environmental inspection or WIC appointment, there will be numbers for those as well.

Shirley Martin-Smith, a health department board member, praised the move during Monday night’s board meeting, saying it would be easier to reach Partridge. Often, she opts to use e-mail instead of the department’s phone system.

The department will list all of the numbers and new extensions on its website.

Carole Rehder, a retired nurse, gives Leslie Ostronic, 9, her second dose of the H1N1 flu vaccine in January at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department clinic. In the background is Leslie’s mother, Laurie, who is holding siblings Brecken, 4, and Dallas, 5. The children all received an immunization. by Richard Gwin

The Douglas County Commission and Lawrence City Commission recently approved expanding the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department board from five voting members to seven. They also added an ex officio member appointed by the Kansas University chancellor.

It is the first change in the board’s size since 1986.

Now, each commission appoints three members, and they jointly appoint a member. Each board member serves a three-year term.

The city still needs to appoint one position and is expected to do so in the next couple of weeks.

“I am looking forward to the new talents that they will be bringing to this board and the new energy,” Director Dan Partridge said.

Here are the new members:

• Maley Wilkins, community president at Peoples Bank and a former school board member, appointed by city.

• Ray Davis, retired KU professor in public administration, appointed by county.

• Amy Biel, Kansas Health Institute analyst, appointed by county.

• Carol Seager, director of KU’s Student Health Services, appointed by KU chancellor.

The remaining board members were elected to office Monday:

• Dr. Gerald Pees, of Internal Medicine Group, chairman.

• Shirley Martin-Smith, owner of Adecco staffing franchise in Lawrence, vice chairwoman.

• Paul Liechti, assistant director of the Kansas Biological Survey, treasurer.

It is a governing board that primarily hires and fires the director, reviews and sets policies, and helps set priorities for the health department.

The department has 37 full-time employees and a $2.9 million budget. It offers a variety of programs and services, including immunizations and family planning.

But, Partridge said the department’s goal is much larger.

“We really are about ‘What does it take to create healthy lifestyles?’”