Health briefs

By: 
Press Staff Writer

United Way of Greater Toledo’s 211 supporting hurricane victims
 
        United Way of Greater Toledo’s (UWGT) 211 is the region’s go-to source for emergency assistance and disaster relief.
        Last week, however, 211’s Community Resource Advisors (CRAs) – the trained staff at the heart of the service – were answering calls assisting Central Florida residents in response to Hurricane Ian.
        As the hurricane unfolded on Sept. 29, 211 networks across the nation were called upon for help. Northwest Ohio’s staff rose to the occasion in partnership with Gryphon Place, a partner of Michigan 211, which serves as the disaster backup for Heart of Florida United Way.
        CRAs across Michigan and Ohio began connecting those affected by Hurricane Ian to shelter, food, utilities and other basic needs. Areas supported include 14 counties along the Gulf Coast and the Greater Orlando area. As of Oct. 5, the Ohio network had received nearly 1,700 phone calls alone, not including text and web contacts.
        211 staff provide up-to-date information on shelters, housing assistance, and safety tips. Alleviating overwhelming volume for Florida call centers, 211 offers inquiring residents reliable information to help meet their basic needs, including Spanish-speaking services.
        CRAs are specially trained to guide emergency conversations in a careful and calm manner, asking questions through conversation to ensure callers receive all of the information and access to services they need, often even beyond the reason for their initial call.
        “As we saw throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, 211 provides essential information to people in times of emergency or disaster. One of the most powerful elements of our service, however, are the people behind the calls – being able to talk to a compassionate person in a time of crisis is what makes 211 so powerful,” said Jill Bunge, Vice President of Impact and Outreach at United Way of Greater Toledo, the organization that manages NW Ohio’s 211 service.
        “Our teams were quickly trained, provided a lot of reference guides and supports across the network and have done an extraordinary job fielding a lot of very difficult calls. We’re thankful to 211 leadership for helping to mobilize very quickly and support the staff. Additionally, the support from our Staywell Team and 211 Toledo staff has been truly invaluable in our mobilization efforts,” said Emily Ruckel, Vice President of Technology & 211 Operations at Gryphon Place.
        211 is a free 24/7/365 national information and referral service and is accessible by text, phone, and web. 211 supports communities before, during and after times of emergencies and disasters. This includes directing people to evacuation routes and shelters beforehand, or helping individuals and families get food, water, and emergency supplies afterward.
        Annually, the service receives more than 75,000 contacts. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, that number rose to over 100,000 as area residents sought unemployment and rental assistance, vaccines and healthcare, childcare, and access to food and transportation services.
        Learn more at www.unitedwaytoledo.org/211 OR www.211nwo.org.
 
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
        The 2022 Toledo Walk to End Alzheimer's will be held Saturday, Oct. 8 at Promenade Park, 400 Water St., Toledo.
        Check-in and activities begin at 9 a.m. The opening and Promise Garden Ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the two-mile walk (shorter distances available).
        The Toledo Walk is one of more than 600 national walks that annually raise money for Alzheimer’s and other dementia research and allows the Alzheimer’s Association to provide free care and support services to local families. This year’s goal is to raise $280,000.
        The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's will be full of flowers, each carried by someone committed to ending the disease. The Promise Garden Ceremony features multi-colored flowers, each color representing the person's connection to Alzheimer's disease. This visually striking display allows participants to unite in the fight against Alzheimer's, which affects more than 6 million Americans of all ages.
        Learn more at act.alz.org.
 
Mercy Mobile Mammograms
        Mercy Health’s mobile mammography unit will make several stops throughout the area in October.
        The unit is customized delivers 3D mammograms to women age 40 and older. It is equipped with the newest technology and offers patients the option of self-compression, meaning the patient will have the ability to control the compression once she is in position.
        The schedule includes the following stops:
        • Saturday, Oct. 15, Mercy Health - Sylvania Family Medicine, 4126 North Holland Sylvania Rd., Toledo.
        • Monday, Oct. 17, Progressive Wellness Medical Office Building, 7640 West Sylvania Ave., Sylvania.
        • Wednesday, Oct. 19, Mercy Health – Perrysburg Primary Care & Walk-in, 1103 Village Square, Perrysburg.
        • Friday, Oct. 21, Mercy Health - Waterville Primary Care, 1222 Pray Boulevard, Waterville.
        • Saturday, Oct. 22, Tent City, Civic Center Mall, Jackson Street, Toledo.
        • Monday, Oct. 24, Progressive Wellness Medical Office Building, 7640 West Sylvania Ave., Sylvania.
        • Tuesday, Oct. 25, Halim Clinic/Spring Valley OBGYN & Midwives, 6588 Spring Valley Drive, Holland.
        • Wednesday, Oct. 26, Mercy Health - Starbright Primary Care, 28555 Starbright Boulevard, Perrysburg.
        • Thursday, Oct. 27, Way Public Library, 101 East Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, Ohio.
        • Monday, Oct. 31, Progressive Wellness Medical Office Building, 7640 West Sylvania Ave., Sylvania.
        Certified radiologists read all mammograms. Scans are also double-checked with a computer-aided detection system that detects more breast cancer than mammography alone. The patient and physician receive a copy of the results.
        While mammogram screenings may be covered by insurance, for best coverage, patients should verify if Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital is an in-network provider with their insurance carrier.
        Financial need-based assistance programs are available to help those who are uninsured or underinsured (have high deductibles). Call 419-696-5839 for more information.
        Screenings at the Mercy Health Mobile Mammography unit are by appointment only - call 833-MAMM- VAN to schedule a screening on the mobile unit.
        To view the full list of dates and locations, visit mercy.com/toledomobilemamm,
 
Diabetes Prevention program
        For those who have been told they have prediabetes, the great news is that progression from prediabetes to Type 2 Diabetes is not unavoidable.
        Magruder Hospital’s Prevent T2 Program, led by the CDC, can help individuals choose healthier foods, become more active and maintain a healthy weight in order to help reverse prediabetes.
        Participants will work with a trained lifestyle coach and a group of other individuals like themselves to learn tips for making healthy lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, adding physical activity to their routines, stress reduction, problem solving and staying motivated.
        Magruder Hospital’s Prevent T2 groups will meet for one year, meeting weekly for the first six months and then one to two times per month for the next six months.
        For more information about upcoming diabetes prevention sessions, call Tracy Stadler, RD, LD, CDCES at 419-732-4047.
 
Drug Take Back Day
        The Ottawa County Health Department encourages area residents to participate in the next National Drug Take Back Day, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
        Several area law enforcement agencies offer medication take-back collection boxes for citizens’ safety and convenience including police departments in Genoa, Oak Harbor, Marblehead, Catawba Island, Danbury Township, and Put-in-Bay. These medication boxes are at departments throughout the year.
        Unwanted or unused medications present environmental and public safety concerns. Both prescription and non-prescription drugs are being found in rivers, streams and groundwater.
        Existing wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not designed to remove these contaminants. Additionally, removing these medications from the medicine cabinet will help to reduce the chances of drug abuse and accidental misuse.
 
Wood Co. Prevention Coalition competing for national awards
        Wood County Prevention Coalition a Finalist for National Awards
        In July, the Wood County Prevention Coalition applied for Phase I of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) Got Outcomes! Awards.
        CADCA is a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally.           In Phase I, CADCA reviewed and scored applications, along with various required submitted products (to include a Community Assessment, Logic Model, and Summary of Outcomes). 
        On Sept. 22, staff received notification that the Coalition will advance to Phase II of this select process where only the top 25% of applicants move onward.
        As an advancing finalist, the Coalition will be invited to tell their story of how Wood County attained positive changes in community-level outcomes related to underage drinking.
      Applying to Got Outcomes also opens up the opportunity be recognized as a Blue Ribbon Coalition – a special recognition for coalitions which do an exceptional job creating a foundation for their work by updating and utilizing their products and achieving positive outcomes.
        The Wood County Prevention Coalition has united for a drug-free community since 2004. Its vision is to help youths be drug-free, responsible and productive citizens.
        For more information, visit wcprevention.org. Fiscal agent for the Coalition is the Wood County Educational Service Center.
 

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