page B2_______________________________ | i orHanì> (Obstruer E mbracing D iversity __________________ September 7. 2005 H ealth Local Health Hurt by Environment Bad air, lead paint and mold part of problem Residents of affordable housing prop erties in Humboldt, Vernon, Eliot, King, and Boise neighborhoods are worried about poor indoor air quality, exposure to lead-based paint, littered grounds and mold and mildew. The concerns were expressed in in terview s in north and northeast Port land over the past two years by the M u ltn o m ah C o u n ty E nv iro n m en tal Health and the Protocol for A ssessing Com m unity Excellence in Environm en tal H ealth coalition. The next step is an action plan focusing on public education and policy changes for housing standards in north and north east Portland. "W e are proud of the partnerships and the identified strategies for addressing the concerns," says Lillian Shirley, direc tor of Multnomah County Health Depart ment. "Our focus is on collaborating with the community to support and respond to the issues.” A ccording to a 2001 survey con ducted in neighborhoods surrounding the north and northeast 1-5 corridor, 14.7 percent o f the 587 residents sur veyed currently had asthm a, more than d o u b le the 2001 n atio n al a v erag e. B reathing p o llu ted air may w orsen asthm a sym ptom s. In 2001, 71% o f homes in Multnomah County had composite lead dust levels that exceeded federal standards with 61 confirmed childhood lead poisoning cases. Exposure to lead-based paints and lead dust from such paints can cause learning disabilities and neurological damage in young children. A neighborhood event for com m u nity m em bers to learn more about the im pact o f the environm ent on health and actions to m ake neighborhoods safer and healthier places to live will be held Saturday, Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural C enter and Patton Park on North Inter state Avenue. For more information on this neighbor hood event, visit the website www.pace- eh.org or contact Andrea Greiling at 503- 988-3663, extension 22551. More People Lack Health Insurance w orth,” O rm a DiNorma, 50, a Sa 2003-04, up from 11.7 percent in lem babysitter said. “I have teeth 2002- 03. The national poverty rate rose that are falling apart, but I can ’t from 12.3 percent to 12.6 percent pay to fix them. There is no re in the same period. course.” (AP) — More O regonians lack For 2004, the federal g o v ern About 600,0000 O regonians health insurance and more resi m ent defined poverty generally went without health insurance in dents o f the state are in poverty, as an annual incom e o f le s s th a n 2004, the federal Census report according to a new Census re $ 9 ,6 4 5 fo r a s in g le p e rso n , says. port. $ 12,334 for a tw o-person house Maribeth Healey, executive di About 17 percent o f the state’s rector of O regonians for Health hold or $ 19,307 for a household population does not have health Security, said O regon’s increas o f four. coverage, com pared to 16 per The O regon C enter for Public ing percentage of people without cent in 2002-03. Nationally, about Policy, a group that w orks for health coverage is no surprise. 16 percent of the population goes The Health Plan enrolls around policies to help low and middle- w ithout medical insurance. 1 00,000 fewer people than i n 2001, income O regonians, said the new S ta te sp e n d in g c u ts h av e due m ostly to budget cuts as law data show that O regon’s median sharply pared the Oregon Health makers struggled with declining household income o f $41,971 in Plan, the sta te 's supplem ental tax revenue in the recent reces 2003- 04 was down from $46,333 in M edicaid coverage mainly for the 1999-01, before the econom ic sion. w orking poor. Many people also And private sector w orkers are dow nturn, after adjusting for in d o n ’t qualify for regular M edic losing coverage, Healey said — flation. aid, which m ostly covers the eld “The typical O regon house 80,000 in O regon in the past two e r ly , c h ild re n and p re g n a n t hold is sliding backw ard while years. women. The Census said about 12 per the econom y m oves forw ard,” “ I have anxiety attacks. The cent of O regonians had incomes said Chuck Sheketoff, the center’s pills for that are $ 175 for a month’s below the federal poverty line in executive director. Oregon poverty also increases Kaiser Hires Medical Director Dr. Andrew Lum has been named medical director for the northw est region of Kaiser Premanente, representing 778 other Kaiser doctors. Lum, a board-certified internal medicine physician, works out of Kaiser’s administration offices at 500 N.E. Multnomah St. Dr. Andrew Lum Most recently he was associ ate medical director for primary care and service with Kaiser Permanente’s Colorado medi cal group. While there, he helped launch an electronic clinical in fo rm a tio n system and a mentoring program to develop physician leaders. YOU'RE INVITED! Raven McClendon (right) and Ellie Mullen learn lifesaving skills at a Babysitter’s Training Course offered by the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter. Youth Learn Childcare Basics Many teens looking after their younger siblings may know how to keep the kids busy, but m ight find them selves scram bling in the un fortunate event o f an em er gency. This is why the American Red Cross Oregon Trail has been hosting B a b y sitter’s Training classes at various lo cal schools, teaching youth ages 11 to 15 the skills needed to p r a c tic e re s p o n s ib le childcare. The com prehensive course covers first aid techniques, res cue breathing and other types o f em ergency su p ervision. Child development, infantcare and accident prevention are also taught in the day-long session. For a full list o f upcom ing dates, times and locations that the course is being offered, v is it th e w eb at w w w .re d c ro ss-p d x .o rg or call Daniel Soule at 503-528- 5639. OCTOBER 1 st 11:00 a m - 4:00 pm Our Environment, Our Health A N/NE Portland Neighborhood Gathering In terstate Firehouse C u ltu ra l C enter (IF C C ) and Patton P ark 5340 N orth In terstate Avenue (MAX Yellow Line - Interstatc/K illingsw orth Stop) You can learn more about making your home and neighborhood safer places to live. Learn about asthma, mold/mildew, air pollution, lead safety, recycling, and more! FREE! * * 6 * * Food Storytelling IFCC Art Gallery Prizes Blood pressure, asthma, and lead screenings! * Oregon Health Plan sign-up Featuring Music and Spoken Word by: • • • • • • N’Touch Motown Review Highland Gospel Choir Real Recognize Real Turiya Autry Cubaneo Community Survey To volunteer or for more information please call (503) 988-3663 x 22439 Dear northeast Portland residents: SAVE THE DATE! You don't want to miss! OUR ENVIRONMENT The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is considering opening a new liquor store to serve the community in northeast Portland. We are seeking public comment and would ask you to take a minute and let us know what you think. □ No, we do not need another liquor outlet in the community. □ Yes, a new liquor store would be a convenience and a welcome addition to the neighborhood. We would like the new liquor store located near Please send your comments to: A N/NE Portland < < L ' Neighborhood Gathering Saturday,October 1, 2005 11:00am-4:00pm ! Deputy Director Rudy Williams Oregon Liquor Control Commission PO Box 22297 Portland, OR 97269-2297 E-mail: olcc.webmaster@state.or.us