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