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The INDEPENDENT, October 16, 2003
Volunteers make a difference
by Audeen Wagner
Community
Forums
Successful
Aging:
The first of these free fo-
rums is set to begin Octo
ber 22, with a presentation
by Cathy Rozinek, Clinic
Manager at Providence
Family Medicine-Vernonia.
This program is designed for men and women
between the ages of 25 and 100! (George Burns
once said, “ If you live to be 100, you’ve got it
made. Very few people die past that age.”)
Cathy will put to rest many of the myths about
aging, talk about what are the expected and nor
mal changes with aging, and when you should
seek medical assistance. “Bring a friend and
some suggestions for future topics you would
like to hear about,” Cathy said. “Join us on
Wednesday, October 22, from 10:30 til 11:30
a.m., at the Senior Center.”
Correction: Speaking of Cathy, her office
number was wrong in my last article. Her correct
number is the same as the clinic: 503-429-9191.
Sorry.
Flu Vaccine: Flu vaccine is now available at
Providence Family Medicine Clinic for $15.00.
Established patients need to call for an appoint
ment (503-429-9191) and the clinic will get you
right in. For those in the community who are not
Providence patients, the clinic will be offering
two dates for you to get your flu shots. All non-
established Medicare patients must pre-register
before getting their shots. This may be done by
dropping by the clinic with your Medicare card
(they will make a copy of it), and giving the clin
ic your information for billing. All other non-es-
tablished patients may drop in during the hours
listed below and pay $15.00 cash (no credit
cards or checks accepted):
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 12:00 noon til 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct 30, 9:00 til 4:00 p.m.
Mammogram: The next visit of the Mam-
movan will be Wednesday, Oct. 22. Call the clin
ic to schedule an appointment.
Can you pass this quiz on childhood dental health?
With the school year well
under way, it’s time for adults to
try this short quiz.
Question 1 : What is the most
common chronic childhood dis
ease? (This will surprise you.)
Question 2: What adds more
sugar to a typical two year old’s
diet than cookies, candies and
ice cream combined? (Hint: it
isn’t bubble gum.)
Question 3: What is an im
portant reason Oregon preg
nant women and parents of ba
bies and toddlers should pay
even more attention to child
hood dental health than resi
dents of most states?
Now, let’s look at the an
swers. The most common
chronic childhood disease is
tooth decay, affecting five to
eight times more children than
asthma.
It’s a disturbing fact, yet the
problem is largely preventable, in
cluding the condition also known
as “baby bottle tooth decay.”
Prevention is important be
cause early childhood cavities
have been linked to other con
ditions such as ear and sinus
infections, delayed growth and
development, speech problems
and low self-esteem.
In the crib, don’t leave baby
nursing on a bottle. Introduce
oral hygiene at the first sign of
a tooth. During the first three
years, a dentist may paint fluo
ride on the teeth. Don’t permit
the child to graze on sugary
high-carbohydrate foods and
drinks such as juices, candy
and cereals. Regularly check
the child’s gum line for white
spots on front teeth that signal
the start of decay.
The answer to the second
question is soda pop. Soda ac
counts for a fourth of all bever
ages consumed in the United
States, or a 12-ounce can, dai
ly, for every American. More
than half of teenage boys drink
three or more cans a day.
Failure to follow some sim
ple rules of good dental health
are among the reasons 57 per
cent of Oregon children in
grades 1 to 3 have had cavi
ties, 24 percent have untreated
decay and 16 percent (almost
one in six) have rampant decay.
As a result, Oregon is paying
increasing attention to dental
health and recently won federal
grants to establish a statewide
oral health program and to start
dental sealant programs in
Oregon schools.
This relates to the third
questions: Oregonians should
pay special attention to good
dental health because so few
Oregonians live in communities
with fluoridated water. Only 25
percent of Oregon’s population
has fluoridated water, compared
with 62 percent, nationally.
Like the tests Oregon stu
dents will take in school this
year, this is serious business
with long-term consequences.
But, good oral health also can
be won by a healthy dose of
prevention.
Whether it’s a thinner waistline
or a healthier lifestyle...
‘Hfc Can 9{e[p!
sugarfree - bow carb - diabetic jnendfy
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-6
51606 Columbia River Hwy.
Scappoose (503) 543-2227
dlova dad
^Wodi.
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*-------
M A R K E T
Volunteers Make All The Dif
ference! A new, collaborative
approach in meeting victims’
needs is being offered by the
Columbia County District Attor
ney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office,
Community Corrections, Co
lumbia County Child Abuse As
sessment Center and Colum
bia County Women’s Resource
Center.
To address current volunteer
services, trainings and budget
cuts, the five agencies have
come together to ensure that
victims’ service providers con
tinue to deliver quality services
to victims and their families in
Columbia County.
The new program combines
efforts from all five agencies.
The Columbia County District
Attorney’s Victim Assistance
program provides legal advo
cates working within the District
Attorney’s office to serve vic
tims of crime with restraining or
der assistance, CVCP referrals
for counseling, medical, lost
wages, and funeral expenses.
The Columbia County Sher
iff’s Domestic Violence Reduc
tion Unit (DVRU) provides on
scene response to victims of do
mestic violence and sexual as
sault. The DVRU advocates offer
immediate crisis intervention,
safety planning, emotional sup
port, resources and referrals to
victims at the scene of the crime.
DVRU is an important part of law
enforcement’s goal to make a dif
ference in the quality of lives of
victims and their children.
Community Corrections pro
vides a restitution advocate to
facilitate the process to assist
victims of crime collect financial
compensation from offenders
through the court system. The
advocate also assists victims
with direct victim services and
restitution issues after sentenc
ing. The facilitation includes in
formation and referrals, helping
the victim present a request to
the District Attorney’s office, in
vestigating offenders' assets,
reporting findings to the court
and monitoring restitution pay
ments.
The Child Abuse Assessment
Center serves alleged child vic
tims of abuse and/or domestic vio
lence up to 17 years of age. Ser
vices include assessments, foren
sic interviews, child therapy, edu
cational program presentations,
information and referrals, crisis
counseling, assistance with filing
Crime Victims Compensation, and
support services for caregivers.
Columbia County Women’s
Resource Center provides cri
sis intervention, counseling and
advocacy. Services include
community education, informa
tion and referral services to ad
dress the needs of women and
children in crisis as a result of
domestic violence and/or sexu
al assault. The Women’s Re
source Center also operates
the only 24-hour crisis hotline
and shelter in the county. The
Starting Place shelter is de
signed to comfortably house 26
individuals. It is a safe and se
cure facility where women and
children can stay while other
living arrangements are being
addressed.
On O ctober 27, the five
agency volunteer training pro
gram will begin. Volunteers
come from all backgrounds but
they all care about children and
families. Some can give only a
few hours a month, others give
on a weekly basis.
Interested volunteers should
call 503-366-3914 for an appli
cation. In order to attend the
October 27 volunteer training
program, applications must be
received by October 17.
The Health Habit - Terry’s Gym
# # NOTICE TO ALL ACES * #
Tired? Depressed? No Strength? No Energy?
Overweight? Frequently III? Aches & Pains?
If any or all of the above fits you, you need help. Poor nutrition and lack
of exercise may jeopardize your very life. High cholesterol, hardening
of arteries, stiff joints, arthritis, heart disease, and many other health
concerns may result from poor living and eating habits.
Add years to your life and life to your years!
Do s o m e th in g good fo r y o u rs e lf - jo in a h e a lth
clu b! Y our h e a lth should m a tte r m o st!
Call Today: 503-429-0501