by Michelle | Nov 29, 2018 | Being Well
By Betsy Bredau
We all find satisfaction being productive, contributing members of our community. For those of us who are retired, our identities and sense of self-worth may have been tightly intertwined with our profession and now that is gone.
Meanwhile, our rural county is blessed with great beauty, but our modest population means that we have an equally modest tax base and not much funding for extra services found in a wealthier, more populous county. Thus, non-profits and volunteer groups fill an important role. Social services, animal shelters, public lands, our hospital, schools and libraries could all use help. Here’s where we seniors come in: we are hard workers, self-disciplined and have old-fashioned common sense. In other words, we are perfect volunteers.
For ideas on how and where to volunteer your time, go to the Tillamook County Giving Guide, at www.tillamookcountypioneer.net and watch for the NEW 2018-19 Giving Guide soon to be in mailboxes throughout the county. Then match against your likes, dislikes, transportation needs, etc. If you try something and don’t like it, try something else until you find the right fit. If nothing appeals to you, or you don’t want to commit or you have no transportation, there is still something you can do. Bring a bag, wear a glove and pick up litter on the street outside your home or on your next walk. Even this small step contributes to a better community.
I chose to volunteer with the Northwest Oregon Restoration Partnership (NORP) nursery, part of the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP.) The nursery is located adjacent to the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) facility and is a cooperative effort of the TEP and OYA. My job is to weed small plants and plant seedlings. It may not sound like much, but it’s very satisfying to spend a day weeding four hundred native plants that will be used for salmon habitat restoration.
To my surprise, the most rewarding part of my job at the nursery has been working with the young men who become eligible to work there during the last year of their incarceration. For privacy reasons, I can’t disclose details, but it is apparent to me that our tax dollars are being put to sensible and worthwhile use for the rehabilitation of these guys. The staff does an exceptional job providing an environment to steer these young men in the right direction. It has been a powerful and positive experience that I never would have had if not for my volunteer work.
Volunteering is a like a good run on a beautiful day combined with a productive day at work: you have a sense of accomplishment afterwards and a positive outlook. Try it!
by Michelle | Nov 1, 2018 | Being Well
One food drive is better than two. Tillamook High School’s Associated Student Body (ASB) teamed up with FFA to hold a community-wide canned food drive last week. The effort was a huge success, bringing in a grand total of over 4500 food items in just 5 days, a significant increase over last year’s haul of about 1000 items.
Student-led support of our local Food Bank has been happening for years. Both the ASB and FFA have been conducting their own annual food drives for as long as anyone can remember. The secret to this year’s success can be summed up in two words: Teamwork and Fun.
This year, organizers decided to try some new tactics. In addition to combining the two separate food drives into one, they added daily incentives and competitions to increase participation. The senior and freshmen classes competed as one team against the combined junior and sophomore classes. They offered “food-for-food” incentives like getting 2 cookies at lunch for a 2-can donation or a longer lunch period for 50% class participation. “Cheeseblock” classes competed to win a pizza party, resulting in the largest haul of 1800 items in one day.
Food donations were not limited to in-school activities. The community was invited to drop items off all week as well as donate food in lieu of paying admission to school sports events throughout the week. Paper bags were distributed throughout neighborhoods and students returned to collect many items.
Rachelle Metcalfe, ASB advisor, said she was very pleased with the overall outcome. “I am so proud of our student body. They really stepped up to make this such a success. And they made it fun for everybody.” Metcalfe noted that the event provided a good learning experience in that students had to consider the fact that not all families would be able to contribute food items. Student organizers strategized ways that would allow all students to benefit, while, at the same time, incentivizing participation.
Everyone benefits from activities like this that build community inside the school and out. This is what Wellness is all about.
by Guest | Aug 10, 2018 | Being Well
August 2, 2018
Contact: Jim Becraft, 593 842 5937
Tillamook Retailer Compliance with New Tobacco 21 Law
Tillamook County inspections indicate excellent compliance with the Tobacco 21 law that went into effect January 1, 2018.
In fact, compliance was excellent before the law went into effect, as the inspection date was 11/17/2017 based on information the Oregon Health Authority provided. According to the report, Tillamook vendors were thus ahead of the curve in meeting the standard.
Across much of Oregon underage sales of tobacco to minors remains widespread, however..
In Tillamook County 11 vendors surveyed refused attempted purchases made by inspectors less than age 21 of cigarettes, cigarillos, and electronic vaping devices.
While the survey does not mean that there are not challenges to implementation of the Tobacco 21 state statute in Tillamook County, the survey shows awareness and compliance steps are being taken locally to carefully enforce the state statute.
Across the state however, an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) report released this week found that the rate of retail tobacco sales to underage people increased slightly over the past year, as a new law took effect that increased the minimum age to buy tobacco.
The Public Health Division, in collaboration with the Oregon State Police, checks on tobacco retailers across Oregon to make sure retailers are following the law. Data from the first six months of 2018 show that since enforcement of the new sales age began, the retailer violation rate was 18 percent statewide. That’s slightly higher than the 16 percent retailer violation rate for the previous year, when the legal age being enforced was 18.
“Selling tobacco to people under 21 years old is illegal, but these data show that nearly one out of every five tobacco retailers in Oregon still sells to people under the legal age,” said Tom Jeanne, MD, deputy state health officer at the OHA Public Health Division. “Tobacco remains the number one preventable cause of death and disability and kills nearly 8,000 people in Oregon each year.”
It also costs the state $2.5 billion per year in medical costs and lost productivity. A key part of ending tobacco addiction in Oregon is making sure youth don’t start. Oregon was the fifth state to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21.
Retailer owners that sell tobacco to underage persons face up to a $500 fine for the first or second violation and up to $1,000 for three or more violations. For the first time, the OHA Public Health Division has taken the added step of publicizing the list of tobacco retailers that violated the tobacco sales law.
The list of Oregon retailers that sold tobacco to underage persons in the last year is available on the OHA Public Health Division website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELLNESS/TOBACCOPREVENTION/Documents/InspectionCoReport.PDF.
by Guest | Jul 27, 2018 | Being Well
We’re #2! Sometimes being near the top is not a good thing. The percentage of adults who smoke in Tillamook County is second highest among all Oregon counties. Recent data shows the percentage of people who smoke statewide is 17.9%. By comparison, the percentage in Tillamook County is a whopping 30.9%.
There is some good news. Smoking rates have been declining over the past several decades. It is a known fact that smoking poses serious health risks, negatively impacting vital organs like the lungs and the heart.2 But did you know that smoking can increase your risk for Type 2 diabetes?2
Tillamook County Wellness is committed to increasing awareness about the risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes, with a goal of inspiring and motivating citizens to take steps toward improved health behaviors. The following information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains how tobacco use increases risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes and how smoking worsens the condition for those who already have it.
Smoking cessation is covered by insurance. Ask your medical provider for information about the best options and support for quitting smoking and to reduce your overall risk for Type 2 Diabetes through changes to your lifestyle.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s blood sugar levels are abnormally elevated. When digested, carbohydrates from food are turned into a natural sugar called glucose, which is used by the body’s cells for energy. Glucose is ushered into the cells by a hormone called insulin. People with diabetes are unable to make or efficiently use insulin, causing glucose to build up in the blood without making its way to the cells.3
There are two types of diabetes. The most common of these is Type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, which accounts for more than 90% of all diabetes cases3 and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.1 Research has found that smoking is a direct cause of Type 2 diabetes. In fact, smokers are 30-40% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers, and smoking is responsible for about 9,000 diabetes deaths in the U.S. per year.2
How Does Smoking Affect Diabetes Management?
Diabetes is a serious yet manageable health condition, but smoking can worsen the disease, causing additional problems.4 Smokers with diabetes are more likely to have trouble regulating their blood sugar levels with treatment than diabetic nonsmokers.1 Diabetics who smoke are also at a higher risk for disease complications than nonsmokers with diabetes, including: 1,3
- Poor blood circulation in the legs and feet that can lead to infections, ulcers, and even amputation of toes and feet
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Retinopathy (an eye disease which can lead to blindness)
- Nerve damage in the arms and legs that can cause numbness, pain, weakness, and poor mobility
How Can You Lower Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
- Don’t start smoking. Smoking increases your chance of having Type 2 diabetes.4
- If you smoke, lower your risk for Type 2 diabetes by quitting. Find a quitting method that works for you.
- USDHHS Consumer Booklet 2014 – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). Let’s Make the Next Generation Tobacco-Free: Your Guide to the 50th Anniversary Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health (Consumer Booklet). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2014.
USDHHS 2014 – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2014.
3. CDC 2015 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC). Smoking and Diabetes. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/diabetes.html#two. Accessed January 6, 2016.
4. NIDDK 2014 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prevent Diabetes Problems. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2014. http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/Diabetes/prevent-diabetes-problems/Pages/index.aspx. Accessed January 6, 2016.
https://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/PublicHealthEducation/HealthInformation/ucm490916.htm
by Guest | Jul 6, 2018 | Being Well
Did you know there is a proven way to get a 7%, 10% or even 13% return on investment? If this sounds too good to be true, there is a slight catch. The investment is in people – little people, ages zero to five, to be more precise. And the payoff is in significant economic gains and reduced societal costs.
This revelation won James Heckman a Nobel prize in Economics in 2000. The Heckman Equation, as described by Heckman himself in 2012, states that “The highest rate of return in early childhood development comes from investing as early as possible. Starting at age three or four is too little too late, as it fails to recognize that skills beget skills in a complementary and dynamic way. Efforts should focus on the first years for the greatest efficiency and effectiveness. The best investment is in quality early childhood development from birth to five for disadvantaged children and their families.”
We are very fortunate to have a robust regional emphasis on addressing these first five critical years of life. The Northwest Early Learning Hub provides leadership and support to strengthen delivery and coordination of early childhood programming in Tillamook County. In addition to providing training and continuing education to early childcare providers and educators, they also support school readiness through events such as the upcoming Kindercamps.
The NW Early Learning Hub partners with 12 school districts in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties to offer part-day, one- to two-week camps prior to the start of the school year. The camps help incoming kinders get a jump on kindergarten by learning how to line up, where the restrooms are, what the rules are on the playground and more.
Kindercamps also offer opportunities for parents to get to know the new school and each other. Each school plans activities for parents to learn how to support their children at home, connect with other parents of incoming kindergartners, and meet the school staff that will be supporting through child in the upcoming year.
Teachers have reported that they could see a big difference in the students who had attended Kindercamp and that the experience allowed them to get right into teaching at the start of the school year.
According to Elena Barreto, with the Northwest Early Learning Hub, Kindercamps are a great opportunity to help children get a jump start on a successful kindergarten year! Children who attend Kindercamp can benefit from learning school routines, getting a head start on reading, writing, and math skills, and meeting some of their new classmates in a fun, engaging environment!
This year’s Kindercamp events in Tillamook County include:
Tillamook School District – Liberty Elementary
July 23rd – August 7th
All parents interested in having their child attend Liberty’s Kindercamp must be registered for kindergarten. They may pick up an application at Liberty Elementary to attend the camp. Applications must be returned by May 25th. Students who have not attended pre-school will be prioritized, but all children will be considered.
Neah-Kah-Nie School District – Garibaldi Grade School and Nehalem Elementary
July 30-August 10.
Fun family events will be held to help Kindergarten families connect with one another and become more comfortable with supporting their child’s transition to elementary school.
Parents of incoming kindergartners are encouraged to register their child by June 27th
Families seeking more information can contact 503-614-1682.
by Guest | Jun 22, 2018 | Being Well
Tillamook County Wellness continues it’s work because of the extraordinary level of engagement and collaboration among community partners and the community. The series “Why I’m In,” will feature what has inspired and motivated these efforts toward a common goal of improving community health. Michelle Jenck, health consultant, owner of Wholly Healthy LLC and the coordinator for Tillamook County Wellness under the Tillamook County Community Health Centers, kicks off the series.
“WHY I’M IN …” Michelle Jenck
What brought you/your organization into the Year of Wellness, now Tillamook County Wellness?
MICHELLE: For me, personally, I fell into this work by accident. Despite having severe asthma as a child, I began to exercise in high school and continued to expand my fitness practices through college and into my adult life. I found that I simply felt better, had better mental clarity and, well, honestly, my clothes just fit better when I worked out regularly. All that activity led me to develop a personal sense of awareness connecting how I moved with how I felt. Later, I began to do the same thing with my nutrition habits. A great deal of this motivation came from raising a child with special needs, observing how movement and nutrition played a role in his development and academic and social success. Anyone who knows me, knows I have been a passionate advocate for using movement and nutrition to help kids be more successful. That reputation led to me being “tapped” by Commissioner Baertlein for this work.
What changes have you seen as a result of YOW/Tillamook County Wellness?
MICHELLE: Since beginning as YOW/Tillamook County Wellness coordinator in 2015, I have had the pleasure of working with dozens of people who genuinely want to effect positive changes in their communities, workplaces, families and within themselves. There has been a shift in attitudes about our ability to improve population health. Ten years ago, I told a medical professional that I wanted to help children through improving P.E. and school nutrition. I was told, “Well, good luck beating your head against that brick wall.” In my experience, decision makers and citizens alike no longer view these kinds of changes as a pipe dream. They believe it is possible. And I think they believe that, in part, because of the work we are doing and because maintaining the status quo is no longer an option.
What have you learned from being involved in this work?
MICHELLE: I had a lot of assumptions about how things worked in terms of population health, and how I thought things should work. One thing I have learned is that there are more people working on societal challenges than most people are aware of. And, more importantly, these individuals and organizations do what they do because they want to be part of the solution. I have learned that there are barriers to be being fully effective and efficient in this work and many of these are outside of our control. Where we can make a difference, though, is in our own community, where we live and work and in our own family and personal life. We don’t always have to wait for a government policy to change or for special funding. We can figure out our own work arounds, our own funding sources and make it happen.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to you/your organization?
MICHELLE: For me, my wildest hopes are being realized. We are achieving critical mass in working toward having collective impact. My only goal was to be an agent of change and I feel like I have been able to do that.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to changing population health in Tillamook County?
MICHELLE: To demonstrate, at a grass-roots level, that measurable improvements to population health can be made and sustained. Specifically, though, my hope is that we raise children who know their worth and potential and who have the necessary skills to bring that to fruition. When people feel good and feel capable, they make better life choices and that translates to better health over their lifetime.
