February 2001

Part 1
Tuesday, February 6, 2001
7:00—9:00 p.m.

Part 2
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
7:00—9:00 p.m.

Champaign Public Library
505 S. Randolph

Women experience unique mental health vulnerabilities over their lifespan given normal developmental stages, hormonal fluctuations, and life events. Please join us for a two-part program examining women and mental illness issues including depression, eating disorders, post-partum depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, menopausal hormonal imbalances, medications, etc. Each evening will be a complete and independent workshop viewing Dan E. Weisburd’s documentary film, "Women and Mental Illness" narrated by Margot Kidder. Each half of the film will be followed by a discussion led by professionals specializing in women’s health and mental health issues. If you wish to view the entire video, please plan to attend both sessions.

Guest Speakers:
Dr. Linda Derum, Psychiatrist
Dr. Peggy Pearson, Psychiatrist
Ms. Bonnie Kaufman, Therapist
Dr. Anne Isenberg, Psychologist
Dr. Anne Robbins, MD

Operation Heartbeat is holding Community CPR Day 2001 on April 28, 2001 (a Saturday). This is a free day of CPR at 17 sites across a 6 county area for anyone who want to learn adult CPR. This is not intended for people who need CPR for their jobs, but rather want to learn this skill to help their family and friends if the need arises.

For further information, contact:

Tasha Cohen
Link to Life Coordinator
Carle Hospital Education
217-326-2675

A 90 minute introduction to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR)

When:
Thursday, February 22
7:00—8:30 p.m.
OR
Saturday, February 24
10:00—11:30 a.m.

Where: Family Service Conference Room, 405 S. State Street, Champaign

Learn methods that can be applied to the management of stress related work, family, illness or just plain life. Skills acquired may benefit support group facilitators and member and aid in symptom management.

Stress has come to be a part of life in our fast paced world. In fact, many of us have become so adapted to the stresses in our lives that we don’t even notice the resulting chronic state of tension until it spills over into stress related symptoms such as headaches, stomach problems, back aches or insomnia.

Through the use of breathing techniques, guided exercises and gentle stretching, participants will be given the opportunity to experience deep relaxation and to tap into their own inner resources for utilizing these skills in daily life. The techniques are simple, the results when practiced regularly are potentially profound, and it is FUN and RELAXING.

Wear comfortable, loose clothing and bring a mat or towel for floor exercises.

Instructor: Clare Margiotta, LCSW

For further information: Call the Self-Help Center at 352-0099 or e-mail selfhelp@prairienet.org

Advance registration requested. The cost is $5.00 per participant.

An 8-week experiental course providing an introduction to:

• Self-help groups,
• Group formation and maintenance,
• Leadership strategies,
• Facilitation and
• Diversity in groups, and
• Internet resources

Instructors:

Laurie Kramer, Associate Profession, University of IL Dept. of Human and Community Development

Sharon Monday-Dorsey, Self Help Center Coordinator, Family Service

Open to University students and to the general public.

For Further Information:
The Office of Continuing Education, Division of Academic Outreach by phone (333-3061) or e-mail: inforequest@talon.outreach.uiuc.edu
Or
The Self-Help Center of Family Service by phone (352-0099) or e-mail: selfhelp@prairienet.org

A training session to learn to assess, plan, and implement treatments to help patients who use tobacco products. This includes use of carbon monoxide monitors, AHCRP guidelines, stages of changes, and other valuable information. Mark Holley of the Nicotine Recovery Services will be the instructor of this one-day class, and lunch and snacks will be provided.

Provides 7.7 INA CEU's and FREE FOOD!!!

Please join us on one of the following dates:
Thursday, February 22nd, 8:30 a.m.— 4:30 p.m. in the Auxiliary Conference Room at the Forum

OR

Thursday, March 22nd, 8:30 a.m.— 4:30 p.m. in the Physician's Conference Room at the Forum

OR

Tuesday, April 24th, 8:30 a.m.— 4:30 p.m. in the Auxiliary Conference room at the Forum

NOT Screening in no longer an option

March is National Colorectal Cancer Month. Thanks to the efforts of celebrities like Katie Couric, the public is becoming much more aware of this form of cancer and of the need for screening at the age of 50. According to the American Cancer Society, each year 131,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and about 55,000 die of this disease. This form of cancer is preventable with screening and curable with early detection.

The American Cancer Society recommends that everyone of average risk be screened at the age of 50. Their options for this are:

• Beginning at age 50, have an annual fecal occult blood test, and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, or

• Beginning at age 50, have a colonoscopy at 10 year intervals, or

• Beginning at age 50, have a double-contrast barium enema every 5 to 10 years.

These guidelines apply to low risk patients without symptoms. People at higher risk for colorectal cancer (those who have had colorectal cancer or polyps, or who have inflammatory bowel disease, or who have blood relatives who have had colorectal cancer) may need to have one of these tests done earlier and more often.

Remember that early detection can save your life. We might still be enjoying Charlie Brown and Snoopy if Charles Schultz had been screened earlier. If you are 50, talk to your doctor about scheduling a screening. Those of us who work in GI feel that colonoscopy is the best screening tool. Many health insurance providers are now providing coverage for colonoscopy, the only screening method that evaluates the entire colon, for their average risk patients. NOT screening is no longer an option. Please talk to your doctor soon about colorectal cancer and colonoscopy.

There will be a community awareness program at the Carle Forum
Auditorium on March 22, 2001. It will be held from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

There will be some educational/ information booths set up in the lobby

for viewing before and after the program. Dr. Eugene Greenberg, MD

Gastroenterology department and Dr. Kendrith Rowland MD Carle Cancer

Center will be speaking. Please plan on coming and learning about colorectal

Prayer List

Kim Busboom
Sandy Ater
Rosie Graham
Marty Rosenbery
Tammy Tucker
Joyce Williamson
Our pastors and pastoral staff
All parish nurses—for their health
and for their ministry
Our families—all families—that are struggling
to raise children with strong values in a world
that seems to reject values

Please call Bev at 326-2583 if you can take blood pressures at the next Mallpacer event in Champaign County.

How many of you know STUFFEE? Stuffee, is Carle's 7' stuffed doll who delights children as they learn about good eating habits and what happens to food once it is eaten. Stuffee zips open to reveal his soft-sculptured internal organs, primarily those of the digestive system.

Stuffee needs a friend to accompany him on outings. These community outings are usually during the day Monday through Friday. Sometimes Stuffee is requested to attend a parade (example: White Heath Festival parade, Fourth of July parade, Hoopeston Sweetcorn Festival parade, etc.), but he has to have a friend to accompany him.

Happy Valentine’s Day/Heart Month! Our office is full of material from the AHA. If you are in need of any literature/handouts/bulletin board information, please stop by or give us a call.

Our Spring 2001 class begins March 3 and I would appreciate any help I can get with set-up, clean-up, meals or breaks. Give me a call if you can help 3/2-3/3, 3/30-3/31, or 4/27-4/28. The classes will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran, healing service at St. Patrick Catholic and dedication at Grace United Methodist. All three of these churches are in Urbana. Also in this newsletter is a prayer support calendar for this class for your review.

We are looking for prayer support for the Spring 2001 Classes. The following dates and times are available. You can sign up for a specific time to pray for the class, please call Faith at 326-2683.

March 2—evening
March 3– morning
March 3—afternoon
March 30—evening
March 31—morning
March 31—afternoon
April 27—evening
April 28—morning
April 28—afternoon

 ******What incredible creativity*******

February

American Heart Month
Contact: American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231
Website: www.americanheart.org

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Contact: Cancer Research Foundation of America, American Digestive Health Foundation, and National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
1600 Duke Street, Suite 110, Alexandria, VA 22314
Website: www.preventcancer.org

April

Alcohol Awareness Month
Contact: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., 12 West 21st Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010
Website: www.ncadd.org

National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Contact: National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, 200 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60604
Website:  www.parentsoup.com/library/organizations/bpd0325.html

16-22
National Infants Immunization Week
Contact: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mail Stop E52, Atlanta, GA 30333
Website: www.cdc.gov/nip

17-23
National Minority Cancer Awareness Week
Contact: Cancer Information Service, NCI Office of Cancer, Communications, Building 31, Room 10A16, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesday, MD 20892
Website: http://cis.nci.nih.gov/

16-22
National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week
Contact: National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016
Website: www.shareyourlife.org

How DO you decide who to marry?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
Kirsten, age 10

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What is the right age to get married?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person forever by then.
Camille, age 10

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How can a stranger tell if two people are married?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
Derrick, age 8

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What do you think your mom and dad have in common?

Both don’t want any more kids.
Lori, age 8

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What do most people do on a date?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.

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What would you do on a first date that was turning sour?

I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
Craig, age 9

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When is it okay to kiss someone?

When they’re rich.
Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
Curt, age 6

The rule goes like this. If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.
Howard, age 8

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Is it better to be single or married?

It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
Anita, age 9

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How would the world be different if people didn’t get married?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
Kevin, age 9

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And my personal favorite….

How would you make a marriage work?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a truck.
Ricky, age 10

The Circuit Breaker program provides annual grants to reimburse eligible persons for some of the money they paid for property taxes, mobile home taxes, rent, or nursing home charges.

The Pharmaceutical Assistance Program currently helps pay part of the costs for prescription medications used to treat arthritis, heart disease, blood pressure problems, diabetes (including insulin, syringes and needles used to administer insulin), cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma, lung disease or smoking-related illnesses. Check with a participating pharmacy before you apply for this program to make sure your medicines qualify. You must apply for Pharmaceutical Assistance each year you want to participate.

To qualify for Pharmaceutical Assistance in 2001, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be disabled or age 65 or older.
• You must live in Illinois at the time you file the claim.
• You must have an annual income of $21,218 or less ($28,480 for couples, or $35,740 for a three-person household).
• You must file Form IL-1363, Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance Claim.

If you qualify for the program, the amount you pay for Pharmaceutical Assistance coverage is based on your income.

Also, if you participate in the Circuit Breaker program, the cost of license plates is reduced to $24. Persons who own more than one car can obtain the fee reduction on only one vehicle.

For more information contact:
Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical Assistance Division
Illinois Dept. of Revenue
1-800-624-2459
TDD 1-800-544-5304
___________
Another way to find out about senior assistance, prescription assistance or other services in your area is through the nationwide Elder Care Locator. Just dial 1-800-677-1116 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.