 New Hampshire delcares Chronic Disease Awareness Week. more >>
|
News & Information
New Hampshire declares Chronic Disease Awareness Week CONCORD, N.H., May 19, 2008 -- Governor John Lynch has declared May 25th-31st Chronic Disease Awareness Week in New Hampshire. The Governor asks NH citizens to celebrate the week by promoting healthy lifestyles changes and encourages people to become educated on chronic disease prevention, awareness, and management. Governor Lynch's proclamation is a combined effort along with the Council for Children & Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions and the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease to raise awareness for everyone in New Hampshire with a chronic health condition. Chronic disease affects the lives of nearly half a million New Hampshire residents. Two out of every five citizens live with a chronic disease and one in six children contend with a chronic health condition. These children and their families face numerous challenges, including education issues, medical concerns, and family support needs as a result of their health conditions. The Governor and the CCACHC urge the citizens of New Hampshire to improve the quality of health care for those with chronic disease and to promote chronic disease prevention awareness by making healthy lifestyle changes in their own communities, places of employment, schools, and homes. "Children with chronic illnesses and their families face numerous challenges," said Denise Brewitt, CCACHC's Executive Director. "Our goal is to educate parents and caregivers on these challenges and the many healthcare options they have. Education may lead to prevention. Governor Lynch's proclamation will go a long way towards helping us achieve that goal." Emergency treatment plans for kids with special or chronic health issues If your child has a chronic illness or special needs, there are several steps that you can take to better prepare for medical emergencies. The most important is the preparation of an emergency treatment plan. Other steps include:
Click here for more information. Youth Educating Adults on Healthcare releases 'Ready? Get Set. Go!' Youth Educating Adults on Healthcare (YEAH) helps teens and young adults get the information "Ready? Get Set. Go!" is a useful tool for those youth contending with a chronic health condition. Click here for more information. N.H. schools are learning to offer healthier foods By Denise Brewitt August 2, 2009 -- "Eat your vegetables!" is a command often uttered by Mom around the family dinner table. Who knew schoolteachers now deliver the same order? Click here for more information. Poor air quality is hurting kids in public schools By Denise Brewitt July 3, 2009 -- Outdoors, we're ever conscious of car and truck exhaust, factory smoke and windblown road dust, all factors that contribute to poor air quality. But indoor air can be just as harmful - particularly in schools. Half of our country's 115,000 schools have problems linked to indoor air quality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Many of these buildings are old or poorly maintained, exposing students to a variety of hazards including dust, mold and toxic chemicals. With nearly 55 million people spending their days inside elementary and secondary schools, unsatisfactory indoor air quality in schools is a significant public health concern. Exposure to allergens and respiratory irritants in indoor environments can cause severe allergic or asthmatic reactions. And poor environmental conditions in schools can inhibit learning and lower staff productivity. Click here for more information. Chronic disease is a pain for the Granite State By Denise Brewitt March 13, 2009 -- President Obama has stated that 2009 is the year to reform health care in America. While I am excited at the prospect of these reforms, I hope President Obama along with Senators Gregg and Shaheen and Congressmen Hodes and Shea Porter don't forget the biggest driver of our health care costs today: chronic disease. Click here for more information.
Council warns of pertussis upswing CONCORD, N.H., March 8, 2009 -- With New Hampshire officially in the throes of winter, the Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions (CCACHC) is reminding parents and caregivers of the importance of administering proper pertussis vaccinations to children and adolescents. Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, can pose a serious threat to children and adolescents with chronic health conditions, as they are more vulnerable to complications associated with these illnesses. Children with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease or those who have a weakened immune system are at a high risk for problems associated with many of these illnesses. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) states that pertussis typically occurs in three- to five-year cycles. There were 44 cases of pertussis reported to NH DHHS in 2008, 79 in 2007, and 227 in 2006. Given its cyclical occurrence, the NH DHHS believes pertussis activity will increase this winter. Because immunity to childhood pertussis vaccination wanes by adolescence, teens and adults are at risk for infection with pertussis. Children who are too young to be fully vaccinated and those who have not completed the primary vaccination series are at highest risk for severe illness. While pertussis may be mild in older people, it can cause significant morbidity in adults and can be transmitted to other susceptible people, including unimmunized and under-immunized infants. In these susceptible infants, infection with pertussis can lead to hypoxia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, and even death. Click here for more information.
A voice for kids with chronic illnesses By Daniel Barrick CONCORD, N.H., Dec. 14, 2008 -- Children with long-term health problems and their families have an advocate in the New Hampshire Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions. Established by the Legislature in 1997, the council works with other organizations to support the medical, social and educational needs of the estimated 42,000 New Hampshire children suffering from chronic health conditions. We recently spoke with Denise Brewitt, the council's executive director, to learn more. What exactly is a "chronic" health condition? It's a condition that's biologically based, that lasts for an extended period of time, and that requires more than the usual amount of medical care. It is not a developmental disability, but it includes conditions like diabetes, asthma, arthritis, cystic fibrosis, cancer, AIDS, allergies, heart conditions. There's no cure for a chronic health condition, but it is manageable. Give us an overview of the council's mission. Our role is to advocate for improved conditions for children and their families who contend with a chronic health condition. We have a broad mandate. We work with a lot of agencies around the state. We'll work with a school if there's an issue about how a school can better manage the health needs of a child. We also serve in an advisory capacity to the governor's office and state agencies: Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and the Department of Insurance. So, for instance, if a family is having issues with an insurance policy, we look at what the policy is and what the rules are, and, in some cases, we'll try to work with our legislators to address any problems. Click here for more information. Maintaining healthy indoor environments in N.H.’s public schools By Denise Brewitt
CONCORD, N.H., Nov. 12, 2008 -- Furniture, supplies and books block ventilation units. Curtains and other fabrics go unwashed. Throw rugs and pillows serve as a breeding ground for dust mites and mold. Click here for more information. Pelletier recognized as a Champion for ChildrenBy Michael Pon CONCORD, N.H., Oct. 23, 2008 -- Hillsborough’s Sylvia Pelletier, one of the original founding members of Childhood Cancer Lifeline of New Hampshire, was acknowledged at the recent Childhood Cancer Awareness Day in September for her efforts. The Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions presented her with the Champion for Children award. Pelletier and several other New Hampshire parents founded the Childhood Cancer Lifeline of New Hampshire in 1995. It is an all-volunteer organization that helps parents of children with cancer make ends meet, and access the resources available in the state. Pelletier and several other parents whose children were hospitalized in Boston area facilities during the early 90s returned with their children to New Hampshire to find there was no easy way of finding out what services were available to help them. “We came home and kind of had to figure that out for ourselves. As a result, a group of moms pulled together with the goal of supporting other families so the same thing wouldn’t happen to them,” Pelletier pointed out. “We identified some gaps initially. You could get Make a Wish, and many families could qualify for Medicaid, but it was the need for assistance for gas money, money for copays, replacing lost income because parents were missing work. It was for immediate needs that there were gaps. Because of that the Lifeline established some direct financial assistance programs in 1995 which are still in existence today.” Click here for more information.
State looks at improving air quality at old schools By Joseph G. Cote CONCORD, N.H., Oct. 14, 2008 -- A legislative study committee will study how many of the state’s aging schools can improve indoor air quality so tens of thousands of students will be able to learn in healthier environments. Click here for more information. Tips To Help Manage Chronic Illnesses In Children
Click here for more information. Protecting Children With Asthma And AllergiesCONCORD, N.H., May 27, 2008 -- Asthma and allergies are among the most common, chronic health conditions in the United States. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), nearly five million children in the U.S. have asthma, while allergic rhinitis (better known as hay fever) affects up to 40 percent of children. The AAAAI also estimates that children miss about two million school days each year because of allergy symptoms and 10 million days because of asthma. Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) declares May to be "National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month." It's peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers, so the New Hampshire Council for Children & Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions (CCACHC) is taking the month to educate parents and caregivers. "As parents, we should do everything possible to help our children live a life without limits," said Denise Brewitt, Executive Director of the CCACHC. "With proper diagnosis, prevention, and treatment options, there are no limits to what a person with allergies or asthma can do." Click here for more information. Making The Back-To-School Transition A Smooth One CONCORD, N.H., August 19, 2008 -- Heading back to school signals a time of transition: new books, new classes, new teachers, and new schedules. For children with chronic illnesses and their families, the transition can be a particularly anxious one. Parents and caregivers must relinquish control of the child’s medical care to school staff. Meanwhile, children must contend with fears of teasing or rejection from peers. "School plays a major role in the lives of children with chronic illnesses," said Denise Brewitt, executive director of the Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions (CCACHC). "Aside from the academics and the social interactions, school can be one of the only places where a young boy or girl contending with a chronic illness is treated as a child and a student, and not as a patient." According to CCACHC, approximately 1 in 6 New Hampshire children -- roughly 42,000 -- struggle with a chronic health condition. At least 10,000 of these children have severe to life-threatening illnesses. Chronic health conditions cover a wide variety of diagnoses, ranging from asthma and allergies to diabetes and hemophilia to neuromotor disorders (such as muscular dystrophy) and cancer. CCACHC is the only statewide organization that has a legislative mandate to focus on the issues affecting children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. Click here for more information. Chronic Disease Prevention By Maggie Hassan and Jack Barnes June 8, 2008 -- We spend more money each year maintaining our cars than we do maintaining our health in the U.S. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this country spends less per person on preventive health than the cost of an oil change. Meanwhile, chronic diseases such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and depression are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, affecting the lives of 90 million Americans. No effort to improve the health of the people of New Hampshire can afford to overlook the impact of chronic disease on our families Chronic diseases lead to seven out of every 10 deaths in the U.S., killing more than 1.7 million Americans every year. Studies by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease show total costs related to chronic disease have soared to approximately $3.3 billion and account for 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care. Click here for more information. Medical Homes Providing Effective Care For Those Children With Special Health Needs
Ever-rising health care costs, gaps in preventive care, and sub-par management of chronic conditions have forced many state public health agencies to focus on improving pediatric health care services, particularly for those children with -- or at risk for -- special health care needs. This is where the concept of the patient-centered medical home comes into play. Medical homes are not actual, physical dwellings, but a conceptual model for pediatric care that aims to simplify a process involving a complex set of health care needs. Built upon a coordinated and comprehensive partnership between health professionals and families, the goal of medical homes is to provide comprehensive primary care services, medical case management, and other medical and social support for children with special health care needs. Ideally, a medical homes approach gives parents a foundation upon which effective and efficient family-centered care can be planned and provided. It gives parents a "voice," as well as a better sense of their child's current care status and what future care will entail. The idea is to deviate away from fragmented care, and have the family, the primary care physician, and other service providers work to implement a specific care plan as an organized team. Click here for more information. DNC Blog: Raymond Mom Addresses New Hampshire Delegation By Paul Bush DENVER, August 26, 2008 -- Her son's rare disease brought a Raymond mother to speak to the New Hampshire delegation this morning during its first official breakfast in Denver. The breakfasts are a formal part of the schedule for all state delegations, where they listen to speakers and hear instructions from the party chair. Denise Brewitt spoke as executive director of the Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions, describing the economic toll that long-term diseases have on New Hampshire and the nation. New Hampshire spends $350 million a year on just obesity-related expenditures; a half-million of its residents are affected by diabetes, heart conditions and other diseases, she said. Brewitt caught the delegates' attention when she mentioned that her youngest son Ryan, now 6, is one of 10 children in the world known to have bleeding tumors in the majority of their body organs. Officially, the diseases is known as cutaneous visceral angiomatosis with thrombocytopenia. Ryan was 11 months old when doctors came up with the official diagnosis. Click here for more information. Click HERE to read: The Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions School Health Committee Report on Barriers to Access of Emergency Medications for School Age Children June 2007 |
