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News ReleaseUniversity of Michigan School of Public Health helps launch Public Health Week in Michigan. April 3, 2006 press release from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. "As the only school of public health in our state, we believe we have a special role in serving the citizens of Michigan--both in educating the future workforce and in providing continuing education and training to the current workforce," said Dr. Parker. "We rely on our partnerships across the state to advance our goals of health promotion and health prevention." Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom, a graduate of UM SPH and the first state-level surgeon general in the nation, also spoke at the event, calling on individuals and organizations to work together on a community-wide approach to promote healthy and active lifestyles. Wisdom recognized 23 extraordinary communities, coalitions, and schools that have worked collaboratively to improve their communities (see list at right). "Their remarkable efforts have helped to create a safe and healthier Michigan for Michigan’s youngest citizens," said Dr. Wisdom. National Public Health Week 2006 focuses on empowering Americans to assess the status of the built environment (such sidewalks, neighborhood design, parks, roads, schools, etc.) and its impact on children’s health in the community. Local health departments, community coalitions, schools, businesses, healthcare, and faith-based organizations are encouraged to identify areas for improvement and implement model programs. Resources for communities are available at www.michiganstepsup.org. Dr. Parker, in her remarks during the Public Health Week kickoff, highlighted the work of Youth Empowerment Solutions for Peaceful Communities (YES). As YES focuses on middle-school students in Flint, Michigan, developing neighborhood-specific projects and park renovations designed to reduce youth violence, it works toward its goal of changing kids' behavior and changing the communities in which they live. The Fathers and Sons Project, another way UM SPH is working to improve lives of kids in Flint, was highlighted in a recent issue of UM SPH Findings magazine (PDF). UM SPH , the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health & Sports, the Michigan Public Health Association, the Michigan Public Health Institute and the Michigan Association for Local Public Health are partnering with Michigan Department of Community Health to implement Public Health Week activities in Michigan. To learn more about events taking place across the state this week, visit www.apha.org/nphw. Contact: Terri Mellow, UM SPH Director
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Michigan's 2006 Hometown Health Heroes: * Bendle Public Schools, Genesee County |
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University of Michigan School of Public Health (UM SPH) Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Edith Parker joined Michigan legislators, health department officials, and community partners in the State Capitol Rotunda in Lansing on March 29, 2006, to kick-off Public Health Week, which runs April 3-9. The theme for 2006 is "Designing Health Communities: Raising Healthy Kids." 
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