Highlights

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#990000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gcchc.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gcchc.org"><U>Home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U>Calendar</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grant County Information"><U>Grant County Information</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Health Council"><U>Health Council</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Council Staff"><U>Council Staff</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Community Meetings "><U>Community Meetings </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="InterAgency Alliance"><U>InterAgency Alliance</U></A></div> <div> Highlights </div> <div> <A HREF="id453.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resource Directory 2007"><U>Resource Directory 2007</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Grant County Community Health Council   </B></div> <div> Highlights </div> <div> Read more about recent Health Council events in Grant County! </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cancer_support_service_expand_in" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Cancer support expands in Grant County</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#workforce_" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Workforce development tackled by Health Council</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#health_council_wraps_up_county_wide" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Health Council wraps up county-wide focus groups</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#community_enhancement_fund_announces" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Community Enhancement Fund awardees</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#hot_mama_s_" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hot Mamas win Spring Fitness Cup Challenge</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#community_enhancement_fund_unveiled" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Community Enhancement Fund unveiled</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#grant_county_begins_fitness_challenge_" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Grant County begins Fitness Cup Challenge</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#fitness_and_nutrition_new_county" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Health Council adds fitness and nutrition as priority</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#coucil_brings_in__15_for_county_wellness" TITLE="Highlights "><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">$15 Million leveraged by Health Council</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="cancer_support_service_expand_in"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Cancer support service expand in southwest New Mexico </div> <div> Silver City, New Mexico, January 11, 2008:  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Walt Hanson knows first-hand the turmoil cancer can cause in a person's life. As a prostate cancer survivor he says, “People think the worry starts when you are diagnosed, but it begins much earlier. The doctor requesting a biopsy or testing and what that means, or, even, earlier with a family history of cancer or when someone learns they are at-risk for cancer, that's the time people need support and information.” Support and information are exactly the two services being expanded in southwest New Mexico, thanks to a partnership between Gila Regional Medical Center, the New Mexico Department of Health and the Health Councils' of Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna Counties. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Establishing cancer support groups in all four counties is the primary goal of the partnership. According to Mary Ann Buckley, with Gila Regional Medical Center's Cancer Program, support groups are essential for a well-rounded cancer program for southwest New Mexico, “Cancer prevention, screenings, treatment and support creates a full continuum of care for our community. Gila Regional is working on the treatment side with the Cancer Center. The support groups are part of expanding the cancer support services, along with the development of a cancer resource center at Gila Regional, to give patients and their families the information they need.” An expanded cancer support system is desperately needed with 7,550 new cases of cancer diagnosed in New Mexico in 2004, according to the Center for Disease Control reported.  </div> <bR> <div> As a cancer survivor, Hanson knows how important information and support can be to cancer patients and their families. Hanson is co-leading the Prostate Cancer Support Group, one of the three cancer support groups established in Grant County initiated or expanded by the effort. Hanson says, “Right now, the best cure for cancer we have available is early detection and treatment. Support groups offer direction for both these elements with information and personal experiences to face the uncertainty and challenges cancer can cause.”  People Living Through Cancer, a non-profit cancer survivorship organization, trained Hanson and his counterpart, David Schwantes, as support group facilitators with a dozen other residents of southwest New Mexico.  Each of the four counties has tailored their support groups for the specific needs in their community.</div> <bR> <div> Susie Trujillo, executive committee member for the New Mexico Cancer Council, says such support services are imperative to the thousands of New Mexicans diagnosed with cancer each year.  “Expanding support services, and having them fit the needs of the community, like our rural southwest New Mexico, is the focus of the Cancer Council's work.”</div> <bR> <div> Grant County residents felt those with cancer were not the only ones in need of support, according to Susan Snedeker, “Cancer is a disease that affects the whole family and the family's support and understanding is vital to the patient's survival and recovery.” Snedeker is leading a support group for caregivers and family members of those with cancer and other serious diseases. “Sometimes its nice to hear someone else telling the same story you are feeling,” Snedeker says<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Gila Regional's Cancer Support Group is the third group meeting in Grant County. Led by Leslie Willis, the group is open to patients, survivors, family members and those at-risk to cancer. “People are cancer survivors the minute they are diagnosed,” says Willis, a social worker for Gila Regional Medical Center who offers one-to-one counseling and group sessions for those with cancer. “Every month the group selects a topic to discuss. It's important to get correct information to people, because some of the information found on the Internet is conflicting and confuses patients. We want patients and their families to have the best information available from the most reliable sources,” says Willis, “These support groups give patients and families the education, understanding and support they need cope with this serious illness.”</div> <bR> <div> The Gila Regional Cancer Support Group next meets Friday, February 22, 2008 at 6 p.m. at the Gila Regional Medical Center's Board Room, 1313 E. 32<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> St. The Prostrate Cancer Support Group will resume meeting on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Grant County Community Health Council office, 3202 N. Ridge Loop (on the corner of 32<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> St. and Ridge Loop). The Caregivers Support Group meets on Thursday, January 17, 2008, at 6 p.m. in the same location, 3202 N. Ridge Loop (on the corner of 32<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> St. and Ridge Loop).</div> <bR> <div> Call the Grant County Community Health Council at 388-1198 ext. 10 for more information on the cancer support groups in the area. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="workforce_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Workforce development tackled by Health Council </div> <div> Silver City, New Mexico, September 15, 2006:  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >The Grant County Community Health Council is tackling the rising community concerns about workforce development with a series of input sessions tailored for employers and employees with the partnership of the Southwest Council of Governments. Beverly Allen-Ananins, Health Council coordinator, says the issue is a deep one in the community, “In every one of the nine focus groups we had in the county over the last two months workforce issues were a top concern. Employers say they are having trouble finding workers and employees are concerned about the rising costs of health insurance and receiving a living wage.” </FONT></div> <bR> <div>  Heath Council member, Tony Trujillo says, “Employers and employees have very different concerns about workforce development; we want to make certain we hear those concerns and as a community make an action plan that can solve those issues.” </div> <bR> <div> Because of the diverse differences in the two groups-who are inevitably linked together through the employer/employee relationship, the Health Council is planning these input sessions to built the foundations for a Workforce Development Forum, tentatively scheduled for November 3, 2006 at the WNMU Bess-Forward Global Resource Center. </div> <bR> <div> Allen-Ananins explains, “The Speak Up, Grant County focus groups brought the issue to our attention, this series of sessions will give us more concise input about what are the top concerns of both groups. The Health Council wants to coordinate an entire community response to the workforce dilemma in our area.” </div> <bR> <div> Recently, the Health Council has been a key-coordinator in aiding businesses and local government agencies to work together to solve the lack of childcare in the county, another workforce development concern. Without ample childcare, parents are forced to stay home and care for children, instead of joining the workforce. Terry Anderson, Director of WNMU Child Care Center and a Health Council member, recently reported that their center had a waiting list of over 300 children for childcare. Thanks to a bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Bingaman after he heard how grave the childcare situation was in the county; the community has received $200,000 to build a child center. </div> <bR> <div> The Health Council hopes the Workforce Development Forum will be a change for the community to come together and link agencies, employees, education and government together to solve the underlying issues in our county. </div> <bR> <div> The<B> employer input sessions</B> are scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, 2006 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Silver City Annex in the upstairs meeting room and on Tuesday, October 10, 2006, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bayard Community Center. The <B>employee input sessions </B>are scheduled for Tuesday, October 17, 2006, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Gila Regional Medical Center's Board Room and Tuesday, October 24, 2006 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bayard Community Center. Please RSVP for either the employer or employee sessions by calling Beverly Allen at 388-1857.  </div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="health_council_wraps_up_county_wide"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Health Council wraps up county-wide focus groups</div> <div> Silver City, New Mexico, August 23, 2006:  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >The Grant County Community Health Council wrapped up its final county focus group in Tyrone last week in an effort to begin gauging the health and wellness needs of the area. “This is the last of the nine focus groups we have conducted in the county,” said Beverly Allen-Ananins, Health Council Coordinator. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> The Health Council conducted focus groups in every corner of Grant County during September and August, including: Bayard, Cliff/Gila area, Hachita, Hurley, Mimbres, Santa Clara, Silver City and Tyrone. Connie Hostetler, Senior Life Cycle coordinator for the Health Council, conducted some of the focus groups, “People were happy we came out to their communities, sometimes the outlying areas of the county feel forgotten. They were grateful to have their voice heard.”</div> <bR> <div> Carmen Ortiz, a Mimbres resident, was impressed by the focus group held in her community at the Mimbres Roundup Lodge, “The major concern was the lack of a law enforcement in Mimbres, which has been a long time issue. Also the need for more activities for teens out here.” Ortiz has partnered up with other people to create a playgroup for toddlers and a support group for those caring for young children be they parents, grandparents or guardians. “I learned so much that was happening in Mimbres at the focus group and it inspired me to become more involved in my community,” Ortiz said.</div> <bR> <div> Tara Rose participated in the Silver City focus group; “I found it so exciting that everyone was on the same page. People shared their personal concerns that all fit into the bigger picture. A lot of good ideas came out of the group.”</div> <bR> <div> Rose said the major concern in her group was the lack of funds to support change, “In order to manifest great ideas the community needs money.” Hopefully the focus groups and the upcoming survey will aid in securing funds. The last Health Council county assessment in 2001 helped leverage over $18 million for the community. Allen-Ananins hopes that with more resident participating in the 2006 survey, the more positive outcomes will be seen by residents. “If the county can validate its needs and priorities with concrete data then funding opportunities won't pass us by,” said Allen-Ananins.  </div> <bR> <div> The last assessment aided in securing funds for the Family Support Centers and the Volunteer Center. Community health has a wide scope of interest according to Allen-Ananins who reported funds went to such diverse works as sidewalks, public transit, and community health centers. “</div> <bR> <div> The focus groups are part of the `Speak Up, Grant County!' initiative to assess Grant County's concerns for the Department of Health and to aid the Health Council in setting its priorities for the next four-years. The focus groups' input will aid in the creation of a county survey that will be mailed every home in Grant County with a stamped returned envelope in September. The Health Council is also partnering with area businesses and municipalities to distribute surveys to employees. To reach everyone the Health Council will have a booth at local events like the Red Hot Children's Fiesta and the Farmer's Market were residents will be able to fill out a survey.</div> <bR> <div> For more information on the community assessment call the Health Council at 538-0200.</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="community_enhancement_fund_announces"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Community Enhancement Fund announces awardees</div> <div> Silver City, New Mexico, May 25, 2006:  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Two local centers are the first awardees of the Phelps Dodge/Community Health Council's Community Enhancement Fund. The Restorative Justice Center and the Volunteer Center will both be hosting international educators in Grant County thanks to the fund. </FONT></div> <div> Dates will be announced. </div> <bR> <div> The Community Enhancement Fund was created by a $100,000 donation from Phelps Dodge from money received by the company for the local filming of the mining-drama <I>North Country. </I>The fund seeks to bring renowned speakers and trainings to Grant County, allowing the entire community to be enriched by events that focus on the Health Council's five priority areas: economic development, family resiliency, fitness and nutrition, domestic violence and substance abuse. </div> <bR> <div> The Volunteer Center will be bringing renowned poverty educator, Ruby K. Payne of Connecticut to address the economic development issue in Grant County. Payne's philosophy on poverty, according to Alicia Edwards, executive director of the Volunteer Center, “discusses the extent of which an individual does without specific resources and resources can be diverse, including: financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems, relationships/role models, knowledge of hidden rules and coping strategies.”</div> <bR> <div> Payne contends that poverty is something more complex than just a lack of money in her training.</div> <div> The program, “Bridges out of Poverty: Strategies for Professional and Communities,” is tentatively planned to take place at the Global Resource Center at WNMU.</div> <bR> <div> The second grant recipient will involve training and education in restorative justice and conflict resolution, a new response to crime that recognizes the harm done to victims. Stephane Trustoroff Luchini, program coordinator of the<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" > </FONT>Restorative Justice Community Center of Grant County, explains the concept as, “providing victims an opportunity to meet the offender to express the impact of the crime, ask questions, and seek meaningful reparation.  It provides offenders the opportunity to take meaningful responsibility for their actions and make agreements to repair the harm. “ </div> <bR> <div> The program, “Circle Processes for Restorative Justice and Conflict Resolution," will be taught by internationally known restorative justice trainer and scholar Kay Pranis of Minnesota this fall. The grant will help make this training available to staff of local schools and social service organizations, as well as practitioners of the restorative justice model.</div> <bR> <div> The Community Enhancement Fund is currently seeking proposals. Preference will be given to proposals that include the following components: Health Council priorities; enhances or improves the Mining District region of Bayard, Hurley and Santa Clara; supports core team and Life Cycle activities; and offers diverse population participation. The Fund helps to defer costs for speakers that are leaders in their fields and training programs. It aims to expand the community's knowledge and base of information allowing for partnerships and growth of services as a whole county, not one person at a time.</div> <bR> <div> The Community Enhancement Fund next submission of proposal deadlines is Friday, July 7, 2005. Future submission deadlines are: Oct. 6 and Jan. 6, 2007. Notification of award will be two to four weeks after the proposal submission deadlines. </div> <div> Proposals are available at the Health Council's web site <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gcchc.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gcchc.org"><U><U>http://www.gcchc.org</U></U></A></FONT> at the Health Council's office at 1310 E. 32<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> St. or by calling Kendra Milligan at 388-9708 ext. 13.  </div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="hot_mama_s_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Hot Mama's win Spring Fitness Cup Challenge</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Black" ><IMG SRC="18d0b640.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="356" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Silver City, New Mexico, June 21, 2006:  </FONT>The Hot Mama's of Fort Bayard Medical Center strode to victory this spring in the Grant County Health Council's Fitness Cup Challenge. Team winners were announced at the awards ceremony at Penny Park on Friday. The Lean Cuisine team of Gila Regional Medical Center were second; Step Ups ranked third; the 32<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> St. Misfits continued their substantial progress from last year to hold fourth place and the Pressing On team rounded out the top five overall winners. </div> <bR> <div> During the Fitness Cup Challenge, county residents clip on pedometers and count their daily steps to see who will take home the coveted Fitness Cup. This year medals were also handed out to the Best Stepper and Most Improved in each team. The Grant County Community Health Council and the Public Health Department joined forces to ensure this year's Challenge was bigger and better than ever. Last year teams walked over 100,000 miles in the two challenges held. This year the 29 teams averaged up to 350,000 steps a day with 270 challengers reporting in. That is over 2 million steps a week from the participants, or over 1,500 miles a week in walking. </div> <bR> <div> All that walking helped many residents stride towards better health. Kay Stailey of the T.O.P.S. (Taking off Pounds Sensibly) team said the Challenged positively impacted her health. All of her steps helped lowered her blood pressure by 40 points, and cut her medication in half. Stailey said, “The Fitness Challenge is great for the community and brings us all together; more people should join to experience the benefits better fitness can bring to their lives.” </div> <bR> <div> Sunny McFarren of the Gila Regional Medical Center's Sugarfoot team tripled her daily steps over the course of the six-week Challenge to win the Most Improved member of her team. McFarren said she started with small changes in her daily routine to accomplish her win, “I started by taking the stairs at work, parking further from my office, and then when I saw my steps increase I started to walk to work on days I didn't need a car.” She plans on keeping up her strides to participate in the Fall Fitness Cup Challenge. </div> <bR> <div> Sherry Klements of the overall winning team, Hot Mamas, was elated with her team's victory, “We all walked together. It helped to keep the team motivated.” Klements was also awarded Best Stepper of the Hot Mama team. Eva Purcell was awarded the Most Improved member for the Hat Mama's team. Their team averaged a weekly individual step total of 22,097, roughly 7 miles a day. The Hot Mamas will proudly display the Fitness Cup at Fort Bayard Medical Center until the next Fitness Cup Challenge when they will defend their ownership of the award against all challengers. </div> <bR> <div> Gary Stailey, co chair of the Grant County Community Health Council was astounded at the results. “Last year the teams walked equivalent to three times around the earth. This year we will see if we can make it far enough to reach the moon.” Stailey thinks the county teams can span the equivalent distance between the earth and moon, which is over 256,000 miles. The thought isn't impossible at all with the teams walking over 66,000 miles during each of the previous four Challenges. Hopefully, by the end of the Fall 2006 Challenge participants will span that vast distance of space in just 42 weeks of walking, over a 3-year period.</div> <bR> <div> The Fall Fitness Cup Challenge will begin in September 2006. For more information on the Fitness Cup Challenge call Melvyn Gelb at 538-5318 ext 112. For more information on the Health Council call 388-9708 ext. 13.  </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Photo:</B></I><I> Sherry Klements (left) and Eva Purcell show off the strides that carried their team, Hot Mamas, to victory in the Health Council's Fitness Cup Challenge at Penny Park.</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="community_enhancement_fund_unveiled"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Community Enhancement Fund unveiled</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Black" >Silver City, New Mexico, February 7, 2006:  </FONT>The film <I>North Country,</I> that netted Charlize Theron an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, will net Grant County something even better than a gold-plated statue this year. Funds received by Phelps Dodge from the filming of <I>North Country</I> in the area's mines will be used to found the Phelps Dodge & Grant County Community Health Council's Community Enhancement Fund. </div> <div>  </div> <div> “We wanted the community to set its priorities for this gift,” said Rick Mohr, general manager for the New Mexico Operations of Phelps Dodge. “That is why we came to the Health Council: They have an extensive process in place to understand the most pressing needs in the county.” </div> <bR> <div> The $100,000 donation from the company will be utilized by the community in the form of the Community Enhancement Fund on priority areas affecting the county's wellness as assessed in the Community Health Improvement Plan, which is ratified by the County Commission. </div> <div>   </div> <div> The Community Enhancement Fund seeks to bring renowned speakers and trainings to Grant County, allowing the entire community to be enriched by events that focus on the Health Council's five priority areas: economic development, family resiliency, fitness and nutrition, domestic violence and substance abuse. </div> <bR> <div> Dr. Don Johnson, Health Council member, says the fund offers the community an opportunity in growth, “By bringing events to Grant County, it increases the number of organizations and community members that are able to attend.” Small rural communities and organizations often spend large portions of their funding to send a single person to a professional training. This allows Grant County an opportunity to experience trainings as a community and not individuals sent long distances to attend a training alone. </div> <bR> <div> Ralph Gauer, interim Executive Director of the Silver City-Grant County Economic Development Corporation (SIGRED), says the events from the fund will “position Grant County as not just a learner, but as a leader where these kinds of ideas are nurtured and propagated.” Gauer adds that by bringing professional speakers and trainings to the county it will “increase our visibility in the state and region. Bringing in speakers of the quality you are proposing will make Grant County a `smart spot' on the map: We'll develop a reputation for fostering discussion and study of these important issues, and that will certainly bring along economic development benefits.” </div> <bR> <div> The Community Enhancement Fund is currently seeking proposals. Preference will be given to proposals that include the following components: Health Council priorities; enhances or improves the Mining District region of Bayard, Hurley and Santa Clara; supports core team and Life Cycle activities; and offers diverse population participation. The Fund helps to defer costs for speakers that are leaders in their fields and training programs. It aims to expand the community's knowledge and base of information allowing for partnerships and growth of services as a whole county, not one person at a time.</div> <bR> <div> The Community Enhancement Fund submissions of proposal deadlines are: April 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>, July 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>, and October 6, 2006 and January 6, 2007. Notification of award will be two to four weeks after the proposal submission deadlines. </div> <bR> <div> Proposals are available at the Health Council's web site <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gcchc.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gcchc.org"><U><U>http://www.gcchc.org</U></U></A></FONT> at the Health Council's office at 1310 E. 32<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> St. or by calling Kendra Milligan at 388-9708 ext. 13.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="grant_county_begins_fitness_challenge_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Grant County begins fitness challenge </div> <div> Silver City, New Mexico, September 23, 2004:  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >The Grant County Community Health Council's Fitness Cup Challenge began this week. Over 300 Grant County residents </FONT></div> <div> are clipping on pedometers to count their daily steps to compete for the Fitness Cup.</div> <bR> <div> The Health Council members have gathered teams from their sectors including Gila Regional Medical Center, Western New Mexico University, Silver Consolidated Schools, Public Health, local churches, the District Attorney's office and many more, to participate in the Challenge. The 10-week challenge aims at raising awareness of the need for exercise in everyone's daily life. Two Fitness Cups will be awarded one for the team with the most steps and the other for most improved team.  </div> <bR> <div> Participant Carmen Ortiz is excited about the Challenge, “I need the exercise.” Ortiz says wearing her pedometer for the last few days has raised her awareness of the exercise in her life. “I have more steps today than on Monday. It [the number of steps] goes up every day I wear the pedometer,” Ortiz said.</div> <bR> <div> Health Council co chair, Gary Stailey, is enthusiastic about the Challenge. Stailey said the Council is totaling the miles walked by the teams and will report the distance by circling the earth. “We'll go around the earth then shoot for the stars,” said Stailey, who believes the 28 teams will circumference the earth by the end of this Challenge and can start walking the distance between the earth and the moon by the next. </div> <bR> <div> Melvyn Gelb, Diabetes Public Health Nurse and originator of the Fitness Challenge, stated that the scientific studies have found “walking a mile a day will prevent diabetes and heart disease.” Gelb feels wearing a pedometers raises people's awareness of how far they walk every day. “This Challenge will help us have a healthier community. I am awe inspired by the participation and once again I find out that this is a great community,” Gelb added.</div> <bR> <div> Raising community fitness and nutrition were prioritized by the Health Council at last month's meeting joining the Council's other top priorities for Grant County: bringing sustainable economic development to the area, lowering the occurrence of domestic violence in the county, increasing the number of resilient families in the community, and lowering the rate of substance abuse in the county.</div> <bR> <div> For more information on the Grant County Community Health Council please call Kendra Milligan at 388-9708 ext 13. </div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="fitness_and_nutrition_new_county"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Fitness and Nutrition new priority for Council</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Silver City, New Mexico, August 30, 2004:</B></FONT>  Fitness and nutrition have been added as top priorities for Grant County wellness by the Grant County Community Health Council at last week's meeting.</div> <bR> <div> Melvyn Gelb, Diabetes Public Health Nurse, reported to the Health Council that over 56 percent of Grant County adults are overweight or obese and 25 percent of Grant County's children are overweight or obese. “We are the majority,” Gelb joked, whom has struggled with obesity since childhood. But Gelb is seriously concerned about the consequences of lack of physical exercise and poor nutrition is having on our community. </div> <bR> <div> In a 2002 survey, 78 percent of Grant County residents reported not exercising at all in the last 30 days. Also, 67 percent of 9th -12th graders reported not eating the recommended 5 fruits and vegetables a day on the 2001 Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey. With 9 types of cancer attributed to lack of physical activity and poor diet, Gelb worries for the health of our county residents, “Obesity is moving to the forefront as a preventable killer in the United States.” </div> <bR> <div> Charlie Alfero, Hidalgo Medical Services CEO and Health Council member, stated, “The two most frequent reasons people visit HMS is diabetes and hypertension, and those two conditions and poor diet and lack of exercise are directly related.”</div> <bR> <div> Gelb reported that $324 million is spent for obesity related problems in New Mexico alone, and $10 million more was spent treating diabetes over any other illness in Grant County. </div> <bR> <div> Health Council member, Tony Trujillo said, “The issue of obesity is one the Health Council will have to prioritize, if not now, than later and at a cost to our community. This is without a doubt a major priority in its financial cost to the county and the health of our community.”</div> <bR> <div> The Health Council will be joining the work that the community is all ready doing with community health groups like Fitness and Nutrition in Schools, FANS, and the Public Health Department's core team on raising exercise activity in county. Also, the Health Council will be offering a Fitness Challenge in September to promote physical activity in the area.</div> <bR> <div> Fitness and Nutrition joins the Heath Council's other priorities for the county: increasing the number of <I>resilient families</I>, lower the occurrence of <I>domestic violence</I>, lowering the rate of <I>substance abuse</I>, and raising the <I>economic developmen</I>t of the community.</div> <bR> <div> For more information on the Grant County Community Health Council please call Kendra Milligan at 388-9708 ext 13. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="coucil_brings_in__15_for_county_wellness"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Black" ><B>Council brings in $15 Million for County Wellness</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Silver City, New Mexico, September 2004</B>: In the last three years, the Grant County Community Health Council (GCCHC) has leveraged over $15 million in grant money for the community. That is a ratio of 60 dollars for the community for every one dollar invested in the council, making the GCCHC one of the top councils in the state for leveraging funds for the community. </div> <bR> <div> As part of Gila Regional Medical Center's community outreach, the Health Council is an invaluable asset to the community assessing, planning and coordinating community efforts to raise the quality of life in Grant County.</div> <bR> <div>  “It is the community partners that deserve the real credit for the $15 million in grant money brought to our county.”  The GCCHC is a diverse group of county leaders appointed by the Grant County Commission to serve as a health and wellness planning authority. The Health Council helps coordinate the efforts of the community to fill health and wellness gaps and needs. The council lend its support and backing to the community's effort to better itself and that has paid off with such programs as the Medication Assistance Program, Family Support Centers, the First Born Program and the newly opened Volunteer Center; all of which were created by our community outreach groups, called Life Cycles. The Life Cycles find creative and unique ways to meet Grant County's needs.</div> <bR> <div> This year's Life Cycle success was the opening of the Volunteer Center at 915 Santa Rita St. According to Lisa Grinnell, Director of the Volunteer Center, “The center would not have been possible without the GCCHC and Life Cycles. They helped change a dream into a reality. This is how social action changes the community.” Since 2001, over 50 community members, many Life Cycle members, have been involved with making the Volunteer Center a reality. The center's vision is to match volunteers with agencies, organizations, and individuals that need volunteers in the community. </div> <bR> <div> “Volunteering is a great way for people to learn more about the community and connect with new people,” said Grinnell. If you'd like to volunteer call Volunteer Center at 388-2988.</div> <bR> <div> The Health Council is involved in other community projects including publishing the Grant County Resource Directory that lists all the services available in the county. This handy guide is a must for anyone wanting to discover what resources are available in the community. It is available at the GCCHC website along with the Grant County Profile and data to help anyone learn more about the area. Visit the site at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gcchc.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gcchc.org"><U>http://www.gcchc.org</U></A></FONT> To aid the community in knowing what the Health Council is doing the meetings are now on CATS! Cable Channel 17. Tune in and learn what the GCCHC and Life Cycles are doing to make Grant County a better place to live.</div> <bR> <div> For more information on the GCCHC or the Life Cycles call Kendra at 388-9708 ext. 13</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>