September 15, 2004
Ethan Evan of Akiak gets a checkup from Gail Corken, YKHC Community Health Aide Training Instructor at the Head Start Health Fair. (photo by Chris Ho)
New preschoolers from several villages came to Bethel for Head Start exams last month.
Seventy children not only received physical exams, but had dental screening with fluoride treatment, vision and hearing screening, and immunizations. Moreover, children and their parents were offered education on nutrition, exercise, WIC and Medicaid/Denali Kid Care Services.
Every child received a brand-new developmentally appropriate book through the Well Child Department's Reach Out and Read Program and a float vest donated from the VFW.
Parents were entered into a raffle for two adult PFDs donated by the Injury Control and Well Child Departments.
YKHC is beginning to take a larger role with the Head Start exams, assisting Public Health Nurses (PHNs) to provide services.
YKHC's Well Child Department, in conjunction with Dental, Optometry, Audiology, WIC, Community Health and Wellness, Nicotine Control, Injury Control, Registration, Travel, and Finance departments worked with Bethel PHNs and the Rural Cap and AVCP Head Start programs to make the project a success.
These new changes reflect limited state funding for PHNs, which took a hit of more than $1 million in the new fiscal year. YKHC, largely federally funded, is able to provide more comprehensive services than the PHN's budget will support.
YKHC has begun to train Health Aides to perform comprehensive Well Child exams locally in the villages, allowing our own Health Aides to screen children from 6 weeks to 4 years old.
"This is a large group effort to help these kids," said Anna Simon, YKHC's Community Health Aide Training (CHAT) Director. "There are a lot of dedicated people who helped pull this event together, and we are excited to be a part of this great team."
"I would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time and services to help us out with Head Start Screening," Simon said.
The Head Start exams took place at the new Public Health Building, located on the Eddie Hoffman highway in Bethel near the post office.
A big thank you to the following YKHC departments--
Dental
Community Health and Wellness
Injury Control and EMS
WIC
Nutrition
Community Health Aide Training
Well Child Program
Dietary
Travel Management
Registration
Finance
Medicaid Enrollment Office
Public Relations
Also, thank you to the following service agencies and businesses--
VFW
Public Health Nursing
Subway Sandwiches
Hageland
Grant Aviation
AVCP
Rural Cap
Your time made our event a success!