September 2007
The Fatherhood Program tackles unemployment with an 82 percent employment rate
September 24, 2007 – After holding a series of six Fatherhood Summits in which the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) and the Department of Technical Adult Education (DTAE) invited Georgia residents to learn about the services offered through the Fatherhood Program, OCSS is pleased to announce that it has increased the number of Fatherhood participants who have obtained employment by eleven percent. This gives the program an 82 percent employment rate compared to last years 71 percent employment rate. Additionally, Fatherhood Program participant’s families received nearly $12 million in child support payments during fiscal year 2007.
State oral health program reaches children where they learn
September 11, 2007 – The U.S. Surgeon General reports that tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of the country’s children age two through five and one-half of those age 12 through 15. A 2005 survey that measured the oral health status of Georgia’s third graders revealed that one in four st udents (26 percent) need early or urgent dental care. Thus, illustrating the state has room for improvement in oral health practices and outcomes affecting Georgia’s children.
September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
September 10, 2007 – An estimated 800,000 Georgians are directly affected by substance use disorders, which is why the Georgia Department of Human Resources has almost doubled the number of treatment programs over the last 12 months. Addiction problems, including those associated with methamphetamine use, can take an enormous toll on the lives and families of people with drug addictions, as well as on productivity in the workforce.
OCSS: Improving processes one day at a time
September 24, 2007 – The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) is pleased to announce the statewide rollout of Rapid Process Improvement (RPI). Rapid Process Improvement is a process of looking at the current service delivery within OCSS and determining ways to improve it. The new process will reduce client wait time from as long as eight weeks to a single day and allow OCSS to offer same day service. With same day service, OCSS will be able to effectively save money and time for both employees and customers. Over the past several months, offices throughout the state began piloting RPI in order to reduce child support order establishment time.
National Suicide Prevention Week: September 9-15
September 10, 2007 – Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States and the third leading cause among youths and young adults aged 10-24 years, accounting for 4,599 deaths in this age group in 2004. Approximately 142,000 visits are made to emergency departments by persons in this age group each year to receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries.
Local Georgian receives NAPSA President's Award
September 17, 2007 – Mary Martha Rugg of Atlanta was honored during the awards ceremony at the 18th annual National Adult Protection Services Association (NAPSA) Conference September 4-7, 2007 in Atlanta. She was presented the 2007 NAPSA President’s Award for her exemplary leadership, commitment, and countless contributions to NAPSA, to the Adult Protective Services (APS) in Georgia, and throughout the country. Rugg is program administrator of Georgia’s APS, which is a program of the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Aging Services (DAS).
Georgia among nation's top five for child immunization coverage
September 24, 2007 - According to the 2006 National Immunization Survey (NIS) released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia continues to rank among the nation’s top five states for immunizing children against vaccine preventable diseases. The survey lists Georgia as fourth in the nation for childhood immunization coverage.
Georgia Regional Hospital conducting hiring fair for nursing professionals September 12
September 6, 2007 – Georgia Regional Hospital-Atlanta will be conducting a hiring fair Wednesday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 3073 Panthersville Road in Decatur. The hiring fair is for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and a variety of healthcare professionals for program areas such as adult mental health, adolescent mental health, child mental health, forensics services and developmental disabilities. Representatives from these areas will be available and interviews will be conducted on site.
Food Stamps Program – First line of defense against hunger
September 10, 2007 – Although Georgia has seen mostly increases in its Food Stamp Participation Rate over the last few years, officials at the Division of Family and Children Services are continuing to look for ways to let more qualified Georgians know that they are eligible for the federally funded program.
Flouride varnish prevents early childhood tooth decay
September 14, 2007 – According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health, tooth decay is the single most common childhood disease among the nation’s children. More than 50 percent of America’s children have tooth decay or dental caries by the time they reach second grade; by the completion of high school about 80 percent have dental caries. If not prevented or left untreated, tooth decay can impact a child’s overall health by increasing their risk of developing diseases, such as diabetes, that are associated with poor oral health.
Federal government presents Georgia with "Crisis Center Award"
September 24, 2007 – The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration presented Georgia’s Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) with the “Crisis Center Award” for its achievements during this month’s national conference. Funded by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, GCAL was cited for its large caller volume - 100,000 calls annually – and it success in connecting callers to help. The call center’s performance has also helped to earn a first-ever three year accreditation, the highest level available, through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Created in 2005, GCAL is among key reforms recently designed to improve access to Georgia mental health services.
DHR warns Georgians that their telephone number registration on the Do Not Call Registry may have expired
September 18, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services (DAS) is warning Georgians that their telephone number registration on the Do Not Call Registry may have expired. The registration was for five years, and individuals who registered their telephone numbers on the Do Not Call Registry in 2002 are urged to renew their registrations.
DHR urges older adults to protect themselves from mosquito bites
September 14, 2007 - Of the 20 confirmed cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Georgia this year, 15 have been over age 50, according to state health officials. An 80-year-old Clayton County resident has died from complications associated with the West Nile Virus this month, according to the Clayton County Board of Health. Since adults age d 50 and older are more at risk of developing severe illnesses from mosquito-borne viruses such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and WNV, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services (DAS), and Division of Public Health (DPH) are giving tips to help Georgians protect themselves from mosquito bites this fall.
DHR gets $500,000 grant to aide refugee families
September 24, 2007 – The Department of Human Resources has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant from the Department of Education to assist in the integration and educational transition of refugee students and their parents. The Refugee Children School Impact Grant Program allows DHR to fund numerous programs and services, primarily focused on parental involvement, in Atlanta Public Schools and the Dekalb, Fulton and Gwinnett county school systems through August 2008.
DHR accepting applications for energy assistance
September 12, 2007 – The Department of Human Resources (DHR) is providing cooling assistance for low income Georgians through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The $6.4 million federally funded program will provide much needed assistance to those who are experiencing added financial strain in paying their power bills due to recent high temperatures. The state expects to serve approximately 24,000 low income households.
DHR Board to meet September 19, 2007 in Atlanta
September 17, 2007 – The Board of Human Resources will hold its official monthly meeting at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19, in room 29.250, Two Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta, immediately following a review of the morning committee meetings. In its official meeting the board will hear reports from Department of Human Resources (DHR) Commissioner B. J. Walker and Board Chair Dr. Mary Burns. In addition, the board will hear a Physicians Credentials Committee report.
Children needing permanent families meet prospective adoptive families
September 10, 2007 – Approximately 25 children, each with the hope of finding a permanent family will have the opportunity to get acquainted with families that are looking to adopt at the "adoption party" and videoconference on Saturday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness in downtown Atlanta.
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