More tobacco cessation services now available for state employees, teachers
RALEIGH North Carolinians
covered by the State Health
Plan for Teachers and State
Employees now have
additional help quitting
tobacco, thanks to a
cooperative effort by the
N.C. Division of Public
Health, the N.C. Health and
Wellness Trust Fund
Commission, the State Health
Plan and QuitlineNC, the
states free telephone
tobacco-use cessation
service.
Tobacco use is a leading
cause of a number of chronic
diseases such as cancer,
lung disease and heart
disease that are life-
threatening and costly to
residents and to the state.
Helping tobacco users quit
is not only essential for
employees health, it is
also one way to reduce costs
by preventing some of the
adverse health consequences
that result from tobacco
use.
State Health Plan members
can now receive at least
eight weeks of free nicotine
replacement therapy patches
by calling QuitlineNC at 1-
800-QUIT-NOW, said State
Health Director Jeff Engel,
M.D. This combination of
telephone coaching and
medication can more than
triple a tobacco users
chance of quitting
successfully, compared to
trying to quit on his or her
own. The Plan provides
health care coverage for
more than 661,000 state
employees, teachers, state
university and community
college personnel, retirees
and their dependents.
The new services reflect the
recommendations of the U.S.
Task Force on Community
Preventive Services, which
recommends that employers
provide support to help
employees quit, including
cessation services and
reducing the out-of-pocket
cost for cessation
medications such as nicotine
replacement therapy. The
Task Force is an
independent, non-federal
body of public health and
research experts convened by
the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention to
review research and make
recommendations based on
scientific evidence.
As outlined in the Plans
Comprehensive Wellness
Initiative, we are committed
to supporting our members in
meeting their wellness
goals, said Jack W. Walker,
executive administrator of
the State Health
Plan. Coaching and
medication combined
represent a best practice in
the support of tobacco
cessation. For Plan members,
these cessation services
will make quitting both
easier and less expensive.
The savings will ultimately
also extend to the State
Health Plan and
taxpayers.
Working with QuitlineNC to
reach adult smokers who want
to quit is both effective
and cost-efficient, said
Charles Willson, MD, chair
of the North Carolina Health
and Wellness Trust Fund
Commission, which provides
funding support to
QuitlineNC. We applaud the
State Health Plan for
providing this valuable
service to their members
it is both essential for
employee health and good for
the bottom line.
Any North Carolina resident
can call QuitlineNC toll-
free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-
800-784-8669) 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
Services are free and
available in Spanish and
English, with other
translation services
provided as needed. Quit
Coaches are trained to help
people of all ages who are
ready to quit cigarettes or
other tobacco products.
Learn more at
www.quitlinenc.com.
Protect Yourself Against Norovirus Infection
RALEIGH Recent outbreaks
of norovirus a common and
unpleasant gastrointestinal
illness have sickened
teenagers at a conference in
Raleigh and many other
people across the state in
long-term care facilities,
schools and child care
centers, restaurants, and
other settings.
Noroviruses are very
contagious. The virus is
present in the stools and
vomit of sick people during
illness and for a few days
after they recover. People
can get sick through direct
contact with a person who
has the virus, by touching
contaminated surfaces, or by
eating food or drinking
liquids that have been
contaminated with the virus.
Noroviruses cannot be seen,
smelled or tasted in
food.
Noroviruses are tough to
kill, said Dr. Megan
Davies, State
Epidemiologist. The most
important way to prevent
spread is thorough hand-
washing using soap and
water. Hand sanitizers are
not effective against
norovirus.
The symptoms of norovirus
illness include nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, and some
stomach cramping. Some
people may also have fever,
chills, headache, muscle
aches and a general sense of
tiredness. The illness
begins suddenly, and the
infected person may feel
very sick. In most people,
the illness lasts for about
1 or 2 days. However, some
especially young children
and the elderly can
quickly get dehydrated and
might require medical care
or even hospitalization.
There are no specific
medications to treat
norovirus.
What can you do to protect
yourself and your family?
Follow these simple
measures:
· Wash hands
frequently with soap and
water, especially after
toilet visits and before
preparing, serving or eating
food or drink. Hand
sanitizer gels are not
effective against
norovirus.
· Clean up
vomit and diarrhea
immediately.
· Stay home
when sick.
· Do not
prepare food when sick and
for at least 48 hours
afterward.
Many commonly used
disinfectants are not
effective against norovirus.
Cleaning with a dilute
bleach solution is
recommended to disinfect
surfaces after an episode of
illness.
For more information about
norovirus, see the Division
of Public Health Web site at
www.ncpublichealth.com. More
detailed information about
cleanup in private homes and
in other settings can be
found on the Division of
Environmental Health Web
site at
www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/d
fp_fooddefense-
epidemiology.htm.
Contacts: Carol
Schriber, N.C. DHHS Public
Affairs Office, 919-733-9190
Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Savings Time Begins
When: Sunday, Mar 14, 2010
Becky Stone as Pauli Murray
Tuesday, March 16 at 7pm
Weaverville Library
Local actress and
storyteller Becky Stone
reprises her Chautauqua
performance as North
Carolina priest, lawyer and
educator Pauli Murray.
After losing her parents at
a young age and being raised
by relatives in Durham,
Murray became a lifelong
activist for racial and
gender equality, becoming
the first African American
woman to be ordained as an
Episcopal priest.
Come and see a beloved local
performer bring to life an
important North Carolinian.
This free program is
sponsored by the Friends of
the Weaverville Library.
For more information call
the Library at 250-6482
Buncombe County Public
Libraries 67 Haywood
Street Asheville
NC 28801
New lead-based paint regulations protect residents, workers
RALEIGH North Carolina now
has stronger rules requiring
the use of lead-safe work
practices and other actions
to prevent lead poisoning
when lead-based paint is
disturbed during renovation
and remodeling work.
Exposure to lead can be
harmful to both children and
adults.
Lead-contaminated dust,
particularly from old paint,
is the most significant
source of lead exposure for
children. Common renovation
activities like sanding,
cutting and demolition can
create hazardous lead dust
and chips by disturbing lead-
based paint. Lead-based
paint was used in more than
38 million U.S. homes until
it was banned for
residential use in 1978.
Lead exposure can cause
reduced IQ, learning
disabilities, developmental
delays and behavioral
problems in young
children.
In late January, the State
of North Carolina was
authorized to administer and
enforce a Lead Renovation,
Repair and Painting (RRP)
Program. The North Carolina
program, to be administered
by the state Division of
Public Health, has been
certified to be at least as
protective as the
Environmental Protection
Agencys RRP program and to
provide adequate
enforcement.
The N.C. RRP program, like
the EPAs, mandates that
contractors, property
managers and other paid
workers doing renovations,
construction or repairs in
homes and child-occupied
facilities built before
1978, must be trained and
certified, and must use lead-
safe work practices. They
are also required to provide
the lead pamphlet Renovate
Right; Important Lead Hazard
Information for Families,
Child Care Providers and
Schools to owners and
occupants before starting
renovation work in those
buildings. This EPA
publication is also
available on-line at
www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovat
erightbrochure.pdf.
We are very appreciative of
North Carolinas leadership
role in preventing lead
poisoning by ensuring that
work that disturbs paint is
done in a lead-safe manner,
said Stan Meiburg, acting
administrator for EPA Region
4. Renovators and rental
property owners play a big
part in protecting children
from lead-based paint
hazards in their homes.
If you are doing your own
renovation work in your own
home, you can learn more
about protecting your family
from lead-based paint and
EPAs lead program at
www.epa.gov/lead or by
contacting the National Lead
Information Center at 800-
424-LEAD (5323).
For more information about
North Carolinas new
certification and training
program, including applying
for certification or
locating training, visit the
state Web site at
www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/lead.
html or contact the North
Carolina Lead Program at
(919) 707-5950. The Web site
also has a list of certified
contractors, painters and
renovators.
Farmers' Market
When: Sat, April 3, 7am
1pm
Where: 134 S. Church Street,
Asheboro ,,
Enjoy fresh, local produce
and products every Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday from 7
a.m. - 1p.m. between April
3 - October 30, 2010.
Public review and comment period announced on states Infant-Toddler Federal Grant application, policy proposals
RALEIGH The North Carolina
Division of Public Health,
Early Intervention Branch
announces public review of
and comment on three
items:
The states federal Part C
grant application under the
Individuals with
Disabilities Act (IDEA);
proposed policy on fees,
billing and reimbursement;
and
proposed policy on Infant-
Toddler Program (ITP)
records.
The application and the
proposed policies are
available for public review,
as required by law, at
www.ncei.org, March 3
April 1, 2010. The public
may comment on the items
April 2 May 1, 2010.
The grants are non-
competitive awards available
only to U.S. states and
territories and not to
individuals, families or
local agencies. The U.S.
Office of Special Education
Programs offers the grants
to help states and
territories provide
coordinated statewide
systems of comprehensive,
multi-disciplinary,
interagency programs of
early intervention service
for infants and toddlers
with disabilities and their
families. The application
describes how funding will
be used to provide supports
and services to children and
their families.
Proposed changes for the
fees, billing and
reimbursement policy are in
the following areas:
the criteria used to apply
the Sliding Fee Scale;
the formula for calculating
payments made to contracted
community providers after
insurance plans have paid
benefits; and
non-payment and collection
of debt owed to the ITP.
The ITP records proposed
policy primarily has three
changes:
reduction of time for
maintaining childrens ITP
records from 21 years to 5
years after a childs third
birthday;
a definition for personally
identifiable information;
and
removal of a listing of ITP
required forms.
From April 2 to May 1,
comments on the grant
application and the two
proposed policies may be
made by:
Email to:
ei.publiccomment@dhhs.nc.gov;
Fax to: Part C coordinator
at 919-870-4834; or
Letter: c/o Part C
Coordinator, Early
Intervention Branch, 1916
Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, NC 27699-1916.
Tax Assistance begins February
The AARP Tax-Aide Program,
in cooperation with the IRS,
N.C. Dept. of Revenue, the
Buncombe County Council on
Aging and Buncombe County
Public Libraries will again
offer free tax preparation
in 2010.
The assistance will be for
low or middle income
taxpayers and seniors, from
February 1 through April 15
at four different locations
across the county.
Electronic filing (e-file)
will be used for safe and
accurate preparation and
fast refunds. No
appointments are necessary.
The locations and times for
tax assistance are:
Senior Opportunity Center
36 Grove Street - 350-2062
Monday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
West Asheville Library
942 Haywood Road - 250-
4750
Tuesday 9am 3pm
Weaverville Library
41 North Main Street - 250-
6482
Thursday Noon 5pm
Black Mountain Library
105 N Dougherty Street - 250-
4756
Tuesdays 10am 3pm
AARP Tax Assistance Begins in February
The AARP Tax-Aide Program,
in cooperation with the IRS,
N.C. Dept. of Revenue,
Council on Aging and
Buncombe County Public
Libraries will again offer
free tax preparation for low-
and middle-income
taxpayers, as well as
seniors, from February 1
through April 15, 2010.
Electronic filing (E-file)
is available for safe and
accurate preparation and
fast refunds.
LOCATIONS AND HOURS:
Senior Opportunity Center
36 Grove Street - 350-
2062
Monday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
West Asheville Library
942 Haywood Road - 250-
4750
Tuesday 9am 3pm
Weaverville Library
41 North Main Street - 250-
6482
Thursday Noon 5pm
Black Mountain Library
105 N Dougherty Street - 250-
4756
Tuesdays 10am 3pm
TAXPAYERS SHOULD BRING THE
FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
" Social Security cards and
Identifications for
taxpayers and all
dependents
" Previous years (2008) tax
return
" W-2 forms from each
employer
" 1099 forms for Social
Security, Pension, Interest,
Dividends, Broker/Mutual
Fund and Miscellaneous
Income.
" Detailed list for Medical
Expenses, Charitable
Contributions, Real Estate
Taxes, Mortgage Interest, if
claiming itemized
deductions.
" Real Estate Tax invoice
and invoice for a new car
purchased after February 16,
2009, for special credit
this year, even if not
claiming itemized
deductions.
" A blank check for direct
deposit of any refund to
your checking or savings
account.
Can You Pay Back Your Debts Within 6 to 12 Months?
When does debt become a
problem? If you are
overextended with debts you
can't pay back within six to
twelve months (not including
your mortgage or maybe your
car payment), or if you
spend more than fifteen to
twenty percent of your after-
tax income on short-term
credit purchases, you may be
in financial trouble.
Don't feel alone. Even
careful spenders often find
themselves in debt.
Some signs that you are
financially overextended
include:
You would have an immediate
financial crisis if you lost
your job.
You spend more than you
earn.
You must borrow to pay
current bills.
You pay for everyday
expenses, such as groceries,
by using savings or
credit.
You're paying the minimum
amount or less due on your
bills each month.
You are being contacted by
bill collectors.
You can't avoid using credit
during the holidays or for
your children's birthdays.
You're having problems in
your relationships because
of money problems.
These are signs that you
need to change your spending
habits. You may resist
admitting you have a crisis
because you think the
problem will go away. You
can't ignore the problem. It
won't go away. It's best to
understand how your crisis
came to be so you can take
control and make changes.
For additional information
on surviving and thriving
during these difficult
times, contact the North
Carolina Cooperative
Extension - Buncombe County
Center at 255-5522.
Antique tractors wanted for 2010 Got to Be NC Festival
RALEIGH Registration is
now open for the antique
tractor and farm equipment
display at the 2010 Got to
Be NC Festival. The annual
event will be held at the
N.C. State Fairgrounds May
21-23.
Antique tractor clubs,
collectors and restorers can
register their antique farm
equipment for free at
www.ncagfest.com.
Participants are encouraged
to complete an application
early, and registration is
required. Last year, more
than 500 antique tractors
were on display from owners
in North Carolina and
surrounding states. In all,
the three-day festival
showcased more than 1,000
pieces of farm equipment.
The Got to Be NC Festival,
presented by the N.C.
Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services, will
feature a carnival, live
music, food and wine expo,
tractor pulls, draft horse
pulls, classic cars, Harley-
Davidson motorcycles,
lawnmower racing and a
barbecue cook-off.
Festival hours are 9 a.m. to
midnight May 21 and 22, and
9 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 23.
Admission and parking for
the festival are free. There
is a fee for grandstand
events.
Other free events at the
fairgrounds that weekend
include the Raleigh Health
and Fitness Expo, the
Choplin Marine Boat Show,
Wake County 4-H Horse Show,
Fiber Fest and the State
Fairgrounds Flea Market.
For more information about
the Got to Be NC Festival,
including a full schedule of
events.
NCDA&CS Public Affairs
Division, Brian Long,
Director
Mailing Address:1001 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh NC
27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West
Edenton Street, Raleigh NC
27601
Phone: (919) 733-4216; FAX:
(919) 733-5047
College Students Urged to Get H1N1 Vaccination
RALEIGH State Health
Director Jeffrey Engel
strongly urges young adults,
including college students
and teens, to get their H1N1
vaccinations before
returning to campus from the
winter break. According to
statistics gathered by the
N.C. Division of Public
Health, people of college
age are the least likely to
be immunized against H1N1.
More than 495,000 students
are enrolled in colleges in
North Carolina. Vaccination
efforts to date have reached
just over 60,000 people
between 19 years old and 24
years old statewide. Campus
immunization campaigns
appear to have reached just
a fraction of that number.
The latest estimates
indicate that fewer than 13
percent of the H1N1 vaccine
doses provided by the state
went to traditional college-
age students.
Our young people are our
greatest resource, and we
want to make sure they
remain healthy, Dr. Engel
said. The holidays are a
perfect time for parents to
ensure that their teens and
college students are
vaccinated against H1N1.
As of Dec. 15, North
Carolina had reported 76
deaths from H1N1. While
pregnant women, people with
chronic illnesses, and young
children are most at risk
for complications, this
strain of flu has had a
disproportionate impact on
young, healthy people.
We have good supplies of
H1N1 vaccine on hand, Engel
said. The peak of seasonal
flu is approaching in late
January. Getting both
vaccinations now is the best
way to protect yourself and
your family against both
seasonal and the H1N1
virus.
For updated information on
vaccination clinics near
you, visit flu.nc.gov.
N.C. Public Health receives funds for worksite wellness and tobacco cessation
RALEIGH Gov. Bev Perdue
today announced the U.S.
Department of Health and
Human Services has awarded
$5.4 million to North
Carolina to support public
health efforts to reduce
obesity, increase physical
activity, improve nutrition,
and decrease smoking the
four most important actions
for combating chronic
diseases and promoting
health.
Making North Carolina a
healthier state is a
priority for Gov. Bev
Perdue, in terms of both
quality of life and from a
statewide economic
standpoint.
Having healthy, well-
educated people will lower
health care costs, increase
productivity, and provide
the best workforce in the
country, said Gov.
Perdue. All of those things
are the best incentives to
attract new and relocating
businesses to North
Carolina, Perdue said.
The award to North Carolina
is part of $119.5 million
going to the states as the
first of several initiatives
that make up the
comprehensive prevention and
wellness initiative,
Communities Putting
Prevention to Work, which is
funded under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment
Act.
North Carolina will be
allotted $3.8 million over
two years to reduce and
prevent obesity across the
state by improving
opportunities for physical
activity and access to
healthy foods. Another $1.6
million is to be used for
the N.C. Quitline telephone
service, tobacco use
prevention, and other
programs to help people quit
tobacco.
A focus of the funding is
creating sustainable changes
in work and community
environments to support
healthy lifestyles. North
Carolinas efforts will
involve many public and
private partners at the
state and local levels. A
statewide worksite wellness
initiative will encourage
employers to make
sustainable changes, such as
establishing employee
wellness policies to support
healthy behaviors. Wellness
experts from the public and
private sectors will be part
of a statewide Worksite
Wellness Collaborative that
promotes best practices and
supports North Carolina
employers in implementing
comprehensive wellness
programs.
The grants couldnt have
come at a more critical
time. In North Carolina,
more than half of all deaths
occur earlier than expected.
Many of these premature
deaths are related to
chronic diseases that can be
prevented or managed through
physical activity, healthy
eating, and avoiding tobacco
use and exposure.
Tobacco use is the leading
cause of preventable death
in North Carolina. An
estimated 13,000 North
Carolinians ages 35 years or
older die each year from
smoking-related causes. Poor
nutrition and lack of
adequate physical activity
comprise the second leading
preventable cause of death
in the state. Two-thirds of
North Carolina adults and
one-third of our children
are overweight or obese,
putting them at increased
risk of illness and death
from coronary heart disease,
type II diabetes, stroke,
and several forms of cancer.
Poor eating habits and
inactive lifestyles are at
the root of so many of our
health issues, including
high blood pressure,
diabetes, cancer even
arthritis and injuries,
said State Health Director
Jeff Engel, MD. These
problems are largely
preventable. We as a state
must make it easier for
people to eat smart and move
more. The ARRA grants will
allow North Carolina to
continue its momentum in
addressing tobacco use,
exposure to secondhand
smoke, and reducing
obesity.
Contacts: Carol
Schriber, N.C. DHHS Public
Affairs Office, 919-733-9190
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