Recently by Jesse Brown

            The United States ranks 44^th in the world in life expectancy and 41^st in the world in infant morality, the U.S Census Bureau reports.

            Disappointed by the rankings the U.S. present, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is one of the organizations seeking the means to improve health in the U.S. One of NACCHO's goals, partnered with other organizations and governed by the Public Health Accreditation Board, wants to strengthen the infrastructure of public health and is looking to do so by awarding accreditation to local health departments.

            The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is one of these local health departments seeking to achieve national accreditation, which essentially is a seal of approval from the government that will instill confidence in the community's ability to assess health problems with expertise to educate and prevent health risks.

With a recent salmonella outbreak, a recalling of candy from China because of chemicals or a parent's concern over lead-based toys, the concern for health is greater than ever.

            However, the economy is making the health department jump through hurdles.

Economic Hardships and Alternate Routes

In addition to more than a $70,000 shortfall in their operating budget from the city of Lawrence and Douglas County, which was originally approved back in April, the health department has had to make cuts to even accommodate this reduction of eight percent the city and county could offer.

This reduction of eight percent includes not hiring a new staff member to assist with accreditation, deciding not to replace two positions by retiring staff members, decreasing planned cost of living adjustment from 2 to .1 percent, reducing capital equipment purchases and increasing fees. The reduction comes to an estimated $200,600 the health department managed to cut.

Charlotte Marthaler, director of policy and planning, assures that achieving accreditation is not going to be an easy task.

"We are trying to achieve more with less," says Marthaler.  "In some cases that means simply doing more and working harder in order to achieve our goals."

Despite the difficulties the economy is making it to achieve national accreditation, there are alternatives to find more money. Announcing plans to achieve national accreditation in 2011, the health department received a $15,000 grant from NACCHO.

With NACCHO's grant, the opportunities to receive more grants become possible. The health department recently submitted a proposal to the Sunflower Foundation for $14,600 for additional training in quality improvement methods and they are in the process of submitting a proposal to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for quality improvement implementation and evaluation of these efforts.

Background to Accreditation and the Process to Accreditation

In 1988, the Institute of Medicine's "The Future of Public Health" was a manifesto as to how efficiently run health programs to deal with the health issues not only of today but tomorrow as well. In the book, the authors called for an organization to examine the benefits of accrediting governmental health departments. Accreditation became a key strategy to strengthen the public health system.

The Public Health Accreditation Board governs each health department through accreditation working with other organizations such as NACCHO.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is measuring itself by NACCHO's Operational Definition of a Functional Health Department to determine its strengths and the improvements that need to be made. They self-assessed themselves back in April with 225 different indicators and got a look at what needed improving.

"We're working very hard on being focused," says Marthaler. "We're trying to get ahead of the game."

Some of the things needed improving is: monitoring health status and understand health issues facing the community, engaging the community to identify and solve health problems, and evaluating and improving programs.

The top two things they scored best at were: protecting people from health problems and health hazards and enforcing public health laws and regulations.

"In order to find the resources to achieve accreditation, we are assessing what we are doing day-to-day and setting new priorities," Marthaler said.

National accreditation can bring recognition from policy makers, confidence in the health department's ability to inform and help the community, and the expertise to carry out these goals to the city of Lawrence.

In a press release, Director Dan Partridge of Lawrence-Douglas County Health department said "We believe accreditation is an important vehicle for meeting the needs of the public and is a visible demonstration of our commitment to public health." 

       

The hue of the autumn leaves descend to the ground as the approaching winds of the coming season blows them away. Nature is taking its course and Carey Maynard-Moody stands in awe of it.

It's no secret that nature and the environment is a major concern for Carey.

            "She's quite passionate about it [her advocacy for nature]," says Steven Maynard-Moody, her husband of 35 years.

            As a member of Mayor Mike Dever's Climate Protection Task Force and the local chapter of the Sierra Club, Carey is vocal in bringing the concerns of the environment to the forefront. It all boils down to one thing: her love for the wilderness.

Since spending her summers outdoors in Northern Michigan as a child, Carey ventured west to the Sierra Mountains in 1964, and her love for the wilderness grew stronger.

"The more time I spent outdoors, the more wild I became," says Carey.

However, after having children in 1979, her life in the wilderness went dormant because of her role as a mother.

She joined the Sierra Club in 1989 when she saw wilderness was being threatened. Regardless, she didn't become more active until the kids grew older and more time became available to advocate for the environment.

In 1999, Carey volunteered to survey land close to the town of Moab, Utah. She describes the job as being a "sleuth," looking for evidence of misuse to the land. It was this moment that would pave the way for the direction she would embark on.  

After she found evidence of misuse to the land, the Sierra Club was grooming her to lead the charge. Not knowing extensively how the government and election process operates, she began to educate herself with the knowledge. She began to participate in campaigns and take on a more active role. She admits the Sierra Club grooming her only fueled her desire to change the environment.

Whether it's participating in a task force whose goal is to reduce 80 percent in gas emissions by 2050, advocating for mass public transportation for the Northern Flyer Alliance by ultimately connecting passenger rails from Texas to Newton, Kan. or trying to restore the old depot at 7^th and New York streets hoping that one day, the passenger rails will go all the way through Lawrence, Carey has only gotten more active as the years have passed.

As a member of the mayor's Climate Protection Task Force, Carey is vital to the group's goals.

"Carey brings a perspective that is unique because of her experience with the environment, her solid viewpoints and grassroots," Dever says.

            Carey knows that convincing the downturn of the environment is a battle because people don't want to change their lifestyles. However, she insists that civilization can't exist without natural resources and that those lifestyles must change.

Carey knows this change has to be reflected in her life as well. She only drives the car when absolutely necessary and to reach her destinations locally, she rides her bike.

            Carey's living room doesn't have a television set and holds a total of three lamps. She doesn't even use a dryer; she dries her laundry on a clothesline. Energy efficiency is paramount in her home.

                "To walk the talk is important to me."

The Farmers Almanac is predicting record lows coming this winter, which may mean turning up the heat to keep warm is going to put dents in wallets.

"We are predicting gas prices will be about 20 percent higher," Aquila Communications Manager Kurt Floerchinger said. He suggested an alternative to keep warm and spending a reasonable amount: weatherizing your home.

Weatherization Program with Project Specialist Tony Hoch

The Lawrence area is known to have debilitated houses and some of those may have low to moderate income households residing within. According to census data, nearly all of the east half of Lawrence are low to moderate income households. These households may have a hard time affording raised heating bills or weatherization.

However, cities do have programs to reach these low to moderate income households and provide support.

The city of Lawrence with their Community Development Weatherization Program annually helps low to moderate income households weatherize the resident's respective homes to prepare for the woes of the winter season.

The process begins with residents submitting an application. Then the city goes from the amount of income the households make and the number of the household to determine who is the most eligible with other requirements pending.

The program is weatherizing 46 homes this year with an estimation of $40,000. They only denied 11 homes. The improvements the city makes are attic insulations, storm windows, and weather-stripping doors. 

Eligibility requirements for this assistance are:

1. The home must not have received this service previously.
2. The home must be owner occupied with no more than two dwelling units. Home ownership will be verified.
3. Annual gross family income cannot exceed the following guidelines:
   
   

   Family Size	Maximum Income
   1	$36,250
   2	$41,400
   3	$46,600
   4	$51,750
   5	$55,900
   6	$60,050
   7	$64,150
   8+	$68,300



4. Application forms are available at the office of Planning and Development Services Department located at 1 Riverfront Plaza, Level 1, Suite 110, P.O. Box 708, Lawrence, Kansas, 66044. For more information, call 832-7700 or check out our website at www.lawrenceks.org.
5. Submit the completed forms to the City's Development Service Division. Enclose evidence of family gross income for the preceding year. (Income tax return, Social Security letter of benefits, etc.)

Information from the city of Lawrence's official website: www.lawrenceks.org.

The program began because of an energy crisis in the late 1970s. Since 1977, 1,075 homes have been weatherized, over $977,000 has been spent, and an average of $909 went to each household.

Fellow Grant Review Board Member Sandra Unfred is one of those citizens to have had their home weatherized back in 2005.

"I have good reason to believe that my bills are reasonable," Unfred said. While being a board member, she adds that everything she has heard about the program were good results.

The failing economy has no effect on the budget either, assures Tony Hoch, project specialist of Lawrence's Planning and Development Services .

"The city of Lawrence is an entitlement city and the money is federal dollars that come through a Community Development Block Grant," Hoch said. "The money is decided a year in advance, so there's no effect really."

The Community Development Weatherization Program is only one of Lawrence's housing programs. The city also has the Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation and the Emergency Furnace Loans to help out its local residents with their housing problems.

For a few days in August, the employees at Mr. Goodcents wake up early to prepare the feast for the football camp. They come in, bake the bread, make 670 whole sandwiches, and deliver it to the Anderson Family Football Complex by noon for the football players to enjoy.

After dealing with the sale doldrums of the summer season, August is an important month to make money for this restaurant and the football camp provides a hefty amount.

"We really appreciate the support they give us using a local vendor," said Dean Drennan, owner of the local Mr. Goodcents.

Sporting events are numerous here at the University of Kansas and the Athletics Department has to provide food for the staff, athletes and volunteers. Using local vendors, the department in turn supports the community of Lawrence and the impact leaves dollar signs.

Associate Athletics Director of External Affairs Jim Marchiony said that just out of a few selected restaurants, the department had spent an estimated $72,000 last year. He included that he would estimate the total amount spent on local restaurants for events or just feeding the teams ranged from $75,000 to $100,000. Some of the restaurants used were Chipotle, First Watch, Subway and 23^rd St. Brewery.

Matt Llewellyn, managing partner at 23^rd St. Brewery said he loves the relationship the restaurant has with the Athletics Department. He said the restaurant is a site for athletics department staff and coaches, recruits, and that the department often has meetings there. Llewellyn said that with all the events and casual dine-ins, the department represents 1-2 percent of their business throughout the year.

Residing in a college town helps local businesses. Having sporting events is just an extra and sometimes-needed boost for that lagging local vendor.

For the month of August, the football camp provided 8.5 percent of Mr. Goodcents sales. And that's only the football camp.