Macon County Health Department

Our Office of Health Promotion and Public Relations works in a variety of ways to help our community residents live the healthiest life possible. We promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, address public health policy, serve on a plethora of community committees, manage several healthy living grants, provide information to the public in community outreach events and speaking engagements, and serve as a community resource for health issues and county health statistics. Other areas of concentration are as follows:

• IPLAN – the Director of Health Promotion is responsible for the completion of the state’s required IPLAN (Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs) for health department certification in identifying and prioritizing health concerns for Macon County. The IPLAN is completed every 5 years in planning for the next 5 years and has been completed and approved for the 2011-2016 timeframe. For more information on the IPLAN, visit http://app.idph.state.il.us/

• Annual Report - Every year, we publish an annual report with detailed information about our programs, services, client numbers, and contact information. Check out our "press" section to view the 2010 Annual Report!

• Public Information Officer (PIO), Public Relations, and Marketing – the Director of Health Promotion and Public Relations serves as the PIO for emergency preparedness and coordinates the public relations and marketing for the MCHD. This includes written publications and press releases; media interviews and commercials; and development of the Annual Report. Note - Information and speakers on other health-related topics not listed are also available. If you have a special request, please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114 and every effort will be made to provide you with what is needed.

The Director of Health Promotion and Public Relations manages several grants offering not only outreach and information, but even free screenings in the community. Current grants within the Department of Health Promotion and Public Relations are as follows:

Illinois Tobacco-Free Communities Grant – through funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the MCHD offers information and services to help residents quit smoking or using other forms of tobacco. Programs and services provided include:

• Referral to the Illinois Tobacco Quitline (www.lungil.org) - offers free phone counseling services provided by nurses and respiratory therapists to help through the entire quitting process. For assistance, call 1-866-QUIT-YES or 1-866-784-8937

• Freedom from Smoking Classes – the MCHD has partnered with Decatur Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital to provide these classes to community residents. There is a $20 fee for registration, but those who cannot afford it can request financial assistance. Classes can also be taken online free of charge at http://www.ffsonline.org/. For information about class registration or assistance with registration fee, please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114; the DMH Wellness Center at (217) 876-4249; or Paula Coate at St. Mary’s Hospital at (217) 464-5872.

• Break the Habit – the MCHD will be offering free nicotine replacement therapy products to those who qualify and meet program requirements. Please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114 or 1-866-QUIT-YES for more information.

• Smoke-Free Illinois Act Enforcement – the MCHD provides information about the Act to the public and works to enforce it. To read the Act, visit: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0017. Those wishing to file a complaint can call the IDPH complaint hotline at 1-866-973-4646 or visit www.smoke-freeillinois.gov. Complaints can also be filed through the Macon County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (217) 423-6988 extension 1134, but a call must also be made to the IDPH complaint hotline.

Dental Sealant Grant Program – through funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the MCHD subcontracts with a dentist who then goes out into County schools and day cares to provide exams, fluoride treatments, and sealants to children. These exams, treatments, and sealants are provided free to the school and day care children. For more information or to add your school or day care to the schedule, please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114.

Oral Cancer Grant – through funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the MCHD provides outreach information to community residents. Outreach information includes brochures, pamphlets, and SPF chapstick which are handed out at community outreach events (health fairs, etc.) and speaking engagements. If you are interested in holding a screening for your community event (based on screener availability) by calling Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114.

Give Me 5 for Stroke – because of Macon County’s high mortality rate from stroke and high blood pressure rates, we were chosen to implement the Give Me 5 for Stroke Campaign. In a grant partnership with the American Heart Association, collateral materials have been developed to be distributed to all Macon County residents and workers. These materials are still available for distribution and Brandi Binkley is available to speak to your employees, community group or organization, or agency about the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms and calling 9-1-1 immediately. For more information on stroke, please visit www.giveme5forstroke.org. To schedule a speaker on this topic, please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988.

The Director of Health Promotion and Public Relations represents the Macon County Health Department on a variety of committees. Some of these are as follows:

“This Side Up – In My Own Bed” Safe Sleep for Babies Awareness Project – this project was developed because of the high infant mortality rates in recent years in Macon County. In collaboration with Decatur Memorial Hospital, the Macon County Health Department, Neuhoff Media, and St. Mary’s Hospital, funds have been raised to purchase safe sleep packets to be given out to every Macon County baby born. The purpose of this project is to inform parents, childcare providers, grandparents, and other caregivers about the safest way for babies to sleep to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and prevent co-sleeping deaths. For more information about this project or to make a donation, please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114. For general information about SIDS, visit http://www.idph.state.il.us/sids/index.htm.

Life Goes On Committee – the MCHD encourages you to become a registered organ and tissue donor. There are a lot of myths surrounding donation, so check out the website and information and make the decision to save a life – or several lives! It takes less than a minute to make this heroic commitment - just visit www.LifeGoesOn.com. For a speaker on this topic, please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114.

Human Services Agency Consortium (HSAC) – HSAC promotes and facilitates collaboration and information-sharing among social service providers and community agencies. It is a private, not-for-profit organization. Members represent diverse agencies within Macon County and the surrounding area that share the common goal of improving human services and community life. For more information about HSAC and what it can offer you as an individual or your non- or for-profit business or organization, please visit http://www.decaturnet.org/hsac/.

Decatur Area Asthma Coalition - the mission of the Decatur Area Asthma Coalition is to improve the quality of life for people with asthma through awareness, education, and advocacy. The coalition serves Macon, Piatt, and DeWitt Counties. For more information please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114. Website information will be available soon.

Decatur Health Coalition - this coalition is a collaboration of the MCHD, both area hospitals, the Community Health Improvement Center, and several other community organizations. This coalition plans 2 events per year; one for World COPD Day in November and another for World Health Day in April. If you would like additional information about this coalition or the events held, please call Brandi Binkley at (217) 423-6988 extension 1114. Website information will be available soon.