WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT &
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
John J. Cicero, MHA - Executive Director
Mission Statement: WCHD
T
he Mission of the Will County Health Department is to prevent disease and promote a healthier environment for all. To that end, agency professionals assure the maintenance of flexible program initiatives and develop sound public health policies, based on a thorough assessment of community needs.
Mission Statement: WCCHC
The 
Mission of the Will County Community Health Center is to improve the health of the residents of Will County by providing access to quality medical and dental care through community collaboration, service and education.
From The Desk of Executive Director - John Cicero
"DENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM WORTH PLENTY OF SMILES"
January 24, 2012
Dental health professionals across the country will be celebrating Children’s Dental Health Month during February and the Will County Community Health Center (1106 Neal Avenue in Joliet), will be working to increase awareness about the importance of good oral health habits.Dental health has been a Will County public health focus for decades. Thousands of Will County residents have enjoyed healthier lives thanks to agency dental health professionals who provide services at the Health Center, or in the agency’s state-of-the-art mobile dental facility.
The county has provided varying levels of preventive and restorative dental services since the 1970s. Children aren’t the only dental focus, but Dental Director Sangita Garg D.D.S. knows that good oral habits can make a profound impact on health when implemented at an early age.
“Tooth decay impacts children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease,” Dr. Garg explains. “Untreated tooth decay causes pain and infection that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, and learning. It agonizes me that simple preventable tooth decay can cause significant health issues if not treated on time.”
According to statistics gathered in a 2010 national dental health survey, at least 25 percent of children between two and five years old are burdened with significant tooth decay. The incidence of tooth decay rises to 50 percent for children ages 12-15 years.
Children of all ages lose an estimated 51 million school hours due to dental-related illnesses annually. Sadly, the lack of dental care remains the most prevalent unmet health need among American children.
“The good news is that tooth decay and other oral diseases common to children are preventable,” Dr. Garg continued. “The combination of dental sealants and fluoride has the potential to eliminate nearly all tooth decay in school-aged children.”
The county’s new 40-foot dental van was delivered in August, 2011. The specially-equipped van features digital x-ray capabilities and two fully-equipped dental operatories. Funding for the project was received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The facility enables the county to provide dental services targeting clients at schools and community shelters who might not otherwise have access to preventative and restorative care. The van currently makes community rounds three days weekly, working extensively with Joliet District 86 schools, Catholic Charities, Head Start, the Eastern Branch Office WIC site in University Park, Easter Seals, and other community shelters. Additional Will County school districts will be added to the visiting calendar during the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, Will County dental staff has planned activities designed to create dental health awareness and improve oral health. Staff will be visiting area schools to provide special presentations and dental education. Free dental screenings for children will be offered in the Community Health Center Pediatric Clinic area, and a dental page coloring contest has been scheduled for children between five and 10 years old.
For more information about primary medical and dental services provided by the Will County Community Health Center or to schedule an appointment, telephone 815-727-8670.--------------------------------------
Remember PRACTICE THE 3 C'S |
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WCHD NEWS:
Closings: Health Department/Community Health Center:
- New Year's Day (observed): Monday, January 2, 2012
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 16, 2012
- Lincoln's Birthday - observed: Monday, February 13, 2012
- President's Day: Monday, February 20, 2012
- Good Friday: Friday, April 6, 2012
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 28, 2012
- Independence Day: Wednesday, July 4, 2012
- Labor Day: Monday, September 3, 2012
- Columbus Day (observed): Monday, October 8, 2012
- Veteran's Day (observed): Monday, November 12, 2012
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, Novermber 22, 2012
- Day after Thanksgiving Day: Friday, November 23, 2012
- Christmas Day: Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Will County Health Department: Two new groups starting in January for parents 21 years old and under who reside in Will County. The Young Moms' Cafe and the Will County's Dad Squad. For more information CLICK on the group name or call Healthy Families Illinois @815-740-8987 or jgarbaliauskas@willcountyhealth.org.
Will County Community Health Center (1106 Neal Avenue in Joliet), provides immunization services for children and adults. Questions concerning immunizations and vaccine availability should be directed to 815-740-8143. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-354-7530.
Will County: Community/Walk-in Flu Shot Clinics For nearly four decades, the Will County Health Department has partnered with the Senior Services Center of Will County to provide an annual series of walk-in community flu shot clinics designed specifically for persons 18 years and older. You must be a Will County resident to attend one of the community clinics. Read more.................
For more flu info go to one of the links below:
- For more information about influenza, visit www.cdc.gov/flu
- Illinois Pandemic Flu can be accessed at http://www.illinoispandemicflu.org. For more information contact the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium at 708-612-9699.
- Flu.gov: Know What do to about the Flu: http://www.flu.gov
- IDPH: Annual Flu Season: What you need to know ..... (En Español)
Will County's new 40-foot single-body mobile dental van features digital x-ray capabilities and two fully-equipped dental chairs. It will enable Will County Community Health Center dental professionals to offer services to clients at schools and community shelters who might not otherwise have access to preventive and restorative dental services. The dental van was funded through a grant from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Read more .....
MORE NEWS:
January is National Radon Awareness Month: "The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants you to learn about the dangers of radon and has declared this National Radon Awareness Month. The EPA says radon gas causes more than 20,000 deaths annually in the United States. That's more deaths in 2011 than druken driving, fires and carbon monoxide. The surgeon general and American Lun Association have also taken action to help prevent these deaths and recommends all homes in the U.S. be tested." Read more ................
New Food Safety Laws: On December 21, 2010 Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act: FSMA - H.R. 2751 Read more..http://www.usrecallnews.com/2010/12/new-food-safety-laws-food-safety-modernization-act-fsma-h-r-2751.html
Study Ranks Will County Among State's Healthiest Counties. Read more......
Emergency Closing Center ™ provides a listing of the "reported" status of Chicagoland area schools, business, daycare centers & organizations. Status is listed aphabetically and is updated every 15 minutes.
FREE Prescription Drug Program: Save an average of 20% on your prescription drugs. No enrollment form, no membership fee. Read More ..........
Freedom of Information Act: 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq. Effective January 1, 2010 
| Did you know that simply washing your hands can prevent the spread of disease-causing germs? Washing your hands with warm soapy water for at least 15 seconds prevents various forms of contamination. |
WARNINGS:
- Raw Cookie Dough:
Study warns against eating raw cookie dough: Read more....... The good news: "doctors say ready to eat products like cookie dough icecream are safe." - Investigation Announcement: Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce (December 7, 2011) http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2011/ecoliO157/romainelettuce/120711/index.html
- Apple Juice and Arsenic: Questions and Answers
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm271595.htm- FDA Warns about Cantaloupe:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/us-recall-cantaloupe-idUSTRE78E78I20110915
RECALLS:
- Holiday Food Recall: Ocean Spray - packaged & bulk Craisins and Giant Eagle Inc. - two brands of canned pumpkins. Click on link for specifics: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45496442/t/thanksgiving-eve-food-recalls-recalls-raise-questions-about-timing/ (November 30, 2011)
Smucker's Natural chunky peanut butter re-called for Salmonella risk (November 17,2011). Read more here ..... "While there have been no reports of illnesses, the regulatory agency warns the Salmonella bug can cause fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In some instances, more serious health conditions such as arterial infections may occur if Salmonella-contaminated food is consumed."- Build-A-Bear Workshop Recalls Label Pins Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11298.html (August 4, 2011, Release #11-298)
- Recalls, Withdrawals & Safety Alerts: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm
- FDA Warns About Cantaloupe linked illness, deaths: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/us-recall-cantaloupe-idUSTRE78E78I20110915 (September 15, 2011)
- Questions and Answers: Apple Juice and Arsenic http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm271595.htm (September 14, 2011)
- Egg Safety Center: http://www.eggsafety.org/
- Toy Recalls -Toy Recall list is updated whenever there are recalled toys. Click here to view the most recent recall toy list http://www.usrecallnews.com/section/toy-recalls
- Consumer Product Safety Commission - CPSC: EnglishClick Here - en EspañolClick Here
LINKS:
- Vaccines and Teens, as well as comprehensive vaccine and disease information is available at www.vaccine.chop.edu, and www.vaccine.chop.edu/parents. The booklet is available in English and Spanish
- Learn more about E. coli: http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/
- About Salmonella: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/
- Illinois Pandemic Flu.org can be accessed at http://www.illinoispandemicflu.org. For more information contact the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium at 708-612-9699.
- Flu.gov: Know What do to about the Flu: http://www.flu.gov
- Centers of Disease Control (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/flu/antivirals/index.htm
- Environmental Protection Agency: Radon is a Health Hazard with a Simple Solution: Visit http://www.epa.gov/radon/
- Breast Cancer Awareness. Celebrating 25 years of awareness, education and empowerment.
Read more .......... - American Diabetes Association: How will you stop diabetes?
- Domestic Violence Awareness: Click for fact sheet Domestic Violence Facts
November is American Diabetes Month.
"With nearly 26 million children and adults in America living with diabetes and another 79 million at high risk for developing type 2 Read More ..... December is National AIDS Awareness Month. What is HIV? What is AIDS? For topic overview click on this link: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/aids-hiv/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100063933
- Emergency Alert System: The first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, or EAS was held on November 9, 2011. The purpose of the test was to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the system in alerting the public. Refer to FEMA's webpage for more information including explanations in Espanol and American Sign Language.
December 1st is officially called " World AIDS Day" and marks the beginning of December's AIDS Awareness Month. Click here for World AIDS day posters and news releases. The "World AIDS Day" campaign raises AIDS Awareness in the United States and around the world. Read more....... It is an international day used to educate about the the transmission, prevention and prevalence of HIV and AIDS