The Office of Minority Empowerment

SAVE THE DATE

Governor Ernie Fletcher's 2nd Annual Empowerment Conference on
August 25, 2006
Lexington Convention Center Lexington, KY

Mexican Scholarship

Application Deadline: March 10, 2006
The Mexican scholarship fund was created by the Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis to encourage students of Mexican descent to continue postsecondary education. To find out about eligibility requirements or to get an application, call the education line of scholarship information at (317) 631 6542 ext. 279.

March 10: 4 pm – 7 pm
March 11: 3 pm – 5 pm
March 15, 22: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
March 17, 18, 24, 25: 2 pm – 5 pm
March 29: 9 am – 12 pm
March 31: Not available

Education at Work Scholarship Applications Being Accepted
Application Deadline: Must be Postmarked by April 28, 2006 The Kentucky Education Cabinet is accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. The scholarships are for non-traditional students who have used employment and training programs and other cabinet services. To be eligible, applicants must be a client of at least one of the services in the following agencies in the Education Cabinet: Kentucky Adult Education, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Office of Employment and Training, Office of Career and Technical Education and Office for the Blind. Examples of services in these agencies include Workforce Investment Act services and training, unemployment insurance, vocational rehabilitation, dislocated workers program, secondary Kentucky Tech schools and adult learning centers, among others. Applicants must also be Kentucky residents and enroll in a Kentucky postsecondary educational institution for the fall 2006 semester. Applicants will be required to write an essay on Kentucky’s brand “Unbridled Spirit” and how the theme relates to their educational and career goals. Applications and complete eligibility guidelines are available through adult learning centers; local Office for the Blind, Office of Employment and Training and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; Kentucky Tech area technology centers; and Workforce Investment Act service providers. Applications and guidelines may also be accessed at the Education Cabinet web page at http://www.educationcabinet.ky.gov/. The $1,000 scholarships may be used for tuition, books, lab and technology fees. For more information or questions about the scholarship, contact Wynee Hecker at (502) 564-6606 ext. 128.

Kentucky Native American Heritage

ATTENTION ALL KENTUCKY EDUCATORS: The Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission has a resource guide titled “Teaching about American Indians, Stereotypes and Contributions”. For many children, television, movies and books are their only resources for learning about native people; they have no first-hand experience with American Indians. Therefore, what they see and hear from media, teachers, and other children will form their foundation of information about Native Americans. Unfortunately, much of this information is misleading, offensive and incorrect, in addition to promoting stereotypical behaviors and images of Native Americans.

The resource guide was developed as a way to address stereotypes and give teachers and students more educational information. If you would like a copy of this guide please call the Kentucky Heritage Council at (502) 564-7005.

New Web Site Launched to Help Citizens Prepare for Emergencies Emphasizes “Avoid the Panic Button: Protect Your Family”
Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence and the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security announced recently the launch of a new web site to provide step-by-step instructions for Kentuckians to develop personal family emergency plans and emergency supply kits. The site, http://www.protectyourfamily.ky.gov/, outlines components helpful for a family emergency situation, lists items for a dependable supply kit and provides details on family communications in case of a natural or man-made disaster.

Below is a list of Free ESL classes offered to immigrants:

Louisville

Ahrens Learning Center. (502) 485-3400

Americana Education and Recreation Campus, (502) 485-3400

Bethlehem Baptist Church, (502) 485-3400

Buechel Presbyterian Church

Casa Latina, (502) 439-9459

Catholic Charities, (502) 485-3400

Centro Comunitario de Arcadia, (502) 375-1819

Cresent Hill Baptist Church, (502) 485-3400

Jefferson High School, (502) 485-3400

Iglesia Metodista un Rayo de Esperanza, (502) 485-3400

Seneca High School MCA, (502) 485-3400

Westport TAPP, (502) 485-3400

First Gethsemane CFD, (502) 485-3400

Canaan Community Development Corporation, (502) 485-3400

Shelbyville

Shelby County Adult Learning Center at Jefferson Community and Technical College, (502) 633-5524

Simpsonville Community Center, (502) 722-1444

Frankfort

Thorn Hill Learning Center, (502) 223-3110

Indiana

Community Action of Southern Indiana. (812) 288-6451

Reisz Adult Learning Center, (812) 949-4253

Colorectal Cancer Rates Can Decrease with Public Education, Screenings Contact: Janet C. Luttrell, Manager, Kentucky Chronic Disease Prevention & Control Branch March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Are you aware of the dangers of colorectal cancer?

Facts and statistics on the disease have garnered national attention, but in Kentucky – particularly in the African American community – there is an even more pressing need for public education. The disease is killing Kentuckians at a higher rate than the national average. The good news is the mortality rate can be dramatically lowered when the disease is caught early and treated accordingly. The first step is learning about the disease and who should be screened.

Colorectal cancer attacks the organs of the digestive system. It occurs in the colon or rectum and is sometimes called colon cancer, for short. To screen for colorectal cancer, health care providers use tests that screen the rectum, rectal tissue and stool. They include a physical examination and medical history, a fecal occult blood test, a rectal exam, a barium enema and X-ray, sigmoidoscopy (used to look inside the rectum) or a colonoscopy (used to look inside rectum and colon). Colon cancer is most often found in people 50 and older, and both men and women get colorectal cancer. The risk increases with age. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be. If people age 50 or older had regular screenings, at least one-third of deaths from this cancer could be avoided. If you are 50 or older, start screening now.

In the U.S., the incidence and the mortality rate for African Americans exceeds that of whites. The age-adjusted incidence rate for the U.S. per 100,000 citizens (1998-2002) is 52.5 for whites and 62.4 for African Americans. In Kentucky, the statistics are even more alarming. The incidence rate for whites is 61.5 per 100,000, while the incidence rate for African Americans is 73.6 during the same time period. The age-adjusted mortality rates for the U.S. and Kentucky mirror the incidence rates, with Kentucky exceeding national rates (20.5 per 100,000 nationally, and 23.3 for Kentuckians). Again, rates for African Americans in Kentucky exceed those for the white population, with 32.3 deaths per 100,000 for African Americans, compared to 22.8 for white Kentuckians. Individual risk for colorectal cancer may be higher than average if you or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, or if you have inflammatory bowel disease. People at higher risk for colorectal cancer may need earlier or more frequent tests than other people. Talk to your doctor about when you should begin screening and how often you should be tested. “An individual’s best defense is screening, because colorectal cancer can start with no symptoms,” said William D. Hacker, M.D., commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health. People who have polyps or colorectal cancer may have symptoms such as bloody stools; frequent pain, aches or cramps in the stomach; changes in bowel habits, such as having stools that are narrower than usual; and unexplained weight loss.

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. While these symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, the only way to know is to see your doctor. If you are 50 or older, talk with your doctor about getting screened. Many insurance plans and Medicare help pay for colorectal cancer screening tests. Check your plan to find out which tests will be covered.

National Poison Prevention Week March 19-25 2006 is the 44^th annual observance of National Poison Prevention Week. Everyone in the community should check for and eliminate potential poisonings in their homes. In case of an emergency, the poison hotline number 1-800-222-1222 should be kept handy to reach the Poison Control Center. This number can help save countless children from serious injury or death and avoided unnecessary, more costly medical care.

National Poison Prevention Week reminds us that young children need constant close supervision by responsible adults to keep them safe. This week highlights the dangers of accidental poisonings, steps that can be taken to reduce risks, and what to do in case of an emergency.

In 2005 there were more than 77,000 calls to the Kentucky Regional Poison Center. This is an average of 211 calls per day.
Of these calls nearly 46,500 were about human poisonings. This amounts to a poisoning in Kentucky every 10 minutes.
28,900 of the poisonings occurred in children, of which 23,000 were in children less than 6 years old. This amounts to a poisoned child in Kentucky every 20 minutes.
Of these calls, the Poison Center was able to manage 73% of the cases outside of the hospital, saving Kentucky residents approximately $6-12 million dollars in health care costs annually. These savings come from reduced trips to the emergency room, reduced injuries and reduced time lost from work (both parents of small children taking off from work as well as adult workers themselves).
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires child-resistant (CR) packaging for over 30 categories of medicines and household chemicals, but we must all remember that these measures are child-resistant, not child-proof.
The Poison Center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. It is staffed by nurses and physician toxicologists, specially trained to handle toxic exposures.

If you ever call the Poison Center you receive Immediate, Caring, Private and Expert medical advice.

Pamphlets, telephone stickers, and audiovisual materials are available. For more information call the center’s educator at 502.629.5428 or 1.800.222.1222 during regular business hours.

Also check out our website at www.krpc.com where you can find information about our center, Poisoning Statistics, material on poison prevention education and several FREE CEUs

Never guess, call us and be sure.

Minority Health Disparities: Learn more about what the Cabinet for Health & Family Services is doing.

View the Cabinet for Health & Family Services (CFHS) Wellness Website.

CHFS Focus on Wellness monthly newsletter

National Women's Health Indicators Database National, regional, state and county data are available by gender, race, ethnicity and age at the National Women's Health Indicators Database. The website allows users to customize tables, graphs and maps.

The National Women’s History Project’s 2006 theme is Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams. It’s a fitting focus this March to justly honor the very foundation of our society – Women.

From the beginning of time women throughout the commonwealth and around the world have held communities together with their very hands. They have often had to make a way out of no way – and more often than not, have had to do so with little or no acknowledgement or appreciation.