Prominent in the Citizens Health Care Advocates (CHCA) logo is the statement “Caring enough to Speak Out”. Often individuals and groups who lack input into the provision of adequate health care feel voiceless in bringing public attention to situations that adversely impact their health. As an organization, CHCA serves to be the voice for those who often, by no choice of their own, lack the resources to challenge the inadequacies present in our society that prevents people from achieving a decent standard of health care. In addition, CHCA emphasizes the important role that self-help plays in personal and family health care outcomes. CHCA works to affirm that education is a vital tool in giving citizens the knowledge to face lifestyle choices that affect the development of chronic diseases and contribute to high health care expenses. 


Citizens Health Care Advocates (CHCA) is a 501C3 local non-profit citizens organization created to “work on behalf of the pubic interest and needs in community health care.”  Founded in 2002 with the support of the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro, CHCA is an independent volunteer citizens group committed to addressing health care issues facing the citizens of Owensboro-Daviess County, through a variety of volunteer educational and advocacy efforts aimed at building quality local health care services for all. 


CHCA activities are funded by charitable contributions and grants.  Its operations are overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors that represent a wide variety of interests and professions in Owensboro-Daviess County.  The CHCA Board and other CHCA volunteers seek to address the following organizational purposes:
 

-          to gather (local health care) information, through surveys, interviews, focus groups, research and other means;

-          to foster dialogue, through town meetings, forums, talk shows and other means;

-          to present citizens views and research findings, through reports, presentations to civic and service organizations, newsletters, new conferences, and other means;

-          to take positions and make proposals, through public hearings and meetings with elected officials, boards, commissions, and regulatory agencies;

-          to mobilize support, through petition drives, public education campaigns, letter writing campaigns, fund-raising efforts and other means.


In its brief history, CHCA has been recognized for its influence and accomplishments in activities such as:

-          regular public educational forums on health care “hot topics,” taped for re-broadcast on OCTV Channel 51

-          public advocacy on important local health care topics such as adequate pre-natal care, children’s dental health services, smoking in public buildings and access for low income and working class to free or low cost clinics

-          recognition of outstanding health professionals and advocates via the R.C. Neblett, M.D. Service Award

-          distribution of preventative health brochures and coupons at public events

-          special research and publication of statements and newsletters regarding local health care issues


Your interest and support of CHCA, through voluntary membership and cash contributions, helps support a vital, open and democratic dialogue within our community that seeks to raise awareness of needs and the action needed to improve the quality and accessibility of local healthcare to all Daviess Countians.  Funds are needed for expenses such as printing costs, office supplies, postal and telephone costs, meeting expenses and part time staff support.


CHCA is looking for new potential board members and volunteers.  CHCA Working Retreat has been scheduled for Saturday, January, 05, 2008.  Rodney Berry will facilitate the “Regroup, Refocus, Revitalize” Retreat.  If you are interested in being apart of CHCA as a board member or volunteer, please contact Deborah Zaborac, CHCA Chair, at info@chca.us  For further information, contact Citizens Health Care Advocates at P O BOX 67, Owensboro, KY 42302-0067.

The Board of Directors of Citizens Health Care Advocates (CHCA) held its annual planning retreat January 28.  The board retreat is designed to identify the primary health-care related issues facing the citizens of Owensboro, Daviess County and the surrounding region and to formulate a plan of action for addressing these issues.

In 2005, the CHCA board developed its Five Fields of Focus program in which key health-care related issues were identified and placed into one of five areas of importance. Board members as well as CHCA volunteer members were assigned to one of the five fields, with a goal of effecting positive change through programs and initiatives. 

The 2007 board has again adopted the Five Fields of Focus plan of action.  These fields are: Access to Health Care, Costs of Health Care, Healthy Lifestyles, Governmental Affairs and Organizational Development.

Under each field, CHCA board identified specific needs and concerns to be addressed in the coming year. 

In 2005 CHCA supported the Smoke-Free Ordinance campaign enacted by the Daviess County Fiscal Court which prohibits smoking in public places that allow access to people under the age of 18.  CHCA Board will encourage the Owensboro City Commission to enact an even more comprehensive plan affecting all buildings open to the public of any age as well as all workplaces. 

A primary goal in 2008 for CHCA will be a regional collaborative effort to encourage women not to smoke before, during or after pregnancy, and to encourage employers to provide a smoke-free environment for pregnant women employees. 

[Note: Facts below were supplied by Rebecca Horn, Senior Health Educator, GRDHD]  

• There is a conclusive connection between low-birth weight and unhealthy babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy and women who are exposed to second-hand smoke.

• 24% of pregnant women in Kentucky and the Green River Area smoke compared to 11% for the nation.

• Cessation counseling sessions of only 5 - 15 minutes, when delivered by a trained professional and using self-help material, reduce smoking by pregnant women by 30 - 70 percent.

• Successful treatment of tobacco dependence can reduce low-birth weight babies by 20%.

• Pregnant women who stop smoking at any time up to the 30th week of gestation have infants with higher birth weights than women who smoke throughout their pregnancy.
 

CHCA plans to increase public awareness and begin a collaborate effort involving agencies, program administrators, and concerned citizens to assess needs, direct programs, and share information regarding this public health issue.

CHCA welcomes new members. If you would like to join, contact us @ healthy@chca.us. CHCA has Bi monthly general meetings that are open to the public. Meetings take place the second Thursday of every other month at 5:30 p.m. in the Bedford Walker Community Room of the Green River District Health Department. Replays of the meetings are broadcast on cable channel 51 every Sunday & Monday 8.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m., 4.30 p.m., 8.30 p.m. 

Notes from Past CHCA Chair, Dale Taylor 

First, a word of praise for Citizens Health Care Advocates (CHCA) executive director, Beverly Mills, for her untiring efforts on behalf of our non-profit organization.  This newsletter is just another example of her diligence and unwavering dedication to CHCA and our continuing efforts to bring important heath care related issues to the forefront of public opinion.

 Citizens Health Care Advocates is just what the name implies.  We are an ever-growing group of local citizens organized with a central purpose of improving the quality, affordability and accessibility of “healthcare” in our community.  This is no small task. Over the first nine months of 2004 CHCA has championed a wide variety of health care related issues and we are only beginning to scratch the surface.  Below are just a few of the more recent issues tackled by CHCA: 
 
●      The deadly hazards of secondhand smoke and a proposal for a local smoking ban in public venues 

●      The defense of our local midwifery program and the benefits of it’s continuation

●      The restructuring of our school nursing programs 

●     The overwhelming need for increased programming for substance abuse treatment and recovery

●     CHCA called for a substantial increase in Kentucky’s tobacco excise tax, which        has proven to significantly reduce youth smoking in other states

●      A discussion by national AARP officials regarding new Medicare benefits structure    for seniors

●    The importance of fathers in the lives of their children even though they may not live
      in the same household

●    Obesity in Kentucky: the detriment of fad diets and the importance of proper nutrition 
      coupled with regular exercise  
 
There are so many pieces to the health care puzzle, and depending on your particular needs or interests, no one piece is more important than another.  Sooner or later, this community's ability or inability to meet health care needs will effect every citizen.  That’s why CHCA appeals to and involves so many various people from all walks of life. We want to hear from you.  The CHCA Board of Directors and membership invites your participation.  We welcome your input, your insight and your concerns.       

 [Dale is Ex Vice President of Human Resources of Wax Works, Incorporated of Owensboro, Kentucky.  He is a charter board member & Past Chair]