Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Rachel Snider Spreads the Word

Livingston County Health Center’s Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Rachel Snider is working to make Chillicothe a more breastfeeding friendly town.   Local businesses are participating by becoming a “Breastfeeding Welcomed Here Business.” 

To obtain this designation, the business and its employees confirm that they have a welcoming and friendly attitude toward mothers who come into their business or store and need to nurse their baby/child.  They provide a chair or booth in a quiet or private area such as a corner or dressing room where the mother can nurse her child.  In Missouri, public breastfeeding is legal and breastfeeding mothers cannot be discriminated against. 

In acknowledgement of the businesses gestures to accept breastfeeding in their businesses, the Livingston County Health Center has provided each breastfeeding friendly businesses a window cling to put on their door to let patrons know that they are a breastfeeding friendly business.  Their business is also being listed on the Livingston County Health Center’s Website and a Facebook group created for businesses.

Currently, the following Chillicothe businesses have received this important community distinction.  They are:  Harvey House, Birth Right, Hometown Pharmacy, Murphy’s Studio, Livingston County Health Center, Cole Chiropractic Clinic and Gaslight Realty.  If you are a business that would like to become designated as breastfeeding friendly, you can fill out an application at our website www.livcohealthcenter.com under the tab “breastfeeding” or call Rachel Snider at 660-247-5653 for more information.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite or the requirements,  please call 646-5506 and ask to speak to Rachel Snider, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor at the Health Center.

Livingston County Health Center will offer Hepatitis C screening

Livingston County Health Center will offer Hepatitis C screening by appointment for $20 at their Specialized Screening Clinic on Wednesday, April 30^th from 8-10 a.m. 

CDC is recommending that everyone born during 1945 through 1965, also known as baby boomers, get a blood test for Hepatitis C. This recommendation calls for one-time testing of baby boomers. 

Hepatitis C is a liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus. For some people, the disease can cause serious health problems including liver damage, cirrhosis, and even death. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer and the leading reason for liver transplants.

Many people with Hepatitis C do not know that they have the disease. One-time testing of everyone born during 1945 through 1965 would find an estimated 800,000 undiagnosed Hepatitis C cases.

There have been recent advances in treatment.   Two new medicines are now available, that when added to the standard treatment can increase the effectiveness and shorten treatment time for many people. For many people with Hepatitis C, medical treatment can result in the virus no longer being detected in the blood.

Anyone interested in getting tested for Hepatitis C should call the health center at 646-5506 to make an appointment for the clinic

Livingston County Health Center Hosts Area’s First Local ‘Youth Mental Health First Aid’ Training

WHO:             Any adults who are in contact with youth are welcome to attend

WHAT:          First-ever Youth Mental Health First Aid training scheduled in Chillicothe

WHEN:          April 29, 2014; 8:30am-5:30pm

WHERE:       Livingston County Health Center, 800 Adam Drive, Chillicothe, MO 64601

WHY:             Mental health problems – such as depression, anxiety, impulse control and misuse of alcohol and other drugs – are shockingly common in the United States.  In fact, many symptoms of mental illness occur before age 20. Young people are especially at risk of depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, phobias, and substance abuse. Some mental illnesses, such as depression, can occur in young children too young to effectively communicate their pain. As a result suicide is the 2^nd leading cause of death among youth.  Preferred Family Healthcare, in collaboration with the Livingston County C2000 and Livingston County Health Center will be providing a free training on Youth Mental Health First Aid to arm the public with skills to help youth who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.  The clinical and qualitative evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps the public better identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness, thus improving outcomes for individuals experiencing these illnesses.

Any adult who is in contact with youth is welcome to attend. Space is limited to the first 30 participants. For more information or to register please contact Justin McDermott at 660-665-1962 or jmcdermott@pfh.org. Registration closes April 18^th. 

Public Health Week Celebrated April 7-13

Livingston County Health Center will be celebrating National Public Health Week April 7-13.  This year’s theme is “Public Health Starts Here,” which emphasizes public health’s role in saving lives and curbing health care spending by highlighting the importance of prevention and the value of a well-supported public health system.

The health center will also be signing people up for the Spring Walking Challenge at their office or by phone.  If you would like to sign up, call the health center at 646-5506 or come by 800 Adam Drive.  If your workplace would like to sign up, just give the health center a call.

Other things going on during the week include the regular Tuesday Walk-In Office visits, Dental Exam/Varnish Clinics at area schools, preschools and through the WIC Clinic, Community Wellness Committee on Tuesday and a Free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic on Friday.  There are no more appointments available for the screening clinic, but the health center hopes to schedule another clinic in the future. 

All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis

Amy Moffatt, April Mom of the Month

I come from generations of breastfeeding mothers, so I always knew I would breastfeed.

Having a mother and sisters who have breastfed has made it easier for me to breastfeed my baby. I always have the support I need from them.

It hasn’t always been easy though. When I went back to work and school we would be away from each other for long hours. Thankfully, my work has a pump room.

Even though we’ve had some things get in the way we kept to it. Here we are now 11 months in and we are still breastfeeding.