May 31, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is urging Georgia residents to celebrate World No Tobacco Day, because a day without smoke becomes a day with clean air. On May 31, the World Health Organization is holding the 19th annual World No Tobacco Day, the only event observed on a global scale to reduce tobacco-dependence.
May 30, 2007 - Georgia mental health hospitals score better today on key measures than in the past according to data assessed by the National Association of Mental Health Program Directors. In fact, when it comes to medication errors and use of restraints, Georgia outperforms most of the nation’s mental health hospitals.
May 30, 2007 – A state program that helps seniors continue living in their own homes will use feedback from recipients, their families, and other Georgians to plan services for the next five years, according to the Georgia Division of Aging Services (DAS). DAS’ Community Care Services Program helps Medicaid-eligible individuals who cannot perform activities of daily living to continue living in their homes and communities and avoid placement in a nursing home.
May 30, 2007 – Georgia has moved to first place in response rate among the six states participating in a campaign to get more citizens thinking about and planning for their future healthcare, self-sufficiency and living arrangements. Of the more than 1 million Georgians who received letters from Governor Sonny Perdue earlier this year offering free tool kits for long-term care planning, more than 75,000, or 7.04 percent, requested the information.
May 30, 2007 - For the one in five Georgians with mental illness, the State Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD) encourages them to develop a crisis plan with the help and support of their families. Similar to a Living Will, a crisis plan is to be used when people with mental illness become so ill that they need others to make decisions about their care.
May 25, 2007 -The Board of Human Resources, which oversees and sets policy for the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), will seek public input as the agency and its Board plan for the SFY 2009 budget. The state's Department of Human Resources manages programs that protect children from abuse and neglect, assist Georgia’s senior living communities, help people with mental or physical disabilities, and control the spread of disease.
May 22, 2007- Spalding County parents who are behind on child support payments are offered the opportunity to get back on track. This opportunity, appropriately called Amnesty Day, is being offered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) and is extended to all parents with a child support case in Spalding County who are at least two months behind on their payments.
May 21, 2007 - The article in USA Today (05/14/2007) on "Cities brace for the elderly: Changes make way for surge in those 65, older" was very timely considering the number of baby boomers who will reach 65 soon. Georgia, like most states, is anticipating a substantial increase in our elder population. This makes it vital that we know what issues are important to mid-life and older adults so we can be a resource for them.
May 21, 2007 – A recent statewide report shows that of the 815 baby boomers ages 50-60 surveyed, only 34 percent said they already have or plan to have long-term care insurance. Forty-eight percent expect their retirement income to be less than 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level which is less than $2,553 per month. The current average nursing home private pay billing rate is $4,358.57 per month.
May 21, 2007- Georgia, like most states, is anticipating a substantial increase in our elder population. This makes it vital that we know what issues are important to mid-life and older adults so we can be a resource for them.
18 de mayo de 2007 – La Junta de Recursos Humanos, que supervisa y establece las políticas para el Departamento de Recursos Humanos del Estado de Georgia (Georgia Department of Human Resources o DHR), busca los comentarios públicos mientras la Agencia y su Junta planean el presupuesto para el SFY 2009.
May 17, 2007- Metro Atlanta residents woke up this morning to hazy skies and the smell of smoke as remnants from the South Georgia wildfires reached the city. A large tire burning fire in Butts County also contributed to this morning’s cloudy skies and distinct smell.
May 17, 2007- Public health is spreading the word about a lapse in security in a variety of ways including press releases, direct mailings, and an updated website. Some of the personal information of birth parents whose children were born in Georgia between April 1, 2006 and March 16, 2007 was discarded but not shredded, warns the Georgia Department of Public Health.
May 16, 2007 - The Board of Human Resources, which oversees and sets policy for the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), will seek public input as the agency and its board plan for the SFY 2008 budget.
May 11, 2007- The Board of Human Resources will hold its official monthly meeting at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, in room 29.250, Two Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta, immediately following a review of the morning committee meetings.
May 11, 2007 – Because it is important that women over 40 years of age have regular mammograms, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Cancer Screening Program, also known as the BreasTEST & MORE program, offers mammograms at no cost or low cost to eligible women who lack health insurance and have low income. BreasTEST & MORE was established in 1992 with funding from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the State of Georgia.
May 11, 2007 – On any given day there are approximately 15,000 children in foster care in Georgia – children who find themselves in state’s care because of abuse and/or neglect. Governor Sonny Perdue is designating the month of May as "Foster Care Month in Georgia," and local DFCS offices throughout the state are stepping up campaigns to recruit more foster parents.
May 11, 2007 – Recently reported cases of glioblastoma multiforme, a type of brain cancer, do not indicate a cancer ‘cluster’ in the Dalton area or the presence of an environmental chemical hazard, according to an environmental health survey conducted by the Georgia Division of Public Health (GDPH). By definition, a cancer cluster is a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases occurring within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time. GDPH will continue to conduct surveillance for gliobastoma multiforme and other forms of cancer in Dalton and Whitfield County.
May 10, 2007 – In 2004, the state of Georgia was ranked eighth in the nation for AIDS’ cases with a total of 28,248 affected individuals, many of them between the ages of 25 and 44. Nearly 27,000 Georgians were living with HIV in 2005 and more than 17,000 people were living with AIDS bringing the total number of cases to approximately 44,000 infected individuals and many more affected by their infections. As the statistics increase and the disparity gap widens, community members want to know where the issue stands and what healthcare officials are doing to manage this critical issue within Georgia. The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health is addressing the community’s concerns with new treatment initiatives and strategies to better educate specific populations on prevention.
May 8, 2007 (Editorial) - With health care costs rising and seniors living longer, have you ever wondered if you will be able to manage long-term care costs in your senior years? Will you have enough resources set aside to remain in your own home? Will you be able to cover the costs of assisted living arrangements and rising nursing home costs?
May 8, 2007 – Members of the public have an opportunity to give input on the development of the statewide, comprehensive plan for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Georgia Community Planning Group (GCPG) for Prevention will discuss and continue developing the prevention plan at its next quarterly meeting on May 10 – May 11, 2007. The meeting will be held at the Macon Ramada Plaza Hotel, 108 First Street in Macon, Georgia 31201.
May 8, 2007 – Georgia has the second highest response rate among the six states participating in a campaign to get more citizens thinking about and planning for their futures healthcare, self-sufficiency and living arrangements. Of the more than 1,184,000 Georgians who received letters from Governor Sonny Perdue earlier this year offering free tool kits for long-term care planning, more than 74,000, or 6.27 percent, requested the information. South Dakota ranked the highest with 6.56 percent of its residents ordering free tool kits so far this year.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor the Resource Development Team of Warner Robins, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor Danita Crawford of Atlanta, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor Jeannie Terhune of Atlanta, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor Kyetina Griffin of Atlanta, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor the Employee and Consumer Wellness Team of Thomasville, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor Robert Holdredge of Thomasville, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor Anderson Flen of Gainesville, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor the Aging Information Management System (AIMS) Office of Information Technology (OIT) Team of Atlanta, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor the Family Independence Unit of Sandersville, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will honor Bonnie Blakley of Savannah, Georgia at the 2007 Public Employee Recognition Week Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the Freight Depot located at 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in Atlanta, Georgia. DHR’s Commissioner, as well as the Executive Management Team will present the awards.
May 3, 2007 – Arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 46 million adults are affected by arthritis. About 50 percent of Georgia seniors experience some form of arthritis, according to the 2006 Georgia Arthritis Report.
May 1, 2007 – May is National Older Americans Month and the Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services (DAS) is encouraging older Georgians to make healthier choices by eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily, becoming active, and avoiding tobacco. The national theme is "Making Choices for a Healthier Future."