Health and Wellness 84

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May 2019 | 1

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HEALTH & WELLNESS JOURNAL

BIOTECH | BUSINESS | CAREER | EDUCATION | HEALTHY LIFESTYLES | MEDICAL | MENTAL HEALTH | POLICY | RESEARCH | SPORTS MEDICINE

May 2019

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Inspire, Inform & Educate

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84th Edition

8 ANNUAL STOP THE SILENCE WALK th

06

INSIDE

02 Addressing the needs of caregivers helping our military, veteran heroes

05 Black Women’s Health Imperative Announces Strategic Partnership Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

04 "I AM LIFE" City's First Ever Health Campaign

2 | May 2019 HEALTH

ADDRESSING THE NEEDS

TH E S O U N D O F A S M O K E A L A R M I N A H O M E F I R E

of caregivers helping our military, TH E S O U N D W ITH O UT O N E

VETERAN HEROES By d-mars.com News Provider

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ou're sitting at home one night and get a phone call that your husband is being medevaced and he's coming home. They said it was for spinal injuries," recalled Mandy Spooneybarger, 36, caregiver to her husband, Charles, an Army veteran.

"You have to live in your new normal. It's stressful. It's isolating. You have to let go of what you had. That is the hardest part. Sometimes it takes years. You can find strength from the person you are caring for. If you can, find other support."

One place to find that support has been the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), the world's largest women's patriotic service organization. The organization recently received a grant from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Hidden Heroes Campaign for innovative and evidence-based programs that address the long-term needs of military caregivers, spouses, parents and loved ones caring for servicemembers and veterans at home.

Veterans depend on caregivers "The ALA recognizes that many veterans depend daily on their dedicated caregivers," said Kathy Dungan, national president of the organization. "We recognize how important it is to support caregivers and address the unique stresses they face to help ensure our nation's heroes are supported for years to come."

At the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) last fall, the grant helped the Auxiliary provide several opportunities to empower caregivers and provide social support. Respite bags were handed out to each caregiver at registration. Although the event is centered around veterans, the bags and warm welcomes from Auxiliary volunteers and staff made the caregivers feel special. Programs relevant to the needs of military caregivers are typically focused on the servicemember or veteran, and only incidentally related to the caregiver's role. There are gaps in needed programs, which the grant helped to address. In addition, the funding provided the opportunity to build skills and confidence as caregivers.

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Caregivers need support too Dolores Kostiw, 71, caregiver to her husband, Steve, an Air Force veteran, said, "I retired two years ago. I'm around to help do what he needs to do, make sure he gets in and out of the shower OK. If he needs help with his shoes or dressing of any sort, I can try and help him with that. It's very hard because he's first - I have to make sure he's OK and everything before I can take care of myself."

According to a Rand Corp. study, there are more than 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers in the U.S. They spend many hours tending to the visible and invisible injuries or illnesses of their loved ones. In the study, 17 percent of civilian caregivers reported spending more than 40 hours per week providing care; 12 percent of post-9/11 military caregivers and 10 percent of pre-9/11 military caregivers spent more than 40 hours per week.

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It's OK not to be OK and ask for help "Anger is a big thing. Address that as soon as you can," said Spooneybarger. "Because that's the biggest reason I see why people leave their spouses - unresolved anger. They take it out on the only safe place they know - the person holding their hand through the whole process."

For Kostiw, it's about finding time for herself.

"More than once, you think, I can't do this anymore, I want to get out of it, but then he needs something, and I have to be there for him to give it to him," she said. "Do what you can and if you can't do it, ask for help."

Through the educational program and social support opportunities that were offered at the NVCAF, Kostiw and others learned it was OK to not be OK and to ask for help as a caregiver. They had the opportunity to show their emotions in a welcoming environment with others in similar situations. Some also offered suggestions on how to cope, based on their own experiences.

To learn more about how to get involved in the ongoing work of supporting caregivers and to give back to veterans, the military and their families, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org.

Source: BPT

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Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

May 2019  |  3

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

4 | May 2019 HEALTH

I AM LIFE CITY’S FIRST-EVER HEALTH CAMPAIGN

By d-mars.com News Provider

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am Life™ is the city’s first-ever health campaign directly reaching out to African-American and Hispanic members of The LGBTQ community HOUSTON (May 2, 2019) — A high number of HIV cases among the LGBTQ community’s AfricanAmerican and Hispanic populations has become one of the top health crises in the Houston area and the southern United States. Specifically, the sub-groups at greater risk of acquiring HIV are African-American and Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people of color ages 13 to 34. In response, the Houston Health Department (HHD) is launching a comprehensive strategy and a unified advertising, social marketing and digital branded campaign called I am Life.™ According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the annual number of new HIV diagnoses stabilized in recent years in the United States and dependent areas. However, annual new diagnoses have increased among some groups.

In 2017, three in five newly diagnosed Houstonians were African-American or Hispanic gay or bisexual males of all ages. Also in 2017, two in five newly diagnosed Houstonians were African-American or Hispanic MSM between ages 15 and 34. Additionally, Hispanic MSM have 2.7 times the rate of being newly diagnosed with HIV (a 173 percent increase); and African American MSM have 6.4 times the rate (a 540 percent increase).

With funding provided by CDC’s Project PrIDE Initiative, the goal of the I am Life™ campaign is to support HHD in reducing the number of HIV cases and increasing viral suppression among African-American and Hispanic MSMs, and transgender people of color. The I am Life™ campaign involves people from Houston’s LGBTQ community telling their stories to strongly encourage their peers to be responsible and be safe by taking Pre-Exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) daily, and if they have already acquired HIV, to “Get in Treatment and Stay in Treatment” to “Become Undetectable” to live healthy and longer lives.

The I am Life™ campaign will reach out to AfricanAmerican and Hispanic MSMs and transgender people of color with messages about PrEP as an HIV prevention option and Treatment as Prevention for people living with HIV. PrEP is a prescribed antiretroviral drug taken daily by (“those” adds to stigma) people most vulnerable to HIV transmission. Treatment as Prevention (TasP) uses HIV medicine and antiretroviral therapy (ART) to decrease the risk of HIV transmission for people living with HIV. Although systems are still being upgraded

to accurately collect data on HIV transmissions in the transgender community, available data suggests this population has a high number of new transmissions and a significant number of people living with HIV. HHD views I am Life™ as nothing less than a life-saving effort. Marlene McNeese, assistant director of HHD’s Disease Control and Prevention Division, said it is essential to reach young black and Hispanic LGBTQ people because many in this group are less likely to participate in health programs available in the larger LGBTQ community. “ We must reach the most vulnerable people in the LGBTQ community, especially very young teenagers who may already be independent of their parents and living on their own,” McNeese says. “We want this community to know that we are here to support them and for them to see themselves in this campaign. We want them to be able to relate and be moved to action and be safe.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner noted the urgency of HHD’s mission and said the city fully supports the campaign. “With one of the nation’s premier health departments leading this charge and backed by strong community partners, new programs and services and the increased accessibility to medication for our priority populations, the City of Houston supports the I am Life™ campaign to raise awareness and educate audiences about PrEP and Treatment as Prevention to help prevent HIV and to save lives.”

HHD enlisted Gilbreath Communications to develop and design the research, strategy, marketing and advertising for the I am Life™ campaign. Collectively, through the real-life stories of people from the African-American and Hispanic sectors of the LGBTQ community, individuals express self-affirmation and empowerment by proclaiming a recurring campaign theme to the larger society: “I am here. I exist. I matter.” Essentially, the campaign delivers a deeply emotional appeal from people personally affected in some way by HIV — from people living with the virus and maintaining their health through treatment to others using PrEP to avoid acquiring HIV. The individual stories provide a positive look into the personal journeys of the ambassadors who deliver the I am Life™ campaign. Participants include a Houston Ballet soloist and other professional dancers; a Houston Police Department officer; a high school student; several college students; a nurse; an HIV social worker; a home health nurse who also is a blogger; and a medical doctor who is a senior HIV researcher in the Texas Medical Center.

“This campaign is rooted in extensive research, strategy and understanding of the cultural barriers and nuances related to health care for our target audiences,” said Melvin Young Lewis, chief strategy officer at Gilbreath Communications. This new multimedia and social

marketing and PSA campaign, available in English and Spanish, will be distributed across multiple channels including a branded website, social media platforms, digital radio, targeted broadcast and cable, advertorials and outdoor advertising, including a partnership with Houston METRO. “I am Life™ is more than a campaign,” Lewis said. “It is a pledge to be truthful, responsible and safe. It voices a much more urgent and powerful message to ‘Live Healthy to Live Longer,’ beyond the typical emphasis of enjoying risk-free recreational sex through PrEP or by becoming untransmittable through treatment.” “Instead, I am Life™ emphasizes that no matter how individualistic someone may be, an active sex life always involves other people, and requires a certain sense of responsibility to be transparent and trustworthy with every intimate partner.” The I am Life™ ambassadors’ personal video stories are distinctly different, in appearance and messaging, but united purposefully in a common goal.”

To learn more about the I am Life™ campaign, visit www. houstoniamlife.com

About the Houston Health Department

The Houston Health Department provides traditional public health services and seeks to use innovative methods to market the community’s present and future needs. The department’s mission is to work in partnership with the community to promote and protect the health and social well-being of all Houstonians. HHD was the first health department in Texas and the second in a large U.S. city to earn national accreditation from the National Public Health Accreditation Board.

To learn more about the Houston Health Department, visit HoustonHealth.org.

About Gilbreath Communications

Gilbreath Communications Inc. is a full-service, awardwinning marketing, communications, advertising, digital and design agency located in Houston, Texas. For nearly 30 years, Gilbreath Communications, a Hall of Fame agency, has designed marketing and communications campaigns, strategies and programs for more than 400 clients, helping to launch and transform brands, grow businesses and engage audiences throughout the United States. Gilbreath Communications’ five services include strategy, marketing, advertising and creative services, digital and technology and communications and public relations. To learn more about our capabilities visit us at www.gilbcomm.com.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

May 2019 | 5 EDUCATION

BLACK WOMEN’S HEALTH

Imperative Announces STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP “Our strategic partnerships with progressive and powerful organizations like the National Coalition of 100 Black Women are vital to achieving our mission because they provide the amplification needed to reach more Black women with life-saving information and resources,” — Linda Goler Blount, President & CEO, The Black Women’s Health Imperative.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor

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he Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) has announced a strategic partnership with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) at the NCBW Day of Action and Advocacy in Washington, DC. The multi-year partnership was established to raise awareness of health disparities and solutions, and to provide access to vital healthcare and wellness information that promotes behavioral changes and healthier lifestyles in Black communities, according to a news release.

The Black Women’s Health Imperative is a national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing health equity and social justice for Black women, across the lifespan,

through policy, advocacy, education, research and leadership development.

The organization identifies the most pressing health issues that affect the nation’s 22 million Black women and girls and invests in the best of the best strategies and organizations that accomplish its goals.

The shared common priorities of BWHI and NCBW to reach the community and other key stakeholders about the health and wellness of Black women created an opportunity to partner nationally, officials said in the news release.

“Our strategic partnerships with progressive and powerful organizations like the National Coalition of 100 Black Women are vital to achieving our mission because they provide the amplification needed to reach more Black women with life-saving information and resources,” said Linda Goler Blount, President & CEO, The Black Women’s Health Imperative.

“Together, we will advance conversation and action around critical health issues, like maternal mortality and the impact of stress, with full confidence that our partnership will increase awareness and strengthen our efforts to

improve Black women’s health and impact policy at the state and federal level,” Blount said.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW) was launched in 1981 with the mission to advocate on behalf of women of color through national and local actions and strategic alliances that promote the its agenda on leadership development and gender equality in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment.

The national movement has garnered thousands of members who represent 60 chapters across 28 states.

Several of NCBW’s national health and wellness initiatives, including addressing heart disease, diabetes, strokes and obesity among Black women, created an opportunity for BWHI to provide solutions through evidenced-based programming and research-driven policy recommendations.

“I am very excited about NCBW’s and BWHI partnership” said NCBW President Virginia W. Harris.

“Together our goal will be to improve the African American health status and reduce health care costs and, this partnership will leverage and maximize resources by pooling talent, expertise, and resources,” Harris said.

She added that the partnership will “also improve outreach to stakeholders and enhance visibility, messaging and minimize duplication of efforts.”

Elements of the partnership will include hosting community health forums in cities across the country, collaborating on advocacy opportunities related to maternal mortality, diabetes, breast cancer and the Affordable Care Act, creating health tool kits for local NCBW chapters, and more.

For more information about The Black Women’s Health Imperative, please visit www.bwhi.org.

Source: NNPA

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

6 | May 2019

In the Business Community…

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Sisters Network 8th Annual Stop the Silence Walk The Sisters Network 8th Annual Stop the Silence Walk was held recently at Discovery Green Park. The walk draws over 8,000 participants every year, and this year's event was even larger. Funds raised from the event benefit Sisters' Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP) which provides financial support to survivors in Houston and all across the nation. Mayor Turner served as the Honorary Chair and Tina Lifford aka "Aunt Vi" from OWN TV's Queen Sugar was the Celebrity Chair.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

May 2019 | 7 HEALTH

Grow your own food in small spaces By d-mars.com News Provider

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hen it comes to cooking and eating the freshest vegetables and herbs, we recommend growing your own. Make the most of your harvest this year by selecting plants that will thrive in your space. Container gardening is a great option, perfect for those who want to plant on patio or deck spaces. You can use containers to grow favorite herbs and vegetables, so you can harvest fresh flavors right outside your door.

Whether you have a condo patio, a high-rise rooftop, a quaint sunny corner of your yard or even a window box, the experts at Burpee Plants know anyone can be a successful gardener no matter their level of experience or space available. Here are top suggestions for plants perfect for small spaces that bring the performance and flavor:

Confetti Pepper

Petite peppers pack a lot of punch in a little 2-ounce size that can be eaten fresh at any stage, from green to ruby red. The eye-catching leaves are beautiful, too.

Kids especially enjoy watching the fruit change colors over time and snacking on the bountiful harvest.

Atlas Tomato

If you want a big slicing tomato for sandwiches or a stacked caprese salad, the Atlas Tomato is for you. This container-friendly beefsteak tomato is disease resistant, which means healthy plants all season, and features impressive, extra-large tomatoes that are as fun to grow as they are to eat.

Jungle Parrot Pepper

Named for its adorable, beak-like shape, this pepper is perfect for patio containers.

It ripens to a beautiful, rich red that adds a pop of color to your space. Enjoy this sweet and delicious pepper fresh from the vine, displayed as a table centerpiece, sliced for a sauté or as stuffed appetizers.

Merry Mint Fresh Flavors Herbs

Add healthy flavor to all types of cooking by planting your own herbs. Merry Mint and other favorite flavors can be snipped as needed for salads, marinades, garnishing and more. From parsley and basil to sage and thyme, herbs are easy to care for - both indoors and outdoors - and easily expand your recipe possibilities.

Discover more garden inspiration, DIY projects and new recipes, like this Fauxjito, by visiting burpeehomegardens.com:

The Fauxjito

Ingredients: Merry Mint from your herb garden, Still water, Sparkling water, Glass carafe Directions: Chop and muddle a few sprigs of Merry Mint and add to the carafe. Next, fill carafe full with one-third still water and then two-thirds sparkling water. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Source: BPT

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

8 | May 2019

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