Annual Public Health Awards Presented April 15th

"Healthy Communities" Efforts also Recognized

NEWS RELEASE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH MADISON & DANE COUNTY Madison, WI - Monday, April 13, 2009 - Six individuals and organizations will be honored at the 2009 Public Health Awards ceremony held on Wednesday, April 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Drive in Madison. Public Health Awards recognize significant contributions made by the recipients to the health of the people and the environment of Madison and Dane County. This year, the event will also recognize 12 organizations for providing kids with healthier eating and physical activity opportunities to help reduce childhood obesity. These organizations will receive "Healthy Communities" awards. "We are very pleased to have the chance to recognize some of the individuals and organizations that have made efforts above and beyond what is expected to ensure good health for others and contribute to our vision for healthy people in healthy Dane County communities," said Dr. Thomas Schlenker, Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County. Nominations for the Public Health awards were submitted by individuals and organizations in the community, and by Public Health staff. At the ceremony, public health staff will highlight the specific contributions that each honoree has made to public health in the community. The awards will be presented by Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. The six public health award recipients are as follows: Advocacy Award ABC for Health For it's outstanding, dedicated advocacy work in linking children and families to needed health care benefits and services. Distinguished Service Award Dane County Dental Society For over 30 years of ongoing support of Public Health dental programs. Leadership Award Dennis Maki, MD Clinical Professor of Medicine, UW School of Medicine and Public Health For national and local leadership on emerging and continuing infectious disease issues and work with local public health in management of TB cases. Partnership Award UW Applied Population Laboratory Bill Buckingham, Dan Veroff, David Long For partnering with Public Health and building interactive mapping tools to inform public health program planning and decision-making. Prevention Award Dane County Early Childhood Initiative For development and implementation of an innovative, integrated home visitation and employment program aimed at improving life chances for children and their families. Volunteer Award Rachel Martin and Nancy Gutknecht For creating partnerships to develop a community garden at Midvale School used for teaching children about good nutrition and health. HEALTHY COMMUNITY AWARD RECIPIENTS The Healthy Communities Award Program is a Public Health initiative aimed at childhood obesity prevention, supported by major sponsor Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin (GHC-SCW), and Dane County Dairy Promotion. Organizations that serve youth submit a plan to make sustainable improvements in their food practices, nutrition education and physical activity programming. They receive assistance, resources and supplies to complete their plans over a period of six months, and are rewarded with prizes funded by GHC-SCW. Recipients for this year's awards are: • Cambridge Youth Center • Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation • Deerfield Community Center • Mount Horeb Youth Center • After School Clubs, Inc - Oregon • Sun Prairie Youth Center • Karate America Mixed Martial Arts - Sun Prairie • Bayview Foundation/Neighborhood Center - Madison • Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center -Madison • East Madison Community Center - Madison • Kennedy Heights Community Center - Madison • Partners in Parenting Family Resource Center - Madison -END-