SEVERE WINTER STORM PELTS AREA - Eastern Band of Cherokee

HEALTH TALKFebruary is Teen Dating ViolenceSUBMITTED By LISA JONESAre you going out with Someone Who…*Is jealous and possessive, won’t let youhave friends, checks up on you, and won’taccept breaking up?*Tries to control you by being very busy,giving orders, making all the decisions, nottaking your opinions seriously?*Puts you down in front of friends, tellsyou that you would be nothing withouthim or her?Scares you? Makes you worry about reactionsto things you say or do? Threatensyou? Uses or owns weapons?*Is violent? Has a history of fighting, losesPrevention Monththeir temper quickly, and brags about mistreatingothers? Grabs, pushes, shoves, orhits you?*Pressures you for sex or is forceful orscary about sex? Gets too serious about therelationship too fast?*Abuses alcohol or other drugs and pressuresyou take them?* Has a history of failed relationship andblames the other person for all the problems?*Makes your family and friends uneasyand concerned for your safety?If you answered YES to any ofthese questions, you could be the victim ofdating abuse. Dating Violence or abuse affects1 in 10 teen couples. Abuse isn’t justhitting. It’s yelling, threatening, name-calling,saying “I’ll kill myself if you leaveme”, obsessive phone calling, and extremepossessiveness.If your partner abuses you and youwant out:*Tell your parents, a friend, a counselor,or someone else whom you trust and whocan help. The more isolated you are fromfriends and family, the more control theabuser has over you.*Alert the school counselor or security officer.*Keep a daily log of the abuse.*Do not meet your partner alone. Do notlet him or her in your home or car whenyou are alone.*Tell someone where you are going andwhen you plan to be back.* Plan and rehearse what you do if yourpartner became abusive.If you have any questions or assistanceplease call: 488-5572, 479-2791, or tollfree 800-264-9611.*Information given by the Crime and ViolencePrevention Center.*Lisa is a Domesc Violence/Sexual AssaultAdvocate with the EBCI DomescViolence and Sexual Assault Program.CDC, IHS urge Vaccinations for Pre-TeenAmerican Indian YouthCampaign urges routinecheck-ups for 11- and 12yr. oldsSUBMITTED By CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROLAs children approach their teen years, parentsften worry about how to protect them from new risks andpotential dangers. The Centers for Disease Control andPrevention is partnering with the Indian Health Service tolaunch a campaign informing American Indian and AlaskaNative parents and other caregivers about the importancef a preteen medical check-up and preteen vaccines.Research shows that preteens generally do notet preventive health care, visiting the doctor only whenhey are sick. One goal of this campaign is to encourageparents to take their preteens in for an 11- or 12-year-oldcheck-up, which is a comprehensive, preventive healthexam. During the check-up, the doctor takes a completemedical history, screens for diseases like diabetes, discussespuberty and other issues such as how to stayhealthy and avoid substance abuse, and ensures that immunizationsare up to date.“Many parents may not be aware that there arevaccines that preteens need to protect them against potentiallyserious diseases, including meningitis, pertussis, influenza,and the virus that causes cervical cancer,” saidDr. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC’s National Center forImmunization and Respiratory Diseases. "Vaccinationsplay an important role in protecting your child’s health.ut they do more than protect children. By ensuring yound your family receive recommended vaccines, you helpo prevent the spread of disease and protect the health ofhe community."Three vaccines are specifically recommended forhe preteen years: MCV4, which prevents some types ofeningitis and its complications; Tdap, which is a boostergainst tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis or “whoopingcough;” and for girls, the human papillomavirus (HPV)vaccine, which protects against the types of HPV thatmost commonly cause cervical cancer. Annual seasonalflu shots and vaccination against H1N1 influenza are alsorecommended for preteens, just as they are for youngerchildren starting at age 6 months, and for older children,through age 18.Preteen vaccine recommendations are supportedby the CDC, IHS, the American Academy of Pediatrics,the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Societyfor Adolescent Medicine.“There is a common perception that check-upsare only for infants, but this isn’t true,” said Dr. MichaelBartholomew, a member of the Kiowa Tribe and chief ofpediatrics at the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital in Arizona.“Eleven- and 12-year-olds also need a check-up to ensurethat they stay healthy as they enter their adolescent years.”CDC and IHS have developed posters and flyersto educate parents about the preteen check-up and preteenvaccines, which can be ordered or downloaded from thewww.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/aian. These materialswere created with input from American Indian and AlaskaNative parents in the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest.American Indian and Alaska Native media, partnershipsthat reach parents and healthcare providers, and a community-basedFor more information about the campaign, pleasecampaign Web site atOther campaign activities include outreach towith American Indian and Alaska Native organizationseducation project in New Mexico.visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/aian.THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010cherokee one feather15