| Press Release |
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| October 20, 2008 |
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Governor announces new curriculum for health care community to learn how to address hunger
(Salem) – As part of Harvest Week, Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced the availability of free, newly developed online curriculum that will help in the fight against hunger by teaching health care professionals how to discuss and assist those who face food insecurity or hunger.
The curriculum is based upon findings of a survey released in May that showed doctors and nurses want to learn 1) more about the health consequences of hunger, 2) how to discuss the problem with their patients and 3) effective ways to incorporate appropriate interventions into their clinical settings.
“Now, hundreds of physicians and nurses have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those who are hungry,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Health care professionals who take advantage of this curriculum will help Oregon continue to make progress in the fight against hunger.”
The Governor urges every hospital and health system, every county medical association, and every local public health department to designate at least one of their members as a local “childhood hunger expert.” This person will become part of a statewide network of health care experts on the health effects of childhood hunger.
“Health care professionals are uniquely qualified to appreciate the consequences of hunger on an individual’s health. They’re also uniquely positioned to have a positive impact on the health of hungry Oregonians – especially children. I hope every medical community throughout Oregon designates a local childhood hunger expert committed to addressing hunger and its root causes as part of their practice,” the Governor said.
Hunger and food insecurity affect about one in five Oregon children, meaning that their families do not always know where their next meal is coming from. In an average month, 200,000 people eat meals from an Oregon Food Bank emergency food box, compared to an average of 192,000 last year.
The survey of nearly 200 health care professionals in the Portland-metropolitan area was conducted by the Childhood Hunger Initiative. The Childhood Hunger Initiative (CHI) is a network of health care professionals, anti-hunger advocates and other interested Oregonians working together to educate the medical community, policy makers and the general public about the medical, developmental and psycho-social impacts of childhood food insecurity and hunger.
The free, online course, “Childhood Food Insecurity: Health Impacts, Screening and Intervention,” is available at http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/hunger.
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
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