Georgia Dept of Human Resources Program for WIC wants to hear from you

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is pleased to announce that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will hold its annual public comment beginning June 20. This is an opportunity for Georgians to provide feedback on the program and suggest ways to improve WIC services through web access. The web page was developed to give the public a more efficient and private way to comment on the program.

“We encourage Georgians to take part in this comment period so they can have an impact on the WIC program,” said Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, acting director of the Division of Public Health. “We count on our customers’ feedback every year to make the WIC program better. For example, based on customer suggestions, our October food package will include fruits and vegetables, milk with lower fat content, less juice, more whole grain cereals and more support for breastfeeding mothers.”

To make comments or provide suggestions, participants should visit the WIC website at http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/. Once there, individuals should click on the “public comment” link provided on the left under “Women, Infants and Children (WIC)” and complete the appropriate survey.

The Georgia WIC program, the fifth largest WIC program in the U.S., provides monthly vouchers for supplemental foods such as cereal, eggs, juice, milk, peanut butter and infant formula to more than 324,000 participants. Women enrolled in the program also receive nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals for other health and social services.

WIC benefits are available to eligible pregnant women and women who have recently given birth, as well as infants and children up to five years of age. Eligible participants must have an income at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines (i.e., about $32,560 for a family of three). Participants must also be state residents who are at nutritional or medical risk as determined by a health professional.

There are more than 1,600 authorized food retailers that participate in the WIC food delivery system. WIC is 100-percent federally funded and administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health.

For more information about Georgia’s WIC program, please call (800) 228-9173 or visit: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/index.asp.

2008 WIC Eligibility Guidelines for Georgia

Size of family
(includes unborn children) Yearly income*
1 $19,240
2 25,900
3 32,560
4 39,220
5 45,880
6 52,540
7 59,200
8 65,860
*Add $6,660 for each additional family member. Also, new federal income guidelines will become effective 7/1/09.

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Forty-Eight Children Recovered in Operation Cross Country III

During the past week, the FBI joined our law enforcement partners in a three-day national enforcement action as part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative. This operation, known as Operation Cross Country III, included enforcement operations in 29 cities across the country and led to the recovery of 48 children being prostituted domestically. Additionally, 571 criminals were arrested on a combination of state and federal charges for the domestic trafficking of children for prostitution and solicitation.

“We continue to pursue those who exploit our nation's children,” said FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III. “We may not be able to return their innocence but we can remove them from this cycle of abuse and violence.”

In the spring of 2003, the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, in partnership with the Child Exploitation-Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), formed the Innocence Lost National Initiative to address the growing problem of children forced into prostitution. This program brings state and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers all from around the country to NCMEC, where the groups are trained together. In addition, CEOS has reinforced the tr aining by assigning prosecutors to help bring cases in those cities plagued by child prostitution. To date, the 32 Innocence Lost Task Forces and Working Groups have recovered 670 children. The investigations and subsequent convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences, including multiple 25-years-to-life sentences and the seizure of more than $3 million in assets.

The FBI would like to thank its partners who participated in Operation Cross Country and ongoing enforcement efforts, specifically:

Alsip Police Department (IL); Anaheim Police Department (CA); Anchorage Police Department (AK); Ann Arbor Police Department (MI); Atlanta Police Department (GA); Aurora Police Department (CO); Beaverton Police Department (OR); Bensenville Police Department (IL); Beverly Police Department (MA); Birmingham Police Department (AL); Boston Police Department (MA); Brandon Police Department (MS); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CA); California Department of Justice (CA); Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (NC); Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office (OR); Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (OR); Clackamas County/Multnomah County Victims Assistance (OR); Clarendon Hills Police Department (IL); College Park Police Department (GA); Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department (IL); Corvallis Police Department (OR); Dallas Police Department (TX); Metropolitan Police Department (DC); Denver Police Department (CO); Des Plaines Police Department (IL); Detroit Police Department (MI); Downers Grove Police Department (IL); DuPage County Sheriff’s Police Department (IL); Elk Grove Village Police Department (IL); Essex Police Department (MA); Eugene Police Department (OR); Evanston Police Department (IL); Everett Police Department (MA); Everett Police Department (WA); Florida Attorney General’s Office (FL); Flowood Police Department (MS); Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (OH); Glenview Police Department (IL); Glenwood Police Department (IL); Gloucester Police Department (MA); Grayslake Police Department (IL); Gurnee Police Department (IL); Gwinnett County Police Department (GA); Hapeville Police Department (GA); Harris County Sheriff's Office (TX); Highland Park Police Department (IL); Hillsboro Police Department (OR); Hinds County Sheriff's Office (MS); Houston Police Department (TX); Immigration and Custom Enforcement; Internal Revenue Service; Jackson Police Department (MS); Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (FL); Janus Youth Services (OR); Kent Police Department (WA); Lake County Sheriff’s Department (IL); Lakewood Police Department (CO); Lakewood Police Department (WA); Lane County Parole (OR); Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (NV); Lifeworks NW (OR); Lima Police Department (OH); Lombard Police Department (IL); Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (VA); Lynwood Police Department (WA); Madison Heights Police Department (MI); Malden Police Department (MA); Marblehead Police Department (MA); Massachusetts State Police Department (MA); Melrose Park Police Department (IL); Melrose Police Department (MA); Miami Dade Police Department (FL); Miami Police Department (FL); Michigan State Police (MI); Minneapolis Police Department (MN); Minnetonka Police Department (MN); Mississippi Attorney General’s Office (MS); Montgomery County Police Department (MD); Moreno Valley Police Department (CA); Mount Prospect-Arlington Heights Police Department (IL); Mount Vernon Police Department (IL); Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office (OR) ; Multnomah County Juvenile Services Division (OR); Mundelein Police Department (IL); Naperville Police Department (IL); National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; Norwood Police Department (MA); Oak Brook Police Department (IL); Oak Lawn Police Department (IL); Oakland Police Department (CA); Ontario Police Department (CA); Orange County District Attorney’s Office (CA); Oregon Department of Human Services (OR); Peabody Police Department (MA); Phoenix Police Department (AZ); Portland Police Department Victim Assistance (OR); Portland Metro Gang Task Force (OR); Miami Beach Police Department (FL); Portland Police Bureau (OR); Prince William County Police Department (VA); Rankin County Sheriff's Office (MS); Richton Pack Police Department (IL); Riverside Police Department (CA); Rosemont Police Department (IL); Sacramento County Sheriff's Office (CA); Sacramento Police Department (CA); Salem Police Department (MA); San Diego Police Department (CA); San Francisco Police Department (CA); Sandy Springs Police Department (GA); Saugus Police Department (MA); Sauk Village Police Department (IL); Seattle Police Department (WA); Sexual Assault Resource Center (OR); Skokie Police Department (IL); Southfield Police Department (MI); St. Louis Park Police Department (MN); Swampscott Police Department (MA); Tacoma Police Department (WA); Tigard Police Department (OR); Toledo Police Department (OH); United States Attorney’s Office; Walpole Police Department (MA); Washington County Sheriff's Office (OR); Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office (MI); Wayne County Sheriff's Office (MI); Wellesley Police Department (MA); Westmont Police Department (IL); Will County Sheriff’s Police Department (IL); and Willowbrook Police Department (IL).

All of the charges announced today are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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Former Clayton County Police Officer Sentenced for Sending Obscene Matter on the Internet

CASEY AUSTIN CARMICHAEL, 29, of Peachtree City, Georgia, was sentenced October 16, 2008, by United States District Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr, on a charge of attempting to transfer obscene matter over the internet to a person under 16 years old.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of today’s sentencing, “As a police officer, this defendant abused the public’s trust and his police computer to do the exact opposite of what he was supposed to do. Instead of fighting crime and arresting those who would do harm to our children and our community, he became a criminal and a threat to children.”

CARMICHAEL was sentenced to 2 years, 9 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. CARMICHAEL pleaded guilty to the charge on August 14, 2008.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: In September 2007, CARMICHAEL, while on duty as a Patrolman with the Clayton County Police Department, used his Department-issued computer to transfer obscene materials to a person CARMICHAEL believed to be girl under 16 years of age. CARMICHAEL had contacted her in a “chat room” on the Internet, and had conversations with her relating to obscene materials over several days while on duty as a Patrolman. The underage “girl” was actually an FBI Agent working undercover with the Safe Child Task Force. CARMICHAEL was dismissed from the Clayton County Police Department upon his indictment in this case.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and its Safe Child Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney David E. McClernan prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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Burst Appendix or Stomach Flu? Hopkins Children’s Experts Say Doctors and Parents Can Sort Out Symptoms with a Checklist

A young child arrives at the emergency room after several days of abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and is sent home with a diagnosis of viral gastritis and treatment for the symptoms. The child seems better for a while, only to return to the ER with worse symptoms and a ruptured appendix, a life-threatening complication of appendicitis.

The scenario is not uncommon, experts say, because children with appendicitis don’t usually have the classic symptoms of the condition, but pediatricians at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center say there are ways for doctors and parents to tell the difference early on between a potentially deadly burst appendix – which can kill in a matter of days, even hours – and a stomach bug.

Past research has found that half of appendicitis cases are misdiagnosed when they first present at the emergency room or the doctor’s office, and that up to 80 percent of appendicitis cases in children younger than 4 years of age end up in rupture.

Says emergency room pediatrician Jennifer Anders, M.D., of Hopkins Children’s, who has seen her fair share of burst appendices, “appendicitis should always be near the top of the list of potential culprits when a child has ANY abdominal pain, vomiting, and malaise,” keeping in mind that many children don’t have fever or lose appetite the way adults might.

Doctors recommend that children with prolonged or severe abdominal symptoms that do not go away or improve should be evaluated for ruptured appendix. Consider the following questions:

Do blood tests indicate elevated white cell count?
Was there sharp pain in the lower right portion of the abdomen, which later subsided and became dull and spread across the abdominal area? Paradoxically, as appendicitis worsens and the appendix ruptures, the acute pain is alleviated and transformed into more diffuse abdominal pain.
“It’s counter-intuitive, but if that sharp pain improves or subsides and becomes more generalized, it’s actually a bad sign,” Anders says. “As the severely inflamed appendix ruptures, the acute pain is alleviated and transformed into more diffuse abdominal pain.”

Does the child have diarrhea? Diarrhea, which can be a marker of bowel inflammation, resulting from the infection caused by the burst appendix, often distracts doctors and puts them on a different track. Diarrhea may not be a classic sign of appendicitis, it may signal a ruptured appendix.

Did the child have vomiting, which later stopped?

The appendix is a small tube extending from the large intestine, and infections and inflammation of the organ can be dangerous. The only absolute way to diagnose the condition is surgery, and each year, appendicitis sends 77,000 American children to the hospital. An estimated one-third of them suffer a ruptured appendix before they reach the OR.

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News to Use in Fayetteville, Atlanta, Valdosta, Peachtree City and all of Georgia

New Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

Adults gain substantial health benefits from two and a half hours a week
of moderate aerobic physical activity, and children benefit from an hour
or more of physical activity a day, according to the new Physical
Activity Guidelines for Americans. The comprehensive set of
recommendations for people of all ages and physical conditions was
released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The guidelines are designed so people can easily fit physical activity
into their daily plan and incorporate activities they enjoy.

Physical activity benefits children and adolescents, young and
middle-aged adults, older adults, and those in every studied racial and
ethnic group, the report said.

"It's important for all Americans to be active, and the guidelines are a
roadmap to include physical activity in their daily routine," HHS
Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "The evidence is clear -- regular physical
activity over months and years produces long-term health benefits and
reduces the risk of many diseases. The more physically active you are,
the more health benefits you gain."

Regular physical activity reduces the risk in adults of early death;
coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes,
colon and breast cancer, and depression. It can improve thinking ability
in older adults and the ability to engage in activities needed for daily
living. The recommended amount of physical activity in children and
adolescents improves cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as well as
bone health, and contributes to favorable body composition.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are the most
comprehensive of their kind. They are based on the first thorough review
of scientific research about physical activity and health in more than a
decade. A 13-member advisory committee appointed in April 2007 by
Secretary Leavitt reviewed research and produced an extensive report.

Key guidelines by group are:

Children and Adolescents -- One hour or more of moderate or vigorous
aerobic physical activity a day, including vigorous intensity physical
activity at least three days a week. Examples of moderate intensity
aerobic activities include hiking, skateboarding, bicycle riding and
brisk walking. Vigorous intensity aerobic activities include bicycle
riding, jumping rope, running and sports such as soccer, basketball and
ice or field hockey. Children and adolescents should incorporate
muscle-strengthening activities, such as rope climbing, sit-ups, and
tug-of war, three days a week. Bone-strengthening activities, such as
jumping rope, running and skipping, are recommended three days a week.


Adults -- Adults gain substantial health benefits from two and one half
hours a week of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity, or one
hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity. Walking briskly,
water aerobics, ballroom dancing and general gardening are examples of
moderate intensity aerobic activities. Vigorous intensity aerobic
activities include racewalking, jogging or running, swimming laps,
jumping rope and hiking uphill or with a heavy backpack. Aerobic
activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes. For
more extensive health benefits, adults should increase their aerobic
physical activity to five hours a week moderate-intensity or two and one
half hours a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.
Adults should incorporate muscle strengthening activities, such as
weight training, push-ups, sit-ups and carrying heavy loads or heavy
gardening, at least two days a week.

Older adults -- Older adults should follow the guidelines for other
adults when it is within their physical capacity. If a chronic condition
prohibits their ability to follow those guidelines, they should be as
physically active as their abilities and conditions allow. If they are
at risk of falling, they should also do exercises that maintain or
improve balance.

Women during pregnancy -- Healthy women should get at least two and one
half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week during
pregnancy and the time after delivery, preferably spread through the
week. Pregnant women who habitually engage in vigorous aerobic activity
or who are highly active can continue during pregnancy and the time
after delivery, provided they remain healthy and discuss with their
health care provider how and when activity should be adjusted over time.

Adults with disabilities -- Those who are able should get at least two
and one half hours of moderate aerobic activity a week, or one hour and
15 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week. They should incorporate
muscle-strengthening activities involving all major muscle groups two or
more days a week. When they are not able to meet the guidelines, they
should engage in regular physical activity according to their abilities
and should avoid inactivity.

People with chronic medical conditions -- Adults with chronic conditions
get important health benefits from regular physical activity. They
should do so with the guidance of a health care provider.

For more information about the "Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans," visit www.hhs.gov or www.health.gov/paguidelines.

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Champions for Children in GA

Dear Georgia Families of Children with Exceptional Needs:

As you may be aware, the Easter Seals Georgia Coalition was awarded the grant for the Champions for Children with Exceptional Needs Initiative. Included in the Coalition are Easter Seals Southern Georgia, Easter Seals North Georgia, Easter Seals West Georgia, Easter Seals East Georgia, Easter Seals Middle Georgia and Parent to Parent of Georgia. The Champions for Children Program is funded by a $4.87 million five-year grant from The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. This grant was made possible by a one-time 2006 Georgia legislative allocation.

The Easter Seals Georgia Coalition is pleased to announce the implementation of the Champions for Children Program in the following counties beginning July 1, 2008. Families in these counties will be served by Easter Seals North Georgia.

Banks Floyd Newton
Barrow Forsyth Oconee
Bartow Franklin Paulding
Catoosa Fulton Pickens
Chattooga Gilmer Polk
Cherokee Gordon Rabun
Clark Gwinnett Rockdale
Clayton Habersham Stephens
Cobb Hall Towns
Dade Henry Union
Dawson Jackson Walker
DeKalb Lumpkin Walton
Douglas Madison White
Fannin Morgan Whitfield
Fayette Murray

Families living in the counties served by Easter Seals East Georgia, Middle Georgia and West Georgia will be able to access the program beginning October 1st. For more information on the Easter Seals affiliates and the counties they serve, please visit our website at www.easterseals.com

The Champions for Children Program is designed to primarily assist children and families that do not meet the eligibility requirements for the TEFRA/Katie Beckett Medicaid program. The program will provide direct financial assistance and support services for Georgia’s medically fragile and special needs children and their families. An Easter Seals Champions for Children Coordinator will work directly with families to determine eligibility, identify service needs as described by the family and connect them with resources and services.

Families residing in the counties listed above may access services by calling the Easter Seals Coalition toll free number: 1-866-584-3742. A website for the Easter Seals Champions for Children’s Program is under development and is scheduled to be operational by June 20th. A description of the Champions for Children Program, the application for services and other information will be available on the site www.championsforchildrenga.org.

While the $500,000 in annual funding over the next five years will be a wonderful resource for families, we recognize that all needs will not be addressed. However, the Easter Seals Georgia Coalition is committed to serving the needs of children and families to the greatest extent possible using a family friendly approach.

The Easter Seals Georgia Coalition wants to ensure that a simple and effective process is put in place, which is why we are rolling out the Champions for Children Program in stages. We realize that many of you will have specific questions about the eligibility criteria for the Champions for Children Program and the application process.

We promise to keep you informed as we roll out the program throughout the state, and other ways that we seek to serve your family. We also promise later on to provide you with an opportunity for your feedback on the Coalition and how we might improve services.

Yours in Service,
Easter Seals Georgia Coalition