Grab your super suit and cape, and come on out with us for the 10th Annual Express Your SuperPower 5K/10K presented by the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition and Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition. Awesome flat and fast course completely inside Etowah River Park and Heritage Park located in Canton, Georgia.
- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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North Georgia—Join us in the fight against breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and IT'S TIME to take action against this all-too-common cancer! Attend FREE awareness and screening events at our Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield County Health Departments in the North Georgia Health District.
Did you know that one in eight women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in their lifetime? Here are more breast cancer facts from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.:
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers.1
- It is estimated that in 2024, approximately 30% of all new female cancer diagnoses in the United States will be breast cancer.1
- On average, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. every 2 minutes.1
- Approximately 66% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage before cancer has spread outside of the breast when it is easiest to treat.3
- The 5-year relative survival rate for cancer diagnosed at the localized stage is 99%.1
- Approximately 15% of women diagnosed have a family history of breast cancer. Those with a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer are nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer themselves.4
Early detection is key in winning the fight against breast cancer!
Don't miss out on critical breast cancer awareness and screening opportunities. Check out the upcoming events below at our County Health Departments (listed alphabetically by county). Let's make a difference together! Click HERE to download & share our district BCA Flyer!
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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North GA—Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics return to North Georgia in October! Conducted annually by county health departments in the North Georgia Health District, these clinics allow residents ages 18 and older to conveniently remain in their vehicles while local public health professionals safely and effectively arm them against the flu.
The shot is available at no cost through most health coverage plans. If paying out of pocket, the price is still relatively low at $25 for a regular flu vaccine and $65 for a high-dose flu vaccine for people 65 and older.
The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics are scheduled in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties as follows:
- Cherokee: Tuesday, 10/1, 8 am - 2 pm, Woodstock Health Center, 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188 | (770) 345-7371 / (770) 928-0133 (See flyer!)
- Fannin: Tuesday, 10/8, 9 am - 3 pm, Farmers Market, 811 Summit Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513 | (706) 632-3023 (See flyer!)
- Gilmer: Tuesday, 10/1, 8 am - 3 pm, ETC Pavilion, 1041-1047 Legion Road, Ellijay, GA 30540 | (706) 635-4363 (See flyer!)
- Murray: Tuesday, 10/8, 9 am - 5 pm, Murray County Recreation Department, 651 Hyden Tyler Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705 | (706) 695-4585 (See flyer!)
- Pickens: Wednesday, 10/16, 9 am - 3 pm, Mt Zion Baptist Church, 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA 30143 | (706) 253-2821 (See flyer!)
- Whitfield: Thursday, 10/3, 8 am - 2 pm, Whitfield County Health Department (Upper Parking Lot), 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720 | (706) 279-9600 (See flyer!)
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
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Dalton, GA—The North Georgia Health District 1-2 WIC Program was recently presented with a Gold 2024 WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence for Exemplary Breastfeeding Support and Practices, showcasing its unwavering commitment to promoting and supporting breastfeeding in the community.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), recognized by the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), celebrates the exceptional efforts of local WIC agencies through the WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence program. Formerly known as the Loving Support Award of Excellence, this program was established to honor agencies demonstrating exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities on a 3-tiered level: Gold Award, Premier Award (mid-level), and Elite Award (highest level). North Georgia WIC is one of five WIC programs in the state awarded at the gold level for 2024. The other gold awardees include health districts based in Athens (District 10), Macon (District 5-2), Valdosta (District 8-1), and Waycross (District 9-2).
LaToya Osmani, MPH, Georgia’s Director of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC, spoke at the presentation and said, “The North Georgia WIC team has a superior top-tier partnership with the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition. They come together in a community engagement-driven way that can be measured and duplicated throughout Georgia.”
One of the District 1-2 WIC team’s many achievements has been supporting moms through the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program, in which experienced breastfeeding mothers reach out to WIC mothers for support. The program has recently introduced a “buddy pairing” system, allowing WIC moms with similar due dates to connect with each other for additional support.
“The peer counselors work closely with our IBCLC [International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant] WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator, Carol Hendrix,” said Karen Rutledge, RD, LD, district WIC Program Director. “Together, they provide families with both emotional support and clinical expertise, leading to significantly improved breastfeeding success rates and a supportive environment for families.”
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- Written by: Jennifer King
- Category: Press Room
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Registration is now open.
Express Your SuperPower 5K/10K:
Race starts at 8 am!
Includes a walk and a free Tot Trot for the littles (great photo op)
Etowah River Park, Canton GA
Register here!!
Sponsor Information
Georgia is in desperate need of a milk bank to provide safe and donated breastmilk to infants who are unable to receive it from their biological mothers, ensuring they receive vital nutrition and immune protection. Proceeds of this event will go to support the MedMilk Project: Building Georgia’s Milk Bank.
This race also directs attention to the global World Breastfeeding Week campaign that aims to inform, anchor, engage, and galvanize action on breastfeeding and related issues. In the end, our breastfeeding families are given the resources and support they need to make informed decisions on promoting the health of their children. This year, in harmony with all the various World Breastfeeding Week campaign themes, all our race funds will be dedicated to the development of this new milk bank for Georgia.
If you are interested in sponsoring the race please click here for the information.
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- September is National Preparedness Month
- Raccoon Attacks Chatsworth Residents. Health Officials Warn: Avoid Handling Wild Animals, Maintain Rabies Vaccinations.
- Shannon Bradburn Awarded as our 2024 Environmental Health Specialist All-Star
- District’s Emory Epidemiology Fellow Teresa Costa Honored with Community Engagement Award
- EpiNews, August-September Issue, North Georgia Health District E-Newsletter
- Shout-Out for WIC Peer Counselors on IBCLC Appreciation Day!
- K. Mills McNeill, MD, PhD, Named New Health Director of North Georgia Health District
- Back to School Health Fair at Gilmer County Health Dept. Happens Tues., July 30th!
- Our Emergency Preparedness e-Newsletter, July-August 2024 Issue
- Launching: Our Newest E-Newsletter: Environmental Health News!