National Public Health Week 2017 – Healthy Nation 2030

National Public Health Week

Healthy – to some, this may be a person wearing a small pant size, eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, and exercising every day. However, to achieve optimal wellness, one should not focus solely on physical activity and nutrition, but their social, intellectual, spiritual, cultural, emotional, environmental, occupational aspects of wellness too. Your health and wellness can be defined by you and what you think being well is. Ask yourself, what does being well mean to you? Is it eating a healthy breakfast to start your day, getting the recommend the amount of sleep, walking during your lunch breaks at work, dancing at pow-wows, or attending a sweat lodge? You know your body better than anyone, by defining what wellness means to you you’re taking small steps to be a healthier you.

Public health helps promote health and wellness. What is public health? Public health is: having access to healthy meats and produce at your grocery stores, lighted sidewalks, enjoying drinkable water, running 5ks or marathons, healthcare, car seats, any and all of the Forest County Potawatomi Community Health Department programs available.  That is public health. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), public health is defined as, “the science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease, injury prevention, and detection and control of infectious disease.” In one word public health is PREVENTION. Public Health aims to create and sustain healthier lives for you and your family now and for generations to come.

Every year the American Public Health Association and Center for Disease Control and Prevention celebrate health and wellness the first week of April (April 3 – 9, 2017) in recognition of National Public Health Week. The goal of this week is to celebrate all that public health does and challenge communities across the country to take steps to become the healthiest nation by 2030.

The Forest County Potawatomi Community Health Department is joining the celebration by hosting a week long challenge with various events throughout the week. Join the Forest County Potawatomi Community Health Department this week as they host events and health challenges to become a healthier you!

  • Mish ko swen Health Challenge: Make National Public Health Week your time to focus on your health and wellness. Check the Forest County Potawatomi Community Health Department website (cmh.fcpotawatomi.com), for more details on the daily health challenge and incentives offered.
    • Monday, April 3: Aim to eat 5 fruits and/or vegetables today. Stop by the Health and Wellness Center lobby between 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM or 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM to pick up a healthy snack.
    • Tuesday, April 4: The average American adult spends 8 hours per day in front of a screen. Take that time and do something for your health. Try to limit your screen time to 2 hours. Stop by the Forest County Potawatomi Community Health Department to pick a game you can play with your family. Quantity of games is limited.
    • Wednesday, April 5: Challenge your heart today, by getting the recommended amount of physical activity based on American Heart Association recommendations (60 minutes for youth, and 30 minutes for adults). Need a place to walk? The Forest County Potawatomi Rehab Department’s walking track is open to the community the following hours: 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, and 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Monday through Friday and 8 AM – 2 PM Saturdays. Stop by the Rehab Department during these hours to walk and a free pedometer.
    • Thursday, April 6: Say no to sugary beverages today, and opt for water. Stop by the Forest County Potawatomi Community Health Department to get your very own water bottle.
    • Friday, April 7: Focus on your personal wellness today by challenging yourself to take an emotional break for yourself, focusing on your spirituality, by taking a nature walk, or playing a game of cribbage. Treat yourself to you time. Stop by the Health and Wellness Center for a stress ball, word searches, and other games.
  • The Healing Journey: Dealing with Grief and the Impact of Substance Abuse on those You Love Event: Wednesday, April 5 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Forest County Potawatomi Museum in the Lower Level. Join community members as they share their stories of how substance abuse has impacted their lives and how they handle the grief of losing a loved one. A light meal will be provided.
  • Tobacco Pouch Making Event: Friday, April 7 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Forest County Potawatomi Museum in the Lower Level.
  • Devil’s Lake Nature Walk: Saturday, April 8 from 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM at Devil’s Lake. Join the Forest County Potawatomi Community Health Department as they kick-off the “Walking the Pow Wow Trail Challenge” by walking around Devil’s Lake. Participate in a scavenger hunt for facts as you walk. A light lunch will be provided.
  • Walking the Pow Wow Trail Challenge: Kick-off at the Devil’s Lake Nature Walk. Join the challenge to see how many miles or steps you can walk this summer! Use your pedometers, FitBit, and other exercise devices to monitor and track your steps. The Pow Wows across the State of Wisconsin will serve as markers, starting at the Winter’s End Pow Wow and ending at the Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee which will be a total of 1,920.9 miles or 4,057,152 steps! All participants will receive a free “Walking the Pow Wow Trail Challenge” T-Shirt. The individual who walks to or has the most steps to get them to the most Pow Wows wins a prize. For more details, please see the National Public Health Week flyer.

For additional information or questions contact Melanie Tatge, Health Educator at (715) 478-4382.

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