Fulton County Regional Health Centers Offer Clinical Breast, Cervical Screenings Year-Round

Although October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Fulton County’s efforts to help women learn about breast health and the importance of early detection are year-round.  

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States and in Georgia.   Each year in the United States, about 220,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness (FCDHW) wants to inform women that in addition to doing their monthly self-breast exams, women should also have an annual clinical breast exam performed by their healthcare provider.   Fulton County’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program offers both breast and cervical exams not just during October but throughout the year.   These life-saving exams are available FREE to uninsured women who are income-eligible.   Women must schedule an appointment for their exams by contacting one of the designated regional health centers.

Fulton County Health Centers that Offer Breast & Cervical Cancer Screenings include:

• Adamsville Regional Health Center, 3700 Martin Luther King Dr. S.W., Atlanta, GA   30331.  Phone:   404-613-4215.
• College Park Regional Health Center, 1920 John Wesley Ave, College Park, GA   30337.  Phone:   404-765-4155.
• North Fulton Regional Health Center, 3155 Royal Drive, Suite 125, Alpharetta, GA   30022.  Phone:   404-332-1958.

Fulton County’s Breast and Cervical Program provides breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnostic services and referrals as medically indicated.   “The program strives to increase public awareness of early detection to increase survival,” explains Debra Dewitt, Nursing Supervisor, FCDHW.

“Fulton County has enrolled over 10,300 uninsured women between 1995 – 2015 into its National Breast and Cervical Cancer Program who received mammogram screenings and/or diagnostic procedures to complete their treatment,” Dewitt further explains.  

Fulton’s BCCP receives its funding, in part, from the Georgia Department of Public Health. The program has partnered with the S.C.L.C. WOMEN, Inc., and Congressman David Scott’s Annual Health Fair to offer clinical breast examinations at nontraditional sites for women who rarely or never receive mammograms.              

Fulton County Fire Rescue Offers Halloween Safety Tips

The Fulton County Fire Rescue Department (FCFRD) encourages residents to avoid “tricks” by taking precautions this Halloween. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), nationally, during the three-day period around Halloween, about 10,300 fires occur resulting in about 25 deaths, 125 injuries and $83 million in property loss.

FCFRD wants to help our communities be safer during Halloween by sharing a few fire safety tips from USFA:

• Choose a costume without long trailing fabric. This can cause a child to trip or may touch flames in jack-o’-lanterns or other decorations.

• If you make your own costume, use materials that won’t catch on fire easily if they come in contact with heat or flame.

• Give your children flashlights or glow sticks so they can see where they are walking.

• Keep decorations away from candles, light bulbs or heaters.

• Consider using flameless candles or glow sticks in your jack-o’-lantern.

• Keep exits clear of decorations.

For more information about Halloween fires and fire safety, check out the U.S. Fire Administration's website, where you can find Halloween social media cards to share and the Halloween fire data snapshot.

Fulton County Health Department Observes Nat’l Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The health promotion team of Fulton County’s Department of Health and Wellness (FCDHW) has been busy this month presenting a series of community health education talks on self-breast care and breast cancer prevention.  The presentations explain what breast cancer is; describe related risk factors; and highlight the importance of self-breast exams and mammograms. The programs are being held at several senior centers throughout Fulton County and the Atlanta-Fulton Dogwood Branch library.  The one-hour talks are FREE and open to the public.

Schedule of FREE Breast Cancer Awareness Presentations at Senior Centers, Public Library:  

Monday, October 24, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location:  Atlanta Fulton Public Library Dogwood Branch, 1838 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Monday, October 24, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location:  Quality Living Services Villa Center, 4020 Danforth Road, SW, Atlanta, GA  30331

Tuesday, October 25, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location:  Hapeville Neighborhood Senior Center, 527 King Arnold St., Hapeville, GA  30354

Wednesday, October 26, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location:  Adamsville Green Apartments Center, 527 King Arnold Street, Hapeville, GA  30354.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States and in Georgia.  Each year about 220,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed across the United States. This accounts for more than 40,000 deaths among women and 400 deaths among men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fulton County health promotion staff also makes presentations at community health fairs throughout the year.  To see a complete schedule of health events, visit: http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/health-events.  To schedule a health promotion presentation at your school, church or organization, contact Fulton County Senior Public Health Educator Angela Johnson:  404.612.4236 or Angela.johnson@fultoncountyga.gov.  

 

Fulton County Sponsors Law Enforcement Hiring Blitz

As there is an ever increasing need for highly qualified individuals within our law enforcement ranks, Fulton County in partnership with the United States Department of Labor coordinated a unique hiring initiative which granted more than 526 applicants opportunities for 90+ County Law Enforcement positions within the Sheriff’s Office, Police and Emergency Services departments.  While the net was cast to identify all skilled candidates, the County placed a special emphasis on attracting military veterans to the opportunity.  It’s hoped that the 68 veterans deemed qualified, will be able to successfully complete all the remaining aspects of the employment process which include a physical agility exam, medical evaluations, psychological exam and emergency call center testing.  The event took place at 8:00AM on Wednesday, October 19th at Welcome All Park & Multipurpose Facility; 4255 Will Lee Road; College Park, Georgia 30349.  If you are interested in law enforcement, we encourage all applicants to place an application on file with the Personnel Department to ensure your participation in future hiring activities.   

"We are proud to have the best and brightest on the front lines of our police department and we want to add to our ranks," said Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Eaves. "Streamlining the process and reaching out to military members whom we are so proud of is an added benefit. This is a great initiative and will make the County's police force stronger and take public safety to the next level." 

“My team and I are proud to coordinate such an event which not only provides military veterans, who are familiar with the para-military operations of our law enforcement departments and other qualified applicants with an opportunity to serve our community, but more importantly this initiative was an attempt to shorten the hiring and selection process, which for our law enforcement positions, can take anywhere from 6 to 9 months,” says Fulton County Personnel Director, Kenneth L. Hermon, Jr. “This blitz approach allowed us to consolidate some steps and reduce the time by about 2-3 months without jeopardizing the integrity of selection process.”

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System Named Winner of 2016 E3 Award for Efficient Building Design

The Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the 2016 Atlanta E3 Awards, naming Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System as the 2016 E3 Award Winner in the Built Environment Category, which recognizes visionary leaders advancing sustainability in Atlanta.  

“We were so honored to be nominated among some of the metro area’s most visionary leaders, and honored to have won the award,” shared Fulton County Vice Chairman Liz Hausmann, Commissioner District 1, who was on hand at the ceremony to accept the award on behalf of Fulton County.

The Atlanta E3 Awards recognizes companies, organizations and individuals working to conserve metro Atlanta’s natural resources, develop clean technologies to enhance our economy and environment, support sustainable projects and initiatives and to collaborate on solutions through university connections, marketing and education.  The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System was chosen as a finalist from a highly competitive pool of applicants, including Drew Charter Elementary Academy Campus – Perkins+Will and The City of Atlanta Climate Action Plan. 

“We applaud the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for honoring the work of all the nominees and for recognizing the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System for their work to build all new libraries with sustainability as the foundation of the building process,” said Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman John H. Eaves.

Each year, the Metro Atlanta Chamber hosts the Atlanta E3 Awards, which recognizes business achievement and innovation, clean technologies, and sustainability solutions that enhance our economy and environment.   

On hand to accept the Library System’s E3 Award, was Dr. Gabriel Morley, who spoke briefly to the crowd of nearly 300 business and community leaders about the need for more sustainable projects in both private and public organizations. Morley also shared the Library’s goal of Platinum LEED Certification on the upcoming renovation of the Central Library. Currently, the eight new libraries built in Phase I of the Library Building Program have all achieved Silver LEED Certification, with East Roswell Library recently earning Gold LEED Certification. 

“The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is honored to be recognized for the work we have done and will continue to do as we move into the next phase of our Library Building Program. I’m pleased to be part of a team that is looking at these new public spaces as opportunities.   These are public buildings, they ought to be sustainable buildings for the future.  We are trying to demonstrate how public buildings will be constructed for the future,” said Library Director, Dr. Gabriel Morley.

For more information about the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System’s Building Program, visit http://www.afpls.org/building-for-the-future. 

Commissioner Arrington To Host “Georgia HOA Boot Camp”

Fulton County District 5 Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr. in partnership with the Georgia HOA Alliance will host the 2nd Annual Georgia “HOA Bootcamp.”  The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 8:00am to 4:00pm at the Georgia International Convention Center; 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337.  The event will bring together homeowners, political leadership, attorneys, realtors and other industry professionals to discuss issues that confront homeowners and homeowner’s associations throughout the metropolitan area. The ultimate goal of the gathering is to help homeowners learn how to effectively and efficiently protect their rights and their communities.

“We started HOA Boot Camps a couple of years ago in South Fulton because we found many communities were facing some of the same issues and dilemmas,” says District 5 Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr.  “The purpose of this gathering is to educate and empower communities and homeowners with information from subject-matter experts in the industry so that HOAs will no longer have to make decisions in isolation.”

Among the events scheduled is a roundtable luncheon with commissioners from eight metro Atlanta counties, which will be moderated by CBS Radio talk show host Mary Gill of Real Estate 101.  Homeowners can also participate in a series of other panel discussions about the best practices in managing HOAs.  This free event with specialized panels offers continuing education hours for attorneys and realtors.

The Georgia HOA Alliance is a coalition of Georgia communities dedicated to building quality neighborhoods that are economically sustainable while creating safe and healthy environment.  GHA’s mission is to develop, strengthen, and protect Georgia neighborhood associations through education, programs, and legislation.

Among those public officials sponsoring this conference dealing with the many issues surrounding HOAs will be Commissioner Arrington, Fulton County District 4 Commissioner Joan Garner, county leaders from Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Henry, and Rockdale Counties.  The event can be shared on social media via the hashtag #HOABootCamp.

For more information, visit Fulton County’s website at www.fultoncountyga.gov or connect with Fulton County government on Twitter at @FultonInfo or Facebook at @FultonInfo.