Oral Health: A vital part of Good Health

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Oral diseases become more complex over time—affecting a person’s ability to eat, concentrate, and be productive in school or work. Early intervention makes a huge difference, but over 108 million children and adults lack dental insurance.

Oral health is a critical component of health for adults and children. Two leading dental diseases, caries and periodontal disease, are widespread, but there is much more to discuss when it comes to good oral health.

TUNE IN NOW. If you missed our show you can listen here.

https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=236357

“About Health” June 27th 
KPFA Radio 94.1FM or online at KPFA.org

Guests:

Dr. Jared Fine served as the dental director for the Alameda County Public Health Department for more than 35 years. He has devoted his career to supporting the needs of special populations, including people with HIV/AIDS, those with low incomes, and those from minority groups. He has served as Chair of  the Scientific Advisory Committee for the California First 5 Oral Health Education and Training Project. As the local project coordinator of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Teeth Program, he promotes the oral health of infants and children in Alameda County, CA. Dr. Fine has been president of his local dental society, chair of the board of the Dental Health Foundation, and chair of the American Public Health Association’s Oral Health Section.
Dr. Ariane Terlet has a private practice in Berkeley, and is the Chief Dental Officer for La Clinica de La Raza in Oakland. Dr. Terlet served on the California Dental Board, and has served on the Government Affairs Council and Work Force Committees. She is very involved in Access to Care issues at both the State and National levels. She is currently serving on the Government Affairs Council for the American Dental Association.

Health, Healing, and Honoring Fathers

Men’s Health Month helps to raise awareness, and encourage men to make healthy lifestyle choices, go for check-ups, get educated about things like diabetes and heart disease, and be attuned to emotional and mental health issues as well.  

Listen to the show I hosted on KPFA (June 13, 2016)

In Honor of Father’s Day and Men’s Health Month

 https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=235488

My Guests were:

imgres1Dr. Will Courtenay, is an internationally recognized expert in men’s health and in helping men, boys, and fathers. The American Psychological Association calls him, “a leading psychologist in the field of masculinity.” He  provides psychotherapy and counseling to individuals in the S.F. Bay Area, and phone consultation to those outside of the area. You can reach him at 415-346-6719 or check out his website at http://www.themensdoc.com. He is also the author of Dying To Be Menhttp://www.amazon.com/Dying-Men-Environmental-Biobehavioral-Psychotherapy/dp/0415878764

7380de3cbf3ec5dd8056df56a47e2c4fRev. Dr. Niinana Kweku C.A.M.F, author of, In Search Of Manhood: Reclaiming Manhood, Brain Freeze, and Whiteout. All of his books deal with the plight of people of color and other marginalized groups in America. He has worked in the behavioral health field for 45 years, and is presently the Executive Director of Family Solutions inc., a non profit organization committed to serving and reeducating communities of America and globally.

ADHD: What Everyone Needs To Know

May 16th: ADHD: What Everyone Needs To Know, By Stephen Hinshaw and Katherine Ellison.

There is much misinformation and skepticism about ADHD, especially since the rates of diagnosis are skyrocketing throughout the world. In the book, ADHD: What Everyone Needs To Know, the authors Stephen Hinshaw and Katherine Ellison examines both the reality of ADHD and the societal forces pushing rates of diagnosis to alarmingly high levels. 

If you missed the entire show you can LISTEN NOW at https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=221836

ADHD

Guest:

Stephen Hinshaw, PhD, is an internationally recognized research investigator of child and adolescent disorder, an award-winning teacher and scholar. He teaches at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco.  Stephen Hinshaw is the author of many books including; The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental illness and an Agenda for Change, The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls From Today’s Pressures, and The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money, and Today’s Push for Performance. 

Health Effects Of Imprisonment.

LISTEN NOW to my guests, Darris Young and Taina Vargas-Edmond, on “About Health” KPFA.org, 94.1 FM

https://kpfa.org/player/?audio=229629

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We discussed mass incarceration and how it poses a serious public health challenge. We addressed the health impact on prisoners and their families, and discussed mental health in the jail setting. 

Guests:
Taina Vargas-Edmond

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As State Advocate, Taina works to advance the goals of the Truth and Reinvestment Campaign, building the capacity of communities throughout the state of California to prevent and respond to state violence and mass criminalization through community organizing and coordinated rapid response.

Prior to joining the Ella Baker Center, Taina co-founded the Coalition for Jail Reform in Monterey County and worked for the California State Assembly, where she helped draft legislation aimed at helping state prisoners earn time off of their sentences while reducing their chances of returning to prison. Additionally, she has volunteered with several human rights advocacy groups, such as the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, Dignity and Power Now, and the Monterey Peace and Justice Center.

Darris Young
Darris_web
Local Organizer

In his role as Local Organizer, Darris leads Ella Baker Center’s effort to build a coalition of families negatively impacted by the criminal justice system in the Bay Area. Darris brings to his current work past success as a certified addictions, domestic violence, and violence prevention counselor, and victim advocate with local organizations, including City Team International and Allen Temple Baptist Church. In addition, his experience as both a formerly incarcerated person and a police academy graduate give him a deep understanding of how the current justice system operates and where change is needed.

In January of 2008, while at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Darris co-organized a prison-wide work stoppage in response to the loss of recreation privileges for inmates. Although it is prohibited for an inmate to organize or participate in a work stoppage, Darris and his co-organizers shut down the prison for more than five days and got the word out to other prisons, resulting in solidarity actions. Ultimately, the work stoppage prompted the warden at Solano and several in his top command to negotiate with inmates, and lessened the severity of the recreation privilege reduction.

His life has been shaped toward service and activism, first as a police officer and later as a counselor and advocate. Working with Black and Latino youth caught up in the criminal justice system is a particular passion for Darris, and he believes there is a role for every community member to play in creating a just, healthy, and prosperous future for all.

 

 

Opening the Door to Family Engagement

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I will be giving the Keynote address at the 22nd Annual Early Learning Conference presented by Contra Costa Child Care Council

Opening the Door to Family Engagement 

Join us, Saturday, April 23—from 7:30-4:15PM

Diablo Valley College. Go to www.cocokids.org for more information and registration

There will be workshops all day, offering dynamic speakers with a wide range of experience from “Supporting Bilingual Learners” to “Recognizing and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect.”  

See you there!