• Free Health Screenings for State Employees - SEIB Wellness, a joint project betweenn the State Employees' Insurance Board (SEIB) and ADPH, offers health screenings across the state at no cost to state employees. The SEIB Wellness Calendar allows you to find out when services will be offered in your area. Learn more>>
  
  
• Alabama Earns Grade of 9 out of 10 on Disaster Preparedness - On December 9, 2008, Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released the sixth annual Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report.
  
  Alabama achieved 9 out of 10 possible indicators for health emergency preparedness capabilities. More than half of states and D.C. achieved a score of seven or less out of 10 key indicators. Learn more>>
  
  
• Scale Back is Back - Now in its third year, Scale Back Alabama will kick off on January 10. The purpose of the 10-week contest is to encourage Alabamians to lose weight, eat healthier, exercise, and to have fun while doing it. Last year's campaign drew more than 40,000 people in almost every county with a cumulative reported weight loss of more than 200,000 pounds. Learn more>>
  
  
• 2009 Stroke Conference - The 1st Annual Southeast Regional Stroke Conference: "Stroke Systems of Care - The Entire Continuum" will be held January 30-31, 2009 at the Bryant Conference Center at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Learn more>>
  
  
• Go Red for Women 2009 - The kickoff and reception for Go Red for Women will be held at noon on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at the Alabama State Capitol Building Auditorium in Montgomery. Special guests include State Senator Vivian Figures and First Lady Patsy Riley. Learn more>>
  
  
• ALPHTN Updates Website - The Alabama Public Health Training Network (ALPHTN) has a new and improved website. ALPHTN utilizes a variety of distance learning technologies to reach public and allied health employees throughout the state and the country. Learn more>>
  
  
• Attention Alabama Hospitals - Alabama is developing a statewide trauma system which will help save lives and reduce the burden of trauma. The Alabama Trauma System (ATS) is voluntary and all hospitals are invited to participate. Learn more>>
  
  
• Granite Countertops and Radiation - Recents news stories have raised concerns regarding granite countertops emitting radiation. The amount of radioactivity in most granite is quite small, and in general most granite emit less radiation than we are regularly exposed to from background radiation. These levels are so low that they are not harmful to human health. However, families should always take steps to safeguard their homes. Learn more>>
  
  

• Prepare for an emergency?
• Check restaurant scores?
• Apply for health insurance online?
• Order a birth/death/marriage certificate online?
• Review health care facility deficiencies?
• Find a directory of health care facilities and access facility rules?
• Apply for WIC?
• Obtain free family planning services?
• Get help to quit smoking?

The Alabama Department of Public Health provides opportunities for Alabamians to have a healthier lifestyle, creates access to health care resources, and sustains programs that offer valuable services to the public. Preventive health care remains a primary goal of the department.

One health issue that continues to affect the state’s population is obesity. At least two-thirds of Alabamians are overweight or obese, and these weight issues will cause premature deaths for decades to come. To help address this issue, the department is a sponsor of the Scale Back Alabama program which is beginning its third year. This free program encourages adult Alabamians to become healthier by losing weight and exercising.

Another key issue in preventing death and disability is access to health care. Several departmental programs provide Alabamians access to health care services that they would not otherwise be able to receive. The ALL Kids program has provided health care coverage to children for more than a decade. Plan First Program provides health care for women ages 19 to 55 at or below the poverty level. The Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Program provides women ages 50 and older with pelvic examinations, pap smears, breast examinations, and mammograms. The Home Health Program provides nursing, physical therapy and speech therapy to homebound Alabamians.

The department continues to provide services that focus on enabling citizens to have a better quality of life. WIC provides nutritious foods to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. More than $105 million was spent by WIC participants in retail grocery stores in purchasing WIC foods. Alabama remains one of the leading newborn screening programs in America and now includes cystic fibrosis screening.

In summary, the department continues to work with partners in the public and private sectors to address health care issues in the state and fulfill its mission to ensure that all Alabamians receive quality health care regardless of social circumstances or their ability to pay.
Learn More>>