Catalysts February 2006 Women and Heart Disease Heart Disease and Women's Risk Coronary heart disease is the main form of heart disease. It develops over many years and affects the blood vessels of the heart. It can result in heart attack, disability, and death. A heart attack occurs when an artery becomes blocked, preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to the heart. Often called "heart disease," coronary heart disease is one of various cardiovascular diseases, which are diseases of the heart and blood vessel system. Other cardiovascular diseases include stroke, high blood pressure, and rheumatic heart disease. Many women fail to recognize the seriousness of heart disease. One reason may be the common misperception that heart disease can be "cured" with surgery. Bypass surgery and angioplasty can help restore blood and oxygen flow to the heart. However, blood vessels remain damaged, which means women are more likely to have a heart attack. Once developed, heart disease can be managed, but it cannot be cured. Without lifestyle changes, such as not smoking, fol- lowing a heart healthy eating plan, and being physically active, heart disease will likely steadily worsen. One in three women dies from heart disease. Heart Disease Risk Factors Risk factors are habits or conditions that increase the chance of developing a disease. Many of the risk factors for heart dis- ease can be prevented or controlled. The heart disease risk factors do not add their effects simply - they multiply them. Hav- ing more than one risk factor is especially serious. Women should talk to a health professional about their individual risks and how to lower them. .Risk factors for heart disease are: . Smoking . High blood pressure . High blood cholesterol . Overweight/obesity . Physical inactivity . Diabetes .Family history of early coronary heart disease .Age (for women, 55 and older) Women's Heart Disease Statistics Women often do not take their risk of heart disease seriously - or personally. They fail to make the connection between the risk factors and their own chance of developing heart disease. The Heart Truth is: .Heart disease is the #1 killer of American women .One in every three American women dies of heart disease Women's heart disease risk starts to rise in middle age .About three million American women have had a heart attack .About 6.5 million American women have had a heart attack and/or chest pain .Two-thirds of American women who have had a heart attack don't make a full recovery .Nearly two-thirds of American women who die suddenly of a heart attack had no prior symptoms .In 2002, there were more than 40 million American women age 50 or over - a group at increased risk for heart disease .Fewer than a third of women in a national survey recognized heart disease as the leading cause of death for American women . Only nine percent of women in a national survey named heart disease as the condition they most fear - 61 percent named breast cancer Resources Are Available Additional information, self-help tools and other resources are available online at www.MagellanHealth.com. Or call us for more information, help and support. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide confidential assistance at no cost to you. 10 YEARS: Dwight Mahabir 5 YEARS: Anna Jenkins Johanna Powell Debra Prince 4 YEARS: Patsy Allen 3 YEARS: Jeannie Leauma 2 YEARS: Maria Alejandrez John Howard 1 YEAR: George Broda Melissa Downs Cecilia Saucedo CatalystsAnniversaries Coalinga The Coalinga office had a very busy month during January. Consumers started the new Spring Semester at college as well as celebrating two birthdays. Besides this, they were able to spend a day at Adventure Park where everyone had fun. They first enjoyed a pizza buffet and then it was on to the arcade and games, which wore everyone out. At the end of this month they also were able to go to Sun Empire Foods which is a chocolate factory where they enjoyed a half an hour tour followed by a dipping party. Santa Clara At the end of December we completely rearranged the Santa Clara office. It has given the area a new, open look perfect for a fresh start in the New Year. We are currently selling delightful Valentine’s Day gift baskets for only $12.00 each. The festive basket includes heart-shaped candies, a fuzzy gorilla, and a colorful coffee mug among other items. The funds raised will go towards consumer events and trips. The sale runs through February 7th or until we sell all 96 baskets. Plans are in the works for our consumers’ trip to Disneyland. Staff and 17 lucky consumers will be going on a three day road trip March 5-6-7 to the Magic Kingdom. The previous trip was a terrific success and news of this year’s trip has generated a great deal of excitement in our consumer community. Merced January was a great start for our consumers. They went to Fresno and ate at Hooters Resturant and then enjoyed a movie afterwards. Congratulations to Jane Wilkinson, she won the drawing for the Incentive Safety Meeting ($10.00 gas card). Veronica Aguayo's sister won the Christmas wreath for the drawing for a trip to San Francisco. A big congratulations to Martha Castaneda for her promotion to Case Manager for Supported Living. She will be moving to the Fresno Office. We here at Merced are surely going to miss her. It saddens us to let her go, but she must move on. We want to thank Ray Wright,CRA from Modesto for making himself available to assist with our challenging consumer in Merced. We also want to thank Randy, Yesenya, Angelina and Emanuel for their support through this difficult time. Ukiah Our fledgling consumer advisory committee is beginning to really fly! With the addition of the consumers that live at the Plum House we have quite a group. We have been having some of our monthly meetings there and appreciate the hospitality and homey atmosphere. Our latest venture is a 50/50 opportunity drawing with a race to see who can sell the most tickets.....winners will be announced next month. Some staff and consumers alike have started spring semester classes at the local college. From biology (with a 4 hour lab!) to art, to PE, to French and more, we are learning a lot and having fun, too. Although our weather has been very cold for most of January, consumers Allison J. and Lloyd P. accompanied Diana and Laura, case managers, to Lake Sonoma on one of the warmer days. Everyone enjoyed getting back to nature and have more trips planned as the weather gets better. We would like to welcome Electra, Brenda and Clarissa to the Community Catalysts of California team. We are excited to have them aboard! Congratulation to Brendan O'Leary, our safety meeting winner! Fresno Welcome back to our Program Leader Maria Savageau! We are very happy to have her back after her leave of absence. We hope everyone is staying warm during this cold cold weather. Congratulations to our Recreation Coordinator Modesto Congratulations to Modesto employee, Jaime Rodriguez and his bride, Margarita. The ceremony was held on December 15th in their home town in Mexico. Jaime was proud to share his pictures and a Stephanie Morgan on her promotion to Direct Service Supervisor. Our Consumers are planning a trip to Disney on Ice. DVD of the wedding with the office staff. Jaime looks forward to having his bride join him here in the states soon. Exciting News! Modesto Program Leader, Jan Todd and her family, opened up their new pizza business in December in the nearby town of Hughson. The name of their business is called Figaro's. We wish them luck and great success! Consumer Catalysts Anniversaries 15 YEARS: Patricia B. - Fresno 13 YEARS: Ron A. - San Diego Mary S. - San Diego 12 YEARS: Nick A. - Fresno Tim C. - Fresno Melissa B. - San Diego 10 YEARS: Pheuy P. - Fresno Rosalee P. - Fresno Teresa T. - San Diego 8 YEARS: Brandy A. - Santa Clara Mai Y. - Fresno 5 YEARS: Richard C. - Coalinga 4 YEARS: Rosalina O. - Salinas Jamie M. - Santa Clara 3 YEARS: Nancy B. - Stockton Lori G. - Stockton Aaron M. - Stockton Hailman W. - Stockon 2 YEARS: Florendo S. - Salinas Leticia M. - San Diego Crystal V. - Santa Clara Aaron S. - Santa Clara 1 YEAR: Michelle H. - Salinas Edwin R. - Ukiah Eugene H. - Salinas Lucia R. - Fresno Melissa W. - Salinas Isaac R. - Santa Clara Dora A. - Merced Board Bulletin The board of directors held their annual board meeting January 26th and announced the addition of a new board member Stephen Hill. Steve has served the public for over 18 years working for various elected officials at the state and local levels, including City Councilmember Toni Atkins, former Senator Lucy Killea, former Senator Dede Alpert, and former San Diego Mayor Susan Golding. He is currently Senior Policy Advisor for Councilmember Atkins. He coordinates the councilmember’s various policy initiatives, with specific emphasis on issues related to land use, the environment, libraries, water and wastewater. In addition to joining the Community Catalysts board, Steve has a long history of community volunteerism, having served as President of the North Park Community Association and on executive committees for the North Park Toyland Parade and the Citizen's Coordinate for Century 3 This brings the board to a total of eight members The board also elected a new slate of officers: Don Cowan, Board Chair: David Bond, Vice Chair; Neil Lien, Treasurer; Debra McQuillen, Secretary; Carey Storm, Director; Don Mullen, Director; Stephen Hill, Director For more information please view our website www.communitycatalysts.org Kathy TaylorThelma Cummings has been chosen as our February Consumer Catalysts of the Month. She has been in our Supported Living Program in Modesto for 1 and a Thelma has grown so very much in the last 18 months! When we first met her in September 2005, her life was pretty routine and somewhat sheltered. She has spent most of her life in the comfort of her family’s home with her brother Ken who is also a consumer here. She was content with doing her thing within the four walls of her home and rarely explored the outside world. When we started services with Thelma, she was apprehensive and understandably timid. Since then, her outlook has blossomed, she has grown to trust us, and she has em- braced the world around her. She attends a Community Day Program five days a week and is excited to begin each day so she can “go to Thelma Cummings Consumer Catalysts of the Month- February 2007 Star of the Month- January 2007 Community Catalysts of California was proud to announce that Kathy Taylor was selected as January’s Star of the Month. Kathy is a live-in personal attendant with the San Diego office. She joined the Supported Living team in June of 2006. Kathy was willing to come on at a very difficult time, which she jumped right into. One of the consumers living in the home had been very ill. Within a week of Kathy moving in the consumer needed surgery and spent a few days in the hospital. She stayed right on top of everything and kept everyone informed along the way. Kathy is very detail orientated and was able to balance the visits of a nurse, physical therapist, speech therapist, and other Community Catalysts staff while having to attend other follow-up doctor visits. And between all this, she was also able to meet the needs of the other consumer living in the home. Kathy has also been extremely flexible, there have been a couple of occasions when the relief staff was unable to come and she stepped up to the plate. She did not even hesitate to say she would work on her days off. Both consumers have commented to their case manager how happy they are to have Kathy in their home, we are just as happy to have her on our team! That is why she is our star of the month. Congratulations, Kathy! half years. her friends.” Thelma enjoys playing with her dog, Mrs. T. She also enjoys playing board games, doing art projects and doing “girly things,” such as getting her hair done. She is full of smiles and giggles and shows “awe” when discovering something for the first time. Thelma is also known for giving good hugs and has a big heart. We are so very proud of her and are excited to see what the future holds for Thelma! Congratulations, Thelma! Community Catalysts of California 6050 Santo Road, Suite 145 San Diego, CA 92124 Phone: 858-569-1055 Fax: 858-569-1064 www.communitycatalystscalifornia.org J a m e s A . J e n k i n s ’ Award of Excellence 2006 Community Catalysts of California It is important to recognize our leaders for all their dedication, hard work and tireless efforts in pursuit of our company’s Vision & Purpose during the year! Thus, we are please to announce that JoAnn Holliday has been chosen as the recipient of the James A. Jenkins’ Award of Excellence for 2006. JoAnn has been with Community Catalysts of California since October of 2003 and has a true passion for the consumers we serve. From the moment JoAnn was hired she has worked hard to assure consumers’ choices are heard and acted upon. She has also worked to create a team environment in the office and has developed a great relationship with the funding agency. In the last year JoAnn has been a true example of excellence both in her commitment to our consumers as well to the growth of her area. She gave countless hours of her time and support to consumers, staff and the area to ensure 8 consumers who were losing their living services would be able to continue to live in a community setting and in the Ukiah area. JoAnn assisted in transitioning several consumers into the supported living program as well as was the catalyst in opening a licensed residential facility. JoAnn attended several trainings and certification courses within a two month period to assure that 5 consumers would be able to remain in their licensed residential facility. Because of her commitment, five consumers were able to live in the home with no disruption to their services. JoAnn has and continues to provide direct services to assure consumers’ needs are being met and has given up some of her holidays to do so. JoAnn works hard because she truly cares about the consumers and is dedicated to providing them a higher quality of life. She also strives to empower her staff and is always there to support them and is seen as accountable, fair and always willing to fill in the service gaps. JoAnn’s devotion to the company’s Purpose & Vision make her invaluable as an employee, leader and person. It is evident JoAnn contributes to the continued success & growth of Community Catalysts of California and is our model of excellence! JoAnn Holliday Regional Manager Ukiah There were 4 factors considered in the decision for this award: 1. Number of nominations submitted for each person 2. Quality of recommendation, such as additional comments or paragraphs attached 3. Other accomplishments during the year 4. Length of employment 2006 Direct Service Star of the Year Community CatalystsofCalifornia Linda Ellis-Ross has been with Community Catalysts of California since March of 2005 and is a Direct Service Supervisor for the Independent Living Services in the Stockton office. Linda was promoted from the REST program as a Crisis Response Assistant to her present position in April of 2006. Linda Ellis-Ross Direct Service Supervisor Stockton Linda truly shines in her position and has tremendous support and appreciation from her peers and staff. She is a team player who uses her creative talents to make sure everyone feels special and appreciated. Linda is a problem solver and is always looking for organizing tools to help make her in-field staff jobs easier. Linda is respectful and maintains appropriate boundaries in her work. She really cares about our consumers and is flexible in meeting their needs. Linda is a great listener and is always willing to resolve any issues that arise. It is apparent she strives to empower our consumers to achieve their goals. Linda’s positive attitude, dedication and patience are invaluable to the consumers and her co-workers. She is an example of what impact a team player can have on our consumers as well as staff. Linda enhances the lives of those around her and most importantly our consumers. She reflects Community Catalysts of California’s Purpose Linda is truly our shining star for 2006! There were 4 factors considered in the decision for this award: 1. Number of nominations submitted for each person 2. Quality of recommendation, such as additional comments or paragraphs attached 3. Other accomplishments during the year & Vision and is a true catalyst! 4. Length of employment