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As schools prepare to head back into session, metro health departments emphasize the importance of vaccinations to protect children in Kansas and Missouri classrooms this year. Free or low-cost vaccines are now available, and parents are encouraged to make appointments or visit a walk-in clinic now to avoid the long wait times that typically occur every August.
“Vaccines are one of the most effective tools for preventing the spread of infectious diseases and keeping metro kids safe because we have decades of scientific evidence to prove it,” said Bridgette Shaffer, director of Jackson County Public Health. Measles, once nearly eradicated in the United States, has reemerged in recent years, with more cases so far in 2024 than all of last year. Decreased vaccination rates contribute to the increase in measles cases. Healthy People 2030 set a goal of 95% measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage for kindergarteners, but the U.S. falls short of this at 93%, and both Kansas and Missouri are at less than 92%. Public health experts warn that this trend increases the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. “These diseases are not gone. They are still here, and vaccines remain our most effective protection at preventing disease outbreaks,” Shaffer said. Both Kansas and Missouri require several vaccines for children in school or child care, including but not limited to measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, polio and varicella (chickenpox). There are additional vaccines that are not required for school in every state, but that public health experts strongly recommend to prevent illness, including COVID-19, hepatitis A (required in Kansas), HPV and flu vaccinations. Many local health departments offer walk-in or extended hours for immunizations, so parents and caregivers can bring in their children when it’s convenient for them. Some health departments are on or near RideKC bus routes. Jackson County Public Health offers free rideshare passes and Wyandotte County Public Health offers free transportation to and from appointments. If a parent does not have health insurance or if their insurance does not cover vaccines, the Vaccines for Children program offers vaccines at no cost to eligible children through health care providers enrolled in the program. Parents can find out more about the recommended immunization schedule by contacting their health care provider or local health department. Below is a list of back-to-school vaccination clinics in the region. Jackson County, Missouri Jackson County Public Health 3651 NE Ralph Powell Road, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064 Appointments only: Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parents can make an appointment online or by calling 816-404-6416. Jackson County Public Health also offers free Lyft passes to allow clients a complimentary round-trip ride to and from their appointments. An adult must accompany anyone under 17. Kansas City, Missouri City of Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department 2400 Troost Ave., Suite 1400, Kansas City, MO 64108 Currently filling appointments Monday through Friday with extended hours on Wednesdays to accommodate busy schedules: Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (check-in by 5:30 p.m.). Wednesdays (July 10 through Aug. 28): 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. (check-in by 7:30 p.m.). Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please call 816-513-6108 to schedule an appointment. To meet the community’s needs, the Kansas City Health Department is also hosting several Saturday vaccination clinics throughout July and August. These clinics are open to all parents, guardians and children needing vaccinations for school, with no appointments necessary: Saturday, July 27 KCPS Central High School, 3221 Indiana Ave., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 KCPS Fest at East High School, 1924 Van Brunt Boulevard, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Saturday before school starts: Aug. 17 2400 Troost Ave. from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are necessary due to high demand.
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by Tara Sallee, MS, RD, LD, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian
Intermittent fasting, a dietary approach that has gained popularity, is being hailed for its potential health and weight loss benefits. As Hy-Vee dietitians, we know eating isn’t one-size-fits-all. Let’s explore what intermittent fasting involves, its underlying mechanisms, potential health benefits, who should abstain from it and practical advice for those contemplating this dietary approach. A Closer Look at Intermittent Fasting In contrast to many conventional diets that prescribe what foods to consume, intermittent fasting is more concerned with the timing of food consumption. This dietary approach incorporates a fasting period into each day or week. Several popular intermittent fasting methods exist, including alternate-day fasting, the 5:2 fasting method with two days per week and daily time-restricted fasting. Unpacking the Mechanics of Intermittent Fasting Intermittent fasting reduces the overall intake of calories. For many people, this approach may be easier than counting calories. Additionally, intermittent fasting may promote metabolic flexibility after exhausting the calories from your most recent meal as the body switches to utilizing fat for energy. Exploring the Potential Health Benefits Snacking, especially up until bedtime, is a practice that has become common with the abundance of snack foods and now 24/7 entertainment, which may not be as beneficial to our bodies as once thought. Time-restricted fasting methods, such as fasting from 7 pm to 7 am, can help curb late-night snacking, which may lead to lower blood sugar and insulin levels, aiding in weight loss. Moreover, fasting has been shown to help reduce inflammation, a benefit that could prove significant for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis and stroke. When to Refrain from Intermittent Fasting Intermittent fasting is not a one-size-fits-all solution and is not suitable for everyone. For example, individuals under the age of 18, those who are malnourished, people with a history of eating disorders, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with certain medical conditions should avoid intermittent fasting. Furthermore, intermittent fasting can have negative repercussions for women, given the effects of caloric restriction on female hormones, fertility, and bone health. It may not be advisable for individuals who have irregular sleep patterns, irregular menstrual cycles, thyroid issues, or are under high levels of stress. Practical Advice for Intermittent Fasting For those contemplating intermittent fasting, it's important to stay hydrated during fasting periods with water and other functional low-calorie beverages such as Liquid IV Sugar-Free, Hop Wtr, Remedy Kombucha, and Smartwater. If your health care provider gives you the green light, you might start by fasting for just 12 hours overnight. Aim to consume three balanced meals of protein, high-fiber carbohydrates and healthy fats spread evenly throughout your designated eating window. It's important to remember that fasting is a tool, not a rigid diet plan. Monitor your hunger and fullness signals closely. If you begin to experience symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, reduced energy, lack of concentration or loss of menstrual cycle, it may be time to revert to a more regular eating schedule. Meeting with a registered dietitian can be beneficial in determining the optimal foods to consume when not fasting and whether supplements could be beneficial in addressing potential nutrient deficiencies. If breakfast is not a meal you're accustomed to eating, consider starting your day with Core Power, a portable, easy-to-consume protein beverage to break your fast and sustain energy levels throughout the day. This will provide 26g of high-quality protein to build muscle and electrolytes to help hydrate. Then, make your next meal of the day balanced with protein and fiber. Try this Tequila-Spiked Salmon Bowls recipe. Cooking with alcohol intensifies the aromas and flavors of food by binding fat and water molecules that don’t usually mix. This unique reaction enhances the taste and smell of food in ways that cooking with water, broth, butter, and oil cannot. As Hy-Vee dietitians, we believe food should not only provide nutrition, but meals should also be enjoyable and taste good! Tequila-Spiked Salmon Bowls Serves 4 All you need: 4 (4 to 6 ounce) Fish Market frozen Alaskan sockeye salmon fillets, skin removed cut into 1-inch cubes ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons Lawry’s 30-minute Caribbean jerk with papaya juice marinade, divided ½ cup blanco tequila, divided 2 small jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced, divided 2 cups Hy-Vee Short-Cuts pineapple chunks, cut into ½ inch cubes ¼ cup fresh lemon juice ½ small red cabbage, trimmed; leaves separated 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into julienne strips Hy-Vee olive oil cooking spray 2 (8.5 ounce) packages Hy-Vee microwavable jasmine rice 1 medium avocado, seeded, peeled and thinly sliced 2 medium red radishes, thinly sliced 2 yellow mangoes, pitted, scored and inverted All you do:
Shop all of these ingredients at Hy-Vee Aisles Online. Ready to spend more time fasting in a healthy way with help from your Hy-Vee dietitian? Check out Hy-Vee’s Balancing Your Blood Sugar program for tips on becoming more metabolically flexible while prioritizing nourishing meals. This group program aims to help reduce cravings and hunger by focusing on protein and fiber at each meal. Clients often report feeling more satiated between meals and before bed, allowing more time spent in a fasted state. Register online now. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. This content was made possible with the paid support of our sponsors Liquid IV, Hop Wtr, Remedy Kombucha, Smartwater and Core Power. Missouri among worst states for women’s overall health, reproductive care, study findsby Anna Spoerre, Missouri Independent Missouri women have more limited access to health care and worse outcomes than any other state in the Midwest, a new study of the nation’s health care system found. Missouri ranks 40th out of 51 states plus the District of Columbia on the 2024 state scorecard on women’s health and reproductive care, published by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation focused on health care issues. The study assessed and compared 32 pieces of information derived primarily from public data sources in 2022, which was after most of the major effects of COVID had been felt, but before most abortion bans had really started to impact data findings, the creators of the scorecard said. Missouri continues to see maternal and infant mortality rates, breast and cervical cancer death rates, preterm births, congenital syphilis and depression leading up to or during pregnancy at rates that are higher than the national average. There are more women in Missouri between the ages of 18 and 44 reporting they hadn’t seen a doctor in the past year because of the cost than all but 10 other states. “One thing is absolutely clear,” Joe Betancourt, president of the Commonwealth Fund, told reporters when the study was published last week. “Women’s Health in the U.S. is in a very fragile state.” Missouri ranked among the states with the lowest low-risk c-section rates, postpartum depression and up-to-date pneumonia vaccines for post-menopausal women. But it fared among the worst nationally for breast and cervical cancer deaths, up-to-date pap smears, and mental health among women ages 18 to 64. It also ranked poorly when analyzing access to abortion clinics. Nearly every abortion became illegal in Missouri in 2022. A citizen-led ballot measure is hoping to enshrine abortion rights in the Missouri constitution. “We are seeing a deep and likely growing geographic divide in U.S. women’s ability to access vital health services and maintain their health,” said Sara Collins, a co-author on the Commonwealth Fund study. “Particularly among women of reproductive age.” Ashley Kuykendall, director of service delivery for the Missouri Family Health Council Inc., a nonprofit working to strengthen health care access across the state, said one of the most stark findings of the report was the combination of lack of access to wraparound care paired with poor health outcomes. But solutions exist, she said. One such solution:a women’s health omnibus bill that failed to pass in the statehouse this year despite widespread bipartisan support, that would have expanded birth control coverage, increased congenital syphilis testing and eased access to mammograms and STI testing. “The state legislature has an incredible power and responsibility to support better care for people across the reproductive health spectrum,” Kuykendall said. “Especially, as this report highlights, for folks who are pregnant or postpartum.”
Health and reproductive care outcomes
Missouri ranked 43 of 51 for this category, which includes maternal and infant mortality and physical and mental health issues. Some data was analyzed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Missouri is among 33 states who participate in this federal program. Of those states, Missouri had the highest percentage of women who recently gave birth and reported experiencing intimate partner violence before, during or after their pregnancy. Missouri has some of the highest pregnancy-associated maternal mortality rates in the United States, which already ranks worst among countries of similar economies for high maternal deaths. In Missouri between 2018 and 2020,women on Medicaid were 10 times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than women on private insurance, according to a 2023 report from the state’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review. Black mothers were three times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than white mothers. Of the 210 pregnancy-related deaths over those three years in Missouri, the majority were deemed preventable. Mental health conditions were the leading underlying cause of death, including due to suicide and substance use. The latest study found Missouri had one of the highest percentages of women between the ages of 18 and 64 who reported poor mental health, landing 48 of 51.
Coverage, access and affordability
Missouri ranked slightly better — 39 of 51 — in this category, which includes insurance coverage and health care affordability and access. Of the 33 states that provided data around health insurance coverage, Missouri ranked third-worst for women uninsured the month before becoming pregnant, and sixth-worst for women who didn’t have health insurance during a recent pregnancy. This is despite Missouri legislators’ decision to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a year in 2023. A better-funded, better-staffed and more accessible public health safety net is also critical, said Kuykendall. This summer, Gov. Mike Parson signed into law a bill ending Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood, including for patients who go to the clinic for preventive exams, family planning and STI testing. Those opposed to the bill warned such a law would strain the state’s already fragile public health safety net. “The need for these services far outweighs the current capacity for the safety net to provide them,” Kuykendall said. “Any funding cuts to those providers not only limits patients’ ability to access care, but also puts further strain on the health care workforce and will undoubtedly worsen these outcomes.” Recent surveying by the health care nonprofit found that wait times across the state’s overburdened safety net clinics averaged between five and seven weeks. These 68 clinics receive Title X funding and do not turn anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay. The study found that approximately 5.6 million women across the country live in counties that are considered maternity care deserts. In Missouri, 41% of counties are designated maternity care deserts, meaning there are no maternity care providers or birthing facilities. Missouri’s rate is higher than the national rate of 32%, according to a separate 2023 report from the March of Dimes. Across the state, 10% of women do not live within 30 minutes of a birthing hospital. In the last decade, 19 hospitals across Missouri have closed, according to the Missouri Hospital Association. “There is an issue of access that’s very real,” Kuykendall said. The authors of the study were also deliberate in considering outcomes in states with abortion bans and restrictions. “There’s concern that abortion bans or limits will further reduce the number of providers offering maternity care owing to increased risk of legal action that provider’s face,” said David Radley, a senior scientist with the Commonwealth Fund. “Especially when states’ laws are ambiguous.” A recent study showed states with abortion bans saw a significant decrease in the number of medical residents applying to be in their OB-GYN programs.
Missouri saw a 25% drop in applicants since 2022, the highest drop in the nation second only to Arizona. “These inequities are long standing, no doubt, but recent policy choices and judicial decisions restricting access to reproductive care have and may continue to exacerbate them, Commonwealth Fund president Betancourt said of the study’s findings when related to states with abortion bans. “It also serves as a glaring reminder that where you live matters to your health and health care.”
Health care quality and prevention
Missouri landed in slot 35 of 51 for this category, which includes c-section rates, preventative care, pre and post-partum care and mental health screenings. In better news, Missouri ranked 15 of 51 among states with the lowest rates of c-sections during low-risk births, which Kuykendall attributed in part to the state health department’sincreased focus on doula programs. Missouri was slightly below the national average for the percentage of women eligible for mammograms who underwent the breast cancer screening in the past two years (75%), and the percentage of women ages 21 through 65 who had a pap smear, which screens for cervical cancer, in the past three years (78%). Among the more concerning data points to Kuykendall was a report that 19% of women between the ages of 18 and 44 in the past 12 months had put off seeing a doctor because of the cost. This data resonates with what she hears often from Missourians, who say it can be difficult to access even the most basic health care for reasons including cost, lack of transportation and lack of options. “It was a positive step that Missouri expanded Medicaid,” Kuykendall said, “And I think we have a long way to go in terms of ensuring everyone who should have access to care in that new environment actually does.” Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected]. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X. The State of Missouri announced the launch of a comprehensive needs assessment survey of older adults, adults with disabilities and unpaid caregivers.
Postcards inviting eligible residents to take the survey were sent to over 158,000 randomly selected households across the state of Missouri. Households that receive an invitation are asked to follow the enclosed instructions and complete the survey. In addition, all Missouri residents who are age 50+, living with a disability or providing unpaid care to another adult are encouraged to take the survey online by visiting polco.us/missouri24. This survey will be available online in English, Spanish, simplified Chinese, German, French and Arabic. Anyone unable to complete the survey online can call 855-773-0665 to submit responses over the phone, request a paper survey, or schedule time to complete the survey with in-person assistance. “We encourage all eligible residents to take the survey. The more people who participate, the better data we will have to inform state and regional planning,” MARC Aging and Adult Services Director Kristi Bohling-DaMetz said. “This is an opportunity for older residents, those with a disability and caregivers in our community to share their thoughts and shape the future of aging in the Kansas City region and across Missouri.” The survey, developed in collaboration with National Research Center at Polco, gathers insight into residents’ experiences with accessibility, physical and mental health, employment and financial hardship, housing, transportation and other factors affecting their ability to live and age with dignity. Survey results will help identify the greatest challenges and needs for older adults, adults with disabilities and unpaid caregivers in each area. This public input will inform Missouri’s Master Plan on Aging and the development of related policies, initiatives and community programs throughout the state. For more information on the master plan, visit health.mo.gov/seniors/masterplanaging. All residents are encouraged to share the survey with their local networks to ensure these upcoming plans meet the needs of Missouri’s entire population. Participants’ responses will be kept confidential, and personal information will be securely stored by Polco. Residents’ individual data and votes are never shared. Time to rethink your summer drink! Hydration is essential, especially during the hot summer months. This is because water plays a vital role in every body function, making up about 60% of your body. So, it’s important to prioritize getting enough fluids every day. But how much is enough? According to the National Institute for Health, the standard fluid needs of women are 9 cups (72 oz.) a day and 13 cups (104 oz.) a day for men.
Drinking water is undoubtedly a great way to meet these daily fluid needs, but other fluids can also count! Herbal teas, decaf coffee, 100% juice, sports drinks, broth and even popsicles can all count toward your daily fluid goal to help keep you hydrated. However, it is important to be mindful of calories in some of these drinks, as beverages won’t satisfy like food will. This can lead to consuming more calories than your body needs. If you are looking to add some excitement to your hydration routine, here are five dietitian-approved beverage suggestions perfectly paired to go along with your favorite summer activities:
Now, are you up for a hydration challenge? Join Hy-Vee dietitians for a 4-week Functional Hydration Challenge! During these four weeks, Hy-Vee dietitians will provide weekly tips and guidance to help you meet your daily hydration goals! Be one of the first 150 participants to sign up and receive a complimentary beverage starter kit! Thanks to our generous sponsors – Liquid IV, Hop Wtr, Remedy Kombucha, Smartwater and Core Power. To sign up for the challenge, visit https://www.hy-vee.com/healthnew/dietitians. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. This content was made possible with the paid support of our sponsors: Liquid IV, Hop Wtr, Remedy Kombucha, Core Power and Smartwater. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has introduced “My Life, My Quit,” a free tobacco cessation service for Missouri teens who want to quit using electronic cigarettes, vape products, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
“More Missouri teens now vape than adults who smoke cigarettes,” Abby Newland with the DHSS Tobacco Prevention and Control Program said. “This is significant given that Missouri has one of the highest national smoking rates.” Teens 13-17 who enroll in “My Life, My Quit” will receive confidential and personalized support from a trained quit coach who helps them build a quit plan to become free from nicotine. The program provides coaching sessions over text, live chat or phone. Teens earn incentive items along their journey and receive a completion certificate. Find Missouri-specific cessation information on the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program’s (TPCP) website here. Ways to enroll in My Life My Quit:
The program also includes resources and information for guardians, educators and healthcare professionals, which can be found on the "My Life, My Quit" website and through an online referral portal. HIPAA-covered and non-HIPAA-covered entities can refer youth to this resource with the teen's consent to participate. Order free “My Life, My Quit” promotional materials, including posters, rack cards and info cards on the order form. Copies of materials can be downloaded for digital distribution through the "My Life, My Quit" website as well. For additional information on the “My Life, My Quit” program, contact the DHSS Tobacco Prevention and Control Program at [email protected] or (573) 522-2820. Missouri is breaking federal law by housing mentally ill in nursing homes, DOJ findsby Clara Bates, Missouri Independent Missouri is violating federal disability law by unnecessarily institutionalizing thousands of adults with mental illness in nursing homes, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a scathing report published Tuesday. The report, which is based on a year-and-a-half of investigation, determined that those suffering with mental illness are “subjected to unnecessary stays in nursing facilities, generally because of a series of systemic failures by the state.” For years Missouri has placed a higher portion of adults with mental health disabilities in nursing facilities than “all but a few states,” according to the report. As of March 2023, there were 3,289 adults with mental health disabilities who had spent at least 100 days in Missouri’s nursing homes, according to the report. That number excludes those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Most don’t fit the profile one might imagine.
Around half are under 65, and some are in their 20s. Most don’t need help with basic physical activities like eating, transferring to bed or going to the bathroom. And once placed in a nursing home, adults with mental health disabilities are often stuck, staying for an average of at least three years. “We found that almost none of the adults with mental health disabilities living in nursing facilities in Missouri need to be in these institutions, even for short-term stays,” the report found. Most, the report found, are there against their will and end up in nursing homes out of a series of Missouri’s “deliberate policy choices.” Those sent to nursing homes are often resistant to treatment and cycled in and out of psychiatric hospitals. The major problems are that the state doesn’t provide sufficient community-based mental health services and “improperly relies” on guardianship for those who have resisted treatment. Appointed guardians often place the person in nursing facilities. One woman in her late 50s interviewed in the report, who was placed in a nursing home by a guardian, is quoted as saying, “I have a dream that one day I will be free” — to live in her community, have overnight stays with her grandkids, and be “free to not have someone place me in a nursing home and leave me, without any regard to my well-being, mentally and physically.” A mother is quoted as saying her son “had a life before they took him there and now, he has nothing.” He lives in a locked unit of the facility. These adults are concentrated in a few dozen facilities across the state. In some facilities, over 80% of the residents have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. And those facilities generally offer little by way of mental health services beyond medication. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires states make reasonable modifications to allow adults with mental health disabilities to live in a setting that is the most integrated with the community as possible. The state can’t discriminate through what amounts to segregation of those with disabilities. The state will need to work with the DOJ to come up with a plan to fix the violations identified in the report. If they can’t reach a resolution, the state could be sued by the DOJ. None of the state agencies involved immediately responded to a request for comment. The Department of Mental Health oversees the state’s mental health services, the Department of Health Senior Services oversees nursing homes and the Department of Social Services runs Medicaid, which funds eligible nursing home stays and community-based services.
‘Sent out of sight and out of mind’
Many of those adults with mental health disabilities in nursing homes are under court-ordered guardianship, the report states. The state has relied on guardianship when people resist mental health treatment, which the DOJ found serves as a “pipeline to unnecessary institutionalization.” According to the report, one provider called guardianship in Missouri a “sentence to be locked in a [nursing facility].” Guardianship is supposed to be used in extreme cases when a person lacks capacity to make basic decisions and no less-restrictive options exist, but in Missouri it is used more broadly, the report states, and frequently is used when a person with mental health disability is not engaging in treatment. “Combining guardianships and nursing facility placement creates the functional equivalent of involuntary and indefinite commitment,” the report states. Guardians are often public administrators, meaning county officials who are appointed when no adult relative is available or suitable. Many have heavy caseloads and place the person in a nursing home because they have limited resources and are trying to ensure safety, according to the report. “Instead of diverting people with mental health disabilities from unnecessary nursing facility admission or transitioning people from nursing facilities who do not need to be there,” the report states, “people are sent out of sight and out of mind.” One man, in his late 20s, has goals well-suited to intensive community-based mental health services: He “wants to work part time at a fast food restaurant and live in his own apartment or trailer around Kansas City. “Instead, he lives in a locked nursing facility over 6 hours away,” according to the report. That person did not receive appropriate services, the report states, which would include permanent supportive housing. He was unhoused and hospitalized several times, some of which were because he needed shelter in the cold. His caseworker recommended guardianship because they lacked access to needed services and a public administrator was appointed. “His guardian has since placed him in three different nursing facilities.” The report urges Missouri to prioritize community-based services, including wraparound services that provide assistance with housing, treatment and other needs, directly to the person’s home and community. “The fact that some of these changes might result in short-term increases in spending does not render them unreasonable,” the report states.
Housed in jails
Beyond the issues laid out in the DOJ report, Missouri has been struggling with housing those with mental illness in another inappropriate setting: jails. Missourians who are arrested, deemed unfit to stand trial and ordered into mental health treatment are now detained in jail for an average of eleven months before being transferred to a mental health facility. There are currently 312 people in jails waiting to be moved to psychiatric hospitals, according to data provided to The Independent by the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Debra Walker, a spokesperson for the department, said in an email last week to The Independent that the reason the number seems to keep going up is due to a workforce shortage. “People in need of mental health care or substance use treatment are unable to access it in a timely manner due to provider shortages,” she said. The state’s years-long struggle to transfer people from jails into mental hospitals stems, in part, from a lack of hospital beds and an increase in referrals. Patients are supposed to be moved to receive rehabilitative mental health services that allow them to become competent to stand trial, a process called competency restoration. Instead, they languish in jails — often solitary confinement because they must be isolated from the incarcerated population — without having been found guilty of any crime. Missouri this year passed a law to bring treatment to the jails — “jail-based competency restoration” — which Department of Mental Health officials said will reduce the wait time. The hiring of staff has begun, Walker said, and training will start soon as jail contracts are “being finalized.” Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected]. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X. by Tara Sallee MS, RD, LD
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. During this time there are many things you can do as an individual and in your community to promote brain health and increase awareness of Alzheimer's research including prevention and treatment. Your Hy-Vee registered dietitian and the Alzheimer’s Association want you to know what you can do and what you need to know about nutritional strategies around brain health. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. Nationwide, nearly 7 million people are living with Alzheimer's disease. In Iowa there are 62,000 people living with the disease. On top of that, there are 11 million people in the United States caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's.1 With so much at stake and so many lives affected, it makes sense to do everything we can to boost brain health. Studies have shown that early identification of those with poor diet quality and interventions such as the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) eating pattern can decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's.2-3 The MIND style of eating employs elements of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets and is rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and other antioxidants. The eating pattern is high in plant-based nutrients and includes the recommendation to have at least one portion of fish each week. Fish can be an important source of brain-health-promoting omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids perform many other essential functions in the body including supporting a healthy heart. They also work to lower cholesterol, specifically triglyceride levels. You can register for the Hy-Vee Healthy You Omega-3 Index Screening Tour thanks to our generous sponsors at Nordic Naturals and GOED. Contact your local Hy-Vee registered dietitian for more information or schedule your appointment today by registering here. You also can get involved with the Alzheimer's Association's Walk to End Alzheimer's in your community by starting a team, fundraising and getting your company involved. Every dollar raised benefits those affected by Alzheimer's disease in your community by providing local care and support programs and advancing toward treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. Learn more here - Alzheimer's Association Walk. Mediterranean-Crusted Halibut Serves 4 All you need: 2 small zucchini and/or summer squash, cut into 1/2-inch slices 4 oz Hy-Vee Short Cuts asparagus spears, cut into 2-inch lengths ¼ cup Hy-Vee Select olive oil, divided Hy-Vee salt, to taste Hy-Vee ground black pepper, to taste 2 tsp fresh parsley and/or basil, plus additional for garnish 4 (5-to-6-oz. each) fresh or frozen skinless halibut fillets ½ cup Hy-Vee panko bread crumbs ¼ cup Hy-Vee Select crumbled Mediterranean herb feta cheese Lemon wedges, for serving All you do:
Recipe Source: Mediterranean-Crusted Halibut | Hy-Vee The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. This content was made possible with our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association and the sponsored support of our sponsors Nordic Naturals and GOED. References:
Bird flu has hit cows in Kansas and sparked precautions in Missouri. Here’s what that means for youby Suzanne King, Beacon: Missouri Don’t drink raw milk. It’s one piece of public health advice almost every doctor, scientist and public health official can get behind. Especially as bird flu jumps from chickens to cows to a handful of farmworkers. Yet on the north side of Excelsior Springs, Be Whole Again Farm hasn’t noticed the public health guidance having much effect on business. The 38-cow dairy sells about 750 gallons of unpasteurized milk every week. Rachel Moser, who owns the farm with her husband, Scott, said public health warnings about raw milk are overblown. And selling it directly to consumers is perfectly legal in Missouri. As she has reminded her customers, bird flu has yet to infect a Missouri cow. Moser said her farm monitors every cow every day for signs of illness and always has. If there were any concern, milk would be discarded. So Moser said the likelihood of someone catching the virus from drinking the raw milk they sell is extraordinarily low. “Are they honestly expecting every raw milk dairy to just shut down?” she said early one June morning, while cows rotated through the farm’s milking parlor, munching on barley grass as milking machines whirred in the background. ![]() Erosion of trust in public healthThe reality is that a growing group of people is wary of public health words of warning and distrustful of the agencies behind them. Worn out after years of COVID precautions, polling has shown that people — especially Republicans — lost trust in public health officials as the pandemic wore on. Just last week, Republican lawmakers held hearings on how the COVID pandemic began and questioned Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the now-retired government immunologist, about advice he gave as the virus spread. Public health experts worry that growing distrust could pose its own public health risk. If people, especially in large numbers, don’t listen to doctors and scientists, experts worry that the job of corralling the next disease spread becomes more daunting. “Trust is foundational,” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Mandy K. Cohen said last week at the national convention of the Association of Health Care Journalists. “But, also, trust takes time. … You can lose trust quickly, but (building) trust does take time.” Cohen said public health agencies need to double down on getting accurate information to the public. In the face of growing misinformation on the internet and elsewhere, Cohen said public health agencies need to “flood the zone” with reliable facts. “It’s important to say what you don’t know and that you’ll come back and answer more questions the next day,” Cohen said. We are better prepared for bird fluAs for the current strain of bird flu — highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza — Cohen said the United States is prepared. And even if the spread into humans increases, the situation looks nothing like what unfolded when COVID started. “Avian flu is something we’ve been studying and preparing for for decades,” she said. “COVID (was) a completely novel virus where we did not have tests, we did not have treatment, we did not have vaccines.” The country has all of that for bird flu, Cohen said. Vaccines would need to be manufactured, but the country has effective candidates ready to go. As things stand now, the virus is considered low risk for humans. There have been three known cases, although many experts believe that is an undercount since testing has been limited. Confirmed cases were in dairy farmworkers in Texas and Michigan whose symptoms were mild, primarily conjunctivitis — an eye inflammation commonly called pink eye. The CDC said it is monitoring the situation carefully and has recommended that farmworkers and others in close contact with animals take precautions like wearing masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment when working with infected animals. But among animals, the situation is different. This strain of the virus is spreading rapidly around the world through birds and mammals. Scientists are surprised— and concerned— about the unusual spread and some are calling it an ecological disaster. It’s been lethal to a growing number of species, including seals, sea lions, owls and bald eagles. In January, scientists detected the virus in a red fox in Jackson County. Testing and tracking the virus is criticalSince the disease showed up in chickens, tens of millions have died. Once it infects a poultry farm, entire flocks must be destroyed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture compensates farms for those kinds of losses to encourage them to take action. Federal taxpayers spent more than $500 million on payments like that in 2023, according to The New York Times. Now the USDA is giving dairy farmers financial incentives to encourage them to test cattle. Experts said it is vitally important that the virus is tracked and tests are done so scientists know how it is evolving or mutating. When the virus jumped from birds to cows — probably because a bird dropping contaminated a cow’s food or water supply — it did it without changing or mutating significantly. The people who got sick were dead-end hosts. They didn’t pass it on. The danger, scientists said, is that the virus will find a way to transform so it can circulate among humans. The more it spreads, the more likely that is. The 1918 influenza pandemic that killed tens of millions of people started with an avian flu, though not the strain circulating now. If it jumps from cows to pigs, said Dr. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, the virus could mutate so it could bind to the respiratory tract, which would make it more dangerous to people. “Pigs are like little influenza incubators,” he said. “Influenza viruses tend to change in pigs.” The USDA has confirmed cases of the virus in dairy cattle herds in 12 states. That includes Kansas, where four farms in the western part of the state had outbreaks in late March and early April. So far, no cases of the virus in cattle have been reported in Missouri. When a cow is infected, it doesn’t die. Farmers have to take its milk out of production and that costs them money. But after a period of quarantine, the farmer can go back to milking the cow. Still, financial consequences of lost production can be significant and give farmers good reason to do their part to contain the virus, said Dr. Justin Smith, animal health commissioner for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “The industry itself approached it with a wary eye,” Smith said of the virus. “But at the same time, they didn’t dismiss it. They understood that there was truly an impact.” Scientists are unsure how the virus spreads from cow to cow. But it has found a welcoming environment in the cows’ udders. From there, it may be spread from cow to cow through milking equipment. Minimizing spread to peopleThe danger right now is that infecting domestic cows gives the virus many more chances to reach humans. And every time it finds a human host, it has a chance to become more dangerous. People need to minimize that scenario, said Richard Webby, a scientist who studies influenza at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This virus was first detected in humans in 1997. But the virus circulating now is quite different — something like that original viruses’ great-great-grandchild, Webby said. Over the years, the virus has infected nearly 900 people, and shown a mortality rate of around 50%. But that rate is likely exaggerated, since only the sickest patients may have been diagnosed and counted. Still, scientists urge caution. “This can be an extremely dangerous infection to get,” said Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of the Infection Prevention and Control program at The University of Kansas Health System. “It’s important to understand the dangers.” So far, all three human cases involved farmworkers who were in close contact with infected cows. The CDC says there’s no indication that the cases are connected, which means human-to-human spread still isn’t happening. In May, the CDC recommended that states distribute personal protective equipment to farmworkers. Among steps the federal government is taking to prepare, states can request face shields, face masks, gloves and goggles from the national stockpile. Officials emphasize that the food supply is safe. While studies have found remnants of the virus in the milk of infected cows, studies have shown that the process of pasteurization, heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time, kills the virus and makes milk safe to drink. Meat consumption is also considered safe. But they continue to warn against consuming milk that hasn’t been pasteurized. Scientists speculate that cats that died on a Texas dairy farm drank the milk of infected cows. “I just want to reinforce that milk is safe and our dairy products are safe,” said Chris Chinn, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “Pasteurization works. And, you know, I think that’s the most important message that we can get out. … Our food supply is safe.” This article first appeared on Beacon: Missouri and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. (StatePoint) The threat of a home fire is greater than most people think. In fact, 40% of people believe they are more likely to win the lottery or get struck by lightning than experience a home fire, yet residential fires are the most common disaster people face in the United States, according to the American Red Cross. Here’s how to help prevent fires, and how to prepare for the worst:
Be Informed: The National Fire Protection Association reports that 60% of home fires are due to human error. It’s important to realize that humans are flawed. We forget things, we mess up, and we’re often distracted. Accepting the fact that a house fire is a real possibility is an important step in the right direction. There are simple actions you can take to help prevent accidents. For starters, cooking is the leading cause of house fires. Never leave cooking unattended. Keep the cooking area free of flammable items such as potholders, towels and packaging, and always maintain a 3-foot safety zone free of pets and kids. Update Your Smoke Detection Devices: While taking safety precautions is critical, having the latest fire safety technology can provide an extra layer of detection. Pioneers in the home safety field are providing new solutions that give homeowners more control over their safety, and like many technologies, today’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have come a long way. Tech expert Marc Saltzman explains, “This technology is revolutionary because it features enhanced sensing technology to reduce nuisance alarms.” “Nuisance alarms,” also known as false alarms, refer to when smoke alarms beep but there is no threat of fire. They are often caused by cooking activities and lead many consumers to disconnect their devices out of frustration. Upgrading your safety devices to Kidde Detect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors means your alarms are more likely to remain installed, so both you and your home can be as safe as possible. Once you have your new detectors, be sure to install them on every level of your home, in hallways, and both inside and outside every sleeping area. Be Prepared: A working smoke alarm can double the chance of escaping from a home fire safely, but that’s just the first line of defense. It’s also important to create a home fire escape plan. Kidde’s fire safety toolkit is a great resource to help families prepare for a fire emergency. While many people assume that a fire can’t happen to them, the truth is that everyone makes mistakes. Having the right life-saving tools can help protect you and your family. |
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