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THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly

IN THIS ISSUE:
1) Secretary Thompson Promotes Good Health in Alaska
2) FDA's Keller to Serve as First "America's Fellow"
3) Campanelli Named Director of Office for Civil Rights
4) New Office to Oversee Disability Programs
5) Deadbeat Parents Arrested in Largest Single Crackdown

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Secretary Thompson Promotes Good Health in Alaska

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson visited Alaska over the weekend to promote the administration's health initiatives and announce awards that will strengthen the health care safety net for all Alaskans.

"We're pleased to be able to extend the hand of compassion to Alaskan Natives with these grants," Secretary Thompson said. "The tribal leaders deserve great credit for all their work to advance a better quality of life for their people, as do the dedicated health professionals, who offer both skilled care and deep compassion."

Included in the Secretary's itinerary was a visit to the village of Galena, which has an innovative Community Health Aid Program that trains community members in basic medical skills. These skills bring basic health care to Americans living in the most remote areas. The program is a model of HHS' Indian Health Service involvement with Alaskan Native communities.

Galena also has a joint Health Center/Mental Health Center, which has been bringing hope and treatment to Alaskan Native for over twenty years. The Galena Early Learning Center provides early childhood education to village children.

The Secretary also visited the Tundra Swan Inhalant Treatment Center, which is the only inhalant abuse project in Alaska. HHS helps fund the center through a three-year, $1.5 million grant to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. The center provides state-of-the-art inhalant abuse treatment programs and information and training about inhalant abuse treatment.

Secretary Thompson also toured the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital and the Alaska Native Medical Center.

In addition, almost $3 million was awarded to construct Head Start facilities in the towns of Elim and Teller, and almost $700,000 was issued to construct a new facility in the town of Angoon.

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FDA's Keller to Serve as First "America's Fellow"

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson has FOIA¬ Privacy ¬ Disclaimers¬ Accessibility

Last updated 2 August 2002
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