» Prescott-Joseph Center – News & Events
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Prescott-Joseph News …Winter 2007
A Message from Washington Burns, MDThis past year has seen tremendous growth for the Prescott-Joseph Center. We have developed new programs in art & culture, youth literacy, and a youth summer enrichment program. We completed our handicap ramp, dedicated our Wellness Gate, completed our strategic planning process, worked with the Taproot Foundation and completed marketing and branding enhancements, initiated the Breathmobile® Initiative, disaster preparedness, and we had our 10th Anniversary Gala in April. We could not do all that we do without our committed staff, Board of Directors, and most of all, our dedicated sponsors, funders, and contributors. Thank you all for your continued support! We are as committed as ever to providing services and programs for those most in need in West Oakland. Happy Holidays! Breathmobile® – Addressing the Asthma Disparities in Alameda CountyAsthma is a major problem in West Oakland. Of the approximately 22,000 people living in West Oakland, 20% of children and 37% of adults have asthma. West Oakland children are seven times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than any other children in California (1994–1996 RAMP study).
An Oakland-Berkeley Asthma Coalition study 1999–2001 shows a 28% increase in West Oakland hospitalizations. Asthma hospitalization rates in Alameda County exceeds rates in every demographic group studied. They are the second highest among the State’s 58 counties. Countywide African Americans are 3–5 times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than others. The financial burden of asthma in children in the 94607 zip code alone, for 911 calls, ER visits, and hospitalizations to Children’s Hospital Oakland totals $2,740,000 annually. For adults minimally $1.2 million. We are working to create programs to shift people from acute episodic care to regular preventive care. One way is to create effective partnerships between Prescott-Joseph Center, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Oakland Unified School District, Alameda County and other stakeholders to establish and fund a Breathmobile® for Alameda County. Such a system reduces morbidity and saves lives, ultimately saving millions of dollars for Alameda County, the State and the school districts. Prescott-Joseph Center, as lead agency of the West Oakland Asthma Coalition, is spearheading the effort to establish the necessary partnerships and raise the necessary funding to bring the Breathmobile® concept to Alameda County. On October 4, 2007, 40 people attended a luncheon at Scott’s Restaurant, hosted by Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, California Chapter, founder of the Breathmobile®. Francene Lifson, Executive Director, of the California Branch of AAFA and associates gave presentations of the history and operation of the Breathmobile® and they are excited about the prospects of having the Breathmobile® here in Alameda County. Stay tuned for more to come… Please Welcome Our New Food Pantry Manager – LaMel A. SmithWe are very pleased to announce that LaMel A. Smith has been selected as the new Food Pantry Manager for Prescott-Joseph. LaMel brings a wealth of experience in the food industry and a lot of enthusiasm.
In addition to managing the food pantry activities, LaMel will coordinate the West Oakland Disaster Preparedness Initiative. We are very pleased to have LaMel as part of our team! Another Road to Safety (ARS)In August, the ARS staff held a “Back-to School” Bar-B-Que. Forty-eight children and 18 parents attended. Families were given backpacks filled with school supplies and books. We also provided haircuts to the boys. Mini-workshops were facilitated by “Healthy Kids, Healthy Teeth” and the West Oakland Asthma Coalition on asthma education, and PJCCE staff discussed school readiness and school success tips. Since ARS began, families who have participated in this voluntary program have received food, furniture, clothing, referrals for mental health services, assistance with transportation, family outings, and referrals for respite. Summer 2007 Summer Youth Enrichment ProgramThis past summer, 78 neighborhood children participated in a 6-week summer activities program co-sponsored by PJCCE and St. Patrick Church. The activities included indoor soccer, basketball and a theatre arts camp. Daily breakfast snacks and lunches were provided. A former McClymonds High basketball player now in college and 3 returning players on MACK’s boys and girls’ teams were assistant basketball coaches. Ayodele Nzinga, PJCCE’s resident Theatre Director conducted the theatre camp. Awards for the sports and theater camps were given out at an end of camp Bar-B-Que celebration for participants and parents in August. The camp will be conducted again in summer 2008 thanks to a grant from Oakland’s CDBG program.
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Thank You to All Our WONDERFUL
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We were requested to conduct basic asthma education (Asthma 101) in 8 schools outside of West Oakland because no other groups were available to conduct it. 6 of these schools were in Contra Costa County. There were a total of 715 children in these classes. 
We continue our work at Children’s Hospital. In 18 months, we saw 246 children in the asthma pre-discharge clinic at Children’s Hospital Oakland for 1:1 training of children and parents. This training is very successful. 
