Prevention & Healthy Lifestyles (PHLS)

Marlin L. Williams, MBA, Disparities Manager, Health Promotion Council – Team Co-Chair
Alice Yoder, RN, MSN, Director Community Health, Lancaster General Hospital – Team Co-Chair

Thank you to members of the PAC³ Prevention & Healthy Lifestyles Implementation Team who joined the conference call held on Friday, November 21.

This call contained important information regarding the current and future direction of PAC³ implementation efforts and provided an opportunity for all team members to discuss next steps.

We followed the below agenda during the call:

Planning for the Future: PAC³ Implementation and Q&A (Kathy Stadler)
Review of PHLS Team Discussion from 10/21/2008 Meeting (Alice Yoder and Marlin Williams, Team Co-Chairs)
Discuss Next Steps (All Team members)
Identify Responsibilities/Leadership (Facilitated by Alice Yoder and Marlin Williams, Team Co-Chairs)
Participate in PAC³ Community Interest Survey (Kathy Stadler)

Materials referenced during the call are below, as well as minutes from the call. If you need anything in addition to these materials or have any questions, please contact the PAC³ Coordinating Office at 412-623-0033 or pac3@upmc.edu

View Minutes from the November 21, 2008 PHLS Team Conference Call
View the PowerPoint Slides

Previous PHLS Team Meetings and Materials

October 21, 2008: Wyndham Garden Hotel Harrisburg/Hershey – View Minutes
June 12, 2008: The Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center, Harrisburg, PA – View Minutes
February 29, 2008: Wyndham Garden Hotel Harrisburg/Hershey – View Minutes
February 1, 2008: Conference Call – View Minutes
December 14, 2007: Conference Call – View Minutes
November 20, 2007: Conference Call – View Minutes
October 3, 2007: The Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center, Harrisburg, PA – View Minutes
August 3, 2007: Conference Call – View Minutes
March 29, 2007: Toftrees Resort & Conference Center, State College, PA – View Minutes
November 29, 2006: The Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center, Harrisburg, PA – View Minutes
September 29, 2006: Penn Stater Conference Center & Hotel, State College, PA – View Minutes
May 18, 2006: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Harrisburg, PA – View Minutes
February 10, 2006: Wyndham Harrisburg-Hershey – View Minutes
September 9, 2005: Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center, Harrisburg, PA
- View Minutes from General Session
- View Minutes from PHLS Team Meeting
May 13, 2005: Holiday Inn East, Harrisburg, PA – View Minutes

The number of new cancer cases can be reduced considerably through actions taken by individuals, communities, government, and other groups to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Many of the causes of cancer morbidity and mortality are the result of health behaviors established early in life, in particular tobacco use and addiction, inadequate physical activity, unhealthy diet patterns, unprotected sun/UV radiation exposure, and unsafe sexual practices.

Healthful individual behaviors are most likely to occur when there is social and environmental support in communities. Therefore it is essential to work with community, school, and government systems to prioritize the establishment of policies and practices that will support healthy lifestyle choices.

PHLS Team Initiatives

Community Engagement Strategies Guide – The PAC³ Prevention and Healthy Lifestyles Implementation Team developed this simple list of high-level strategies to guide community-based organizations in engaging their communities in order to achieve effective disease prevention activities and programs.

Promotion of "Everyday Choices" awareness campaign among disparate populations identified in PA Tobacco Disparities 2005.
"67 Faces of Tobacco Cessation" Campaign – A resource for the public to see photos of successful individuals who have quit smoking with the help of a tobacco cessation program and read their testimonials.
Utilize PAC³ Asset Inventory (funded by CDC/in development) to make Nutrition and Physical Activity program information available statewide.
Support efforts to promote clean indoor air and smoke-free public places.
- New Surgeon General's Report Focuses on the Effects of Secondhand Smoke – View the Report

Useful Websites

CDC: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control – CDC is a leader in nationwide cancer prevention and control, working with national organizations, state health agencies and other key groups to develop, implement, and promote effective cancer prevention and control practices.
Everydaychoices.org – The American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association have joined together in a historic collaboration to encourage the prevention and early detection of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Learntobehealthy.org – LearntobeHealthy.org is an online health science learning site designed to help educators communicate important health concepts to children K-6. The site contains comprehensive lesson plans, interactive games and activities, webquests and more. The goal of the site is to inspire children – and their families – to make healthy choices that will last a lifetime.
Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition – Organized in 1994, The Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition's mission is to improve the health status of the Lycoming county community by identifying and facilitating response to priority health and wellness issues through a collaborative, community-driven process.
Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition & Activity (PANA) – Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity (PANA) is a statewide organization supported by a coalition of more than 500 public, private, academic, professional and volunteer groups, working to promote policies and environments that support healthy eating and activity. PANA is housed at Penn State University Middletown Campus.

PAC³ will be updating this list as often as possible. Should there be any other informational resources that make strides in achieving PAC³'s priority goal to Provide all Pennsylvanians with access to high-quality, accurate, and current information based on individual and population factors for all aspects of cancer, from prevention to end-of-life care, please contact the PAC³ Coordinating Office to inquire about listing that resource on the PAC³ website.

"Together ... Making our Vision a Reality"