BLOG.SPICERSCONSULTING.COM

Does Free Food Come at a Price?

spicersconsulting — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:43:00 GMT

Check out this entry among others on The Kathleen Show Blog for Prevention Not Prescription Tuesdays starting 3/9/10

In my current work, one of my jobs is in the area of Food Security. Part of our work involves connecting with food banks across the state and looking at ways to increase access to food from our pantries as well as to government support through food assistance programs. A question has arisen along the way: Why would such a significant portion of our population NOT seek out food assistance if they were in fact eligible?

That's where this question comes into play. Imagine a single mother with four children who works two minimum wage jobs and still can't make ends meet. She's eligible for food assistance and many other government services. However, in order for her to enroll in food assistance, she'll have to either find a way to leave work on a break or take a few hours off to go down to the local human services office. She has to use the little amount of gas she has left in her tank that she needs to get to work, drop off and pick up her kids the next day and chances are she will have to return to the office at least twice to meet with her caseworker, bring back any required documents that she didn't know she needed and possibly find out that she may only qualify for less than $50 a month. Initially, that may be the amount of money she's lost from trying to enroll in the first place.

Here's another side to it: She has a limited budget and can get food from the local pantry once a month. However, all of the foods that she gets at the pantry and can afford to buy, are processed, full of additives and she can't resist a good deal on high sugar, fat and salt foods that are at the lowest prices. She's been eating this type of food since she was raised by a single mother, now she's over weight, her stress level is constantly high, which contributes to her high blood pressure, high cholesterol and she is pre diabetic. All of her children are over weight. Even though they are on the free and reduced breakfast and lunch programs at school. This is the price that a person in poverty pays who works hard to make ends meet and can get free food for herself and her children.

Why can't she buy whole grains, fresh produce and meats and learn how to cook healthy foods like everyone else who wants to be healthy? Before we even go there, let's ask: how is it that she's going to make sure there is food on the table for her family each week? People who can't find a consistent source of food can't think about how to "eat healthy." Secondly, what if the only grocery store in the neighborhood that is within a reasonable walking or driving distance is a liquor store that luckily has bread milk and eggs in addition to all the other processed food they carry.

This is the access issue that makes a significant portion of our population pay a huge price for food that is otherwise free or affordable. Our society cannot afford this. We cannot afford to carry on generations that have very little or no way of knowing how it is possible to create a healthy and balanced diet. Our government, community agencies and philantropic organizations must continue to think strategically and realistically about how to address this. We as community members must act by considering ways that we can get fresh and healthy food into the hands of those who are struggling and accept the reality of how impractical some of our own strategies to stay healthy and well are for others. Just because it's free doesn't mean its worth the price that many pay to get it and the negative impact they experience from continued access to it. Take a moment to complete the survey below and comment with your feedback.

Irony of Athleticism

spicersconsulting — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:39:00 GMT

Here's the first entry of 2010 also featured on The Kathleen Show Blog Prevention Not Prescriptions Tuesday

It's been a while since I've written an entry and guess what inspired me? A Mc Donald's commercial. What started my thinking? A Taco Bell commercial. The common thread between these two is that they were sponsored by major international athletic organizations and featured a world famous athlete. Who were they? The US Olympics sponsored a Mc Donald's commercial who are also an official sponsor of the Canadian games and Charles Barkley was in a Taco Bell commercial for a $5 meal sponsored by the NBA. The point here is that these organizations are supporting industries that contribute to obesity and chronic disease problems here in the US and around the globe.

In my opinion, not only does this present a clear contradiction, it also shows that money as the bottom line, over rules the crucial role that the athletic industry plays as an influence on the health decisions of their admirers. Will these commercials actually cause many fans who are athletes themselves to go out and get fast food and gradually become unhealthy? Probably not, but what they can do is discourage people from talking to young athletes about the dangers of fast food and the importance of making healthy decisions in relation to your diet and exercise. What really matters, is that it continues to reinforce messages to children and those who already consume unhealthy amounts of fast food that it's good for you in some way or another.

So, what does this say about our society and what can we do about it? These particular instances speak to the socio-economic and health issues that have held our country back in pursuit of global domination. Beginning in the eighty's and over a 25+ year time frame, we have continually sacrificed ethics for the bottom line. Not only has this damaged the health and wealth of millions of Americans, it has caused our economy to crash and ultimately the value of the US Dollar has declined. What about the industry perspective for athletic corporations? As Tiger Woods said in his most recent statement to the public "I thought the rules did not apply to me," when corporations that also influence the health decisions of our society display a disregard for particular ethical standards, they are depicting a clear message as to where their priorities lie.

Finally, what can we do? In the broader sense, we can work to redefine the true meaning of wealth and success. For example, we can emphasize the importance of demonstrating that wealth is a measure of the ability to give back and that success is the obligation to uphold reasonable ethical standards. Many corporations and successful athletes do give back to the community. However, we must recognize that negative actions can often outweigh the positive. What we can do as individuals and communities is to speak out against corporations who engage in practices which contradict the principles that they claim to stand by. Most importantly, we can educate and empower our future generations by encouraging them to make their health and well being a priority and to challenge some of the messages they receive from popular media. We have the great privilege of living in a society that is free to challenge our power structures and thus it is our own personal obligation to exercise those rights. Just as we should stay physically active to maintain our health, we should be civically engaged to maintain a true and meaningful definition of freedom and wealth.

There's Prevention in Our Roots

spicersconsulting — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:08:00 GMT

This was one of our first entries defining prevention in the public health context and we were asked to make a submission by the Kathleen Show as a part of their Prevention not Prescriptions new weekly program. So, as we dig back into the root causes of our work, here's prevention for you:

The first issue I'd like to discuss is about Prevention. Public Health in its core aspects involves assessing, planning and developing infrastructure, resources and materials to improve the health of a population.

As professionals we are not primarily clinicians, we are in many ways administrators, organizers and educators. Given this, in order to accomplish our goals we must utilize this role effectively by focusing primarily on prevention. As a public health professional I ask: what is the problem, the extent of the problem, it's nature and how can it be resolved, prevented or it's negative impacts reduced?

This is what I believe defines prevention. However, it's not that simple, prevention isn't just about investigating a problem and either eliminating it or reducing it's impact. In the context of health and infrastructure it is about environmental change. This may mean changes in systems, methods of delivery, increased access to essential resources and more efficient service delivery. Thus, it requires change on many levels.

I decided to discuss this issue, because as an alcohol prevention specialist I often run into many different interpretations of this type of prevention. As I mentioned earlier we are not primarily clinicians, however the disease of alcoholism like many other health indicators is clinical and can be treated. Yet, just as prevention is not education only, treatment is not the only way to solve the problem. For those in education, prevention is the primary vehicle for delivering health messages in their setting, treatment's contextualization is in providing resources to resolve, subside or reduce negative health impacts.

The point here is that prevention involves both education and treatment in terms of increasing access and efficiency of health resources. So, when we explain the concept of a comprehensive approach, this is what we mean. I'm the coordinator and collaborator, educators are my partners to explain the problem and provide instruction for prevention, clincians are my partners for delivery of accessible and effective care. The institutional structure is the basis for bringing these two entities together and the population itself are the vehicles of change. Given this, I prefer not to tell people what prevention is, instead I'd like to work with people to see what it is, their role, and how their work with others put together the pieces of the puzzle.

Immigration Real Talk

spicersconsulting — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:08:00 GMT

This week we're talking about immigration, the real issues, while discussing facts and potential solutions. In the past we've talked about the health, political and cultural context of US Mexico border issues and the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Our discussions have centered around the political and economic impact and perspectives from these situations while maintaining an emphasis on prevention, politics and today's culture. Our last presidential campaign, the War in Iraq or WWIII and ongoing issues on this topic provide a platform for discussion. However, we must remind ourselves that this issue has been in existence throughout human history and our ability to engage in honest debate, often depends on the political climate. Now is the time. Yet, we shall not forget yesterday when we speak of today and we should do our best to recognize others when we look towards the future.

Prevention: What is it Really?

spicersconsulting — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:07:00 GMT

This week we're talking about prevention and our goal is to have a better sense of how others define it and in what context do they feel it is a necessary or essential tool. We'll start with a quote from an original entry that we wrote in February on prevention:

"We must examine why some communities have greater access to resources than others and how our political and geographical landscape can address these gaps. In order to achieve our goal of improving health we must look towards the future by examining where we need to change the present."

You can find this and other original blog entries on prevention here: http://blog.spicersconsulting.com/page/4.aspx

Take a listen to this new entry, look back at others related to the American culture, food, health, healthcare, economy, drugs and other issues, all discussed with an emphasis on prevention.

Human Rights: What's the Big Idea?

spicersconsulting — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:54:00 GMT

This week we're talking about human rights. It's a relevant issue given that President Obama spoke at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner this past Satruday, October 12th and much attention has been brought to the issue of marriage equality over the past few years. However, we must consider the context within the nations and communities that we are discussing these issues. Marriage equality and gay rights brings up a moral debate over religious and social beliefs. Yet, human rights emphasizes the importancy of acknowledging that people should have equal access to resources regardless of who they are and in order to live safely and comfortably. Issues that are most paramount in other countries relate to someone's ability to live, work or thrive in their community regardless of who they are and we often think about death, starvation and persecution that need attention. In the US we are afforded many rights and because of this we should consider how all citizens should have equal access given that we all want to live happy and healthy lives for ourselves, our family and for future generations.

Global Health: What is it and Why Should We Know About it?

spicersconsulting — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:45:00 GMT

To start off this week's topic of global health we decided to do a weekly blog entry with a newly initiated pod cast to go along with it. This podcast is an introduction to global health as an emerging field in the professional arena. In this written entry I'll talk about some of the current events and emerging issues that are relevant here. Many have seen coverage of President Obama hosting a UN convocation where the long time Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi spoke for the first time in about 40 years, going on for nearly 1.5 hrs. of which many interpreted as an odd and perplexing speech. Gadhafi even had trouble finding a place where he would be allowed to set up his traditional tent, near UN headquarters in New York. Iranian President Ahmadinejad spoke as well in his usual fashion and we watched assembly members walk out during his time at the podium. Obama and Secretary General Ban Ki Moon lead the way with their collegial, clear and focused efforts to host this event and address some of the key challenges our nations currenlty face. Following this was the G20 summit, hosted in Philidelphia which brought much coverage on how this City has shifted from an industrial town with significant environmental hazards to a green economy. A few current events in brief and we welcome your votes on this post, commentary and additional insights. Check our Facebook fan page for more global health insights throughout the week: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=243685945234#/pages/Spicers-Consulting/243685945234

A Teachable Moment

spicersconsulting — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:33:00 GMT

Much has happened in the weeks since my last entry. We continued to memorialize Michael Jackson after I wrote about this case of a another celebrity succumbing to the price of fame. The push for healthcare then dominated the political news and now this week, we focus on the issue of race. I have dedicated much time in my community over the past 8 months, engaging in efforts to advocate for social justice and inclusion. In doing work professionally on prevention and public health issues, I know that our communities do not really begin to focus on many serious issues until a tragedy or controversial event reaches the public's attention. In this case we are now focusing on racial profiling among law enforcement and the impact it has had on communities of color. After the arrest of African American Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates at his home in Cambridge Masschussets, the continued friction between law enforcement and communities of color ensued. Obama was compelled to clarify his remark saying that the Cambridge Police acted stupidly by calling it a "teachable moment." What does this mean? I feel it emphasizes the need to learn from our history and acknowledge that problems exist, contributing to both parties on either side to over react; highlighting that this still remains a systemic issue.

What do we do from here? My hope is that once this issue dies down in the media, we will not just return back to how things were. In the fight for policy reform, advocates can take advantage of situations like this to mobilize the community and facilitate action. How can we do this? We must engage in dialogue. On the local level, law enforcement and their constituents should come together to share view points and make reccomendations for action. These reccomendations must then go to local leaders and produce a proposal for institutional change. Continued acknowledgement that this is a subject of concern and we must examine how the past has impacted the present, is the basis for a need to do something.

Obama was criticized for commenting on what was said to be a local issue. However, what he shed light on is that a local issue allowed this country to reflect on a national problem. Thus in moving forward, we must bring the work back to the local level and continue to share within and between communities, the change that we are implementing in our own back yards. Systemic and institutional change will take much time, yet we can use the strategies mentioned above over the long term. A community forum and recommendations for action are starting points that will transfer this work into our existing structures on the local level. This topic of interest can become a priority on our boards, councils, city governments and grass roots organizing movements. As we all learned from the eight years past, unless we exercise our freedom to speak and act, we cannot see the change we know we want that is based upon problems from yesterday persisting today.

Price of Fame American Phenomenon

spicersconsulting — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:05:00 GMT

Just when I thought I've ran out of things to blog about, the news reports start rolling in. Not only in my life but on the national and international spotlight. In a short span we lost three American icons: Farah Fawcett, Ed McMan and Michael Jackson. On the international front, the uprising in Iran faded as the Obama administration made it's first declaration of war i.e. combat troupes in Afghanistan. In this post I'd like to write more specifically about what happened to Michael Jackson having died after being administered a drug that was only meant for operating rooms and how I connect with the pressure to succeed in this country. Many speak of the price of fame and I think in many ways this expectation and its potential harm is a common thread in our culture.

Personally, I think about how I need to make a name for myself, get a good paying job and raise a family. However, as I've begun my career I've realized a lot of things. In today's society havig a bachelor's degree is not enough for a good paying job, yet having worked since you were 16 isn't evidence enough of quality work experience. When I consider how hard I've worked and how on either side of me, those with more money get further and those with much less money are stuck. Often we talk about street smarts vs. book smarts, and ultimately in many ways money is the underlying factor. However, when we talk about health it becomes clear that what's on the surface is in most cases not a predictor of an invidual's ability to live healthy. Everyone is different yet, we all share very similar genetic make up.

What's my point? The point is that as an individual with a unique experience and outlook on life, you have the power to decide how you use the resources you are given to make what you want and keep what you've earned. Yet, we live in a country where those with power, money and fame are reverred. This is an unrealistic tenant to think that most Americans or even humans should strive for this. In our nation's history, we have chosen to measure power and success by what's on the surface and we are now paying the price. The choice-in the context of our three most recent celebrity deaths- is to use power as a tool to educate, use it as a tool to entertain or allow it to get the best of us. Thus we must recognized that many do not have the power to choose, but everyone has the power to be and in that simple term there is a lot of room for interpretation.

Meeting an Unmet Need

spicersconsulting — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:57:00 GMT

I facilitated a meeting today just after finding out that my University did not get a large federal grant which I had worked hard to lead the process of submitting. As we moved forward with identifying how we would find additional resources to provide our students with support to reinforce healthy behavior choices-thus improving their academic, individual and personal success- one of the folks at the meeting said: "We just need to communicate to the administration that the importance of investing in this is based on an unmet need" I responded by saying "can you say that to our Vice President for me?" In addition to that,I sat in on a conference call among Universities across Michigan to consider applying for another similar federal grant to form a statewide coalition. Later in the day I went with a student to local bars and liquor stores to provide information and resources on responsible alcohol sales and service.

This is just one day in my life, where the work I do as a health educator and youth advocate reinforces what our society, American citizens and our institutions should, are and will think about every day: Unmet needs. So, how are they met? Well, maybe it depends on who you ask, how you ask or what your needs are. That's what we all want to know: what is the need? How do we address it? Will our way of doing so be effective? Finally and most importantly now in the world of grants, program management and development: How can we evaluate it?

Saturday, June 27th will mark National Healthcare Day of Service. http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcserviceattend
Individuals involved with Organizing for America will be participating in events across the country to bring attention to the need for national healthcare reform. Four events are happening in the City where I live and I had a chance to attend the meeting where we talked about planning for this event. Everyone has an agenda, thinks particular needs are important based on their personal and professional experience, but what does this event do? It brings people together to focus on one goal we can all relate to: healthcare.

Let me conclude by going back to what I started out with. We can work together to identify a common goal, but as we all know resources- human and fiscal- put it into place. At the end of my day I sat with 3 other healthcare professionals where we spoke to high school students of color, and emphasized that whatever you do, don't give up. The unmet need to live as in continuing life's journey, can hopefully drive many and encourage most to keep on giving.

Our Future Amidst a Changing Society

spicersconsulting — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:34:00 GMT

In a prior posting I talked about the quick fix culture that has evolved into our 'it's all about me' and 'want it now' way of living. Which brings up a continued question as to how this will affect our future generations. As someone working on a college campus, my job is to understand the health trends amongst our students and find ways to provide meaningful and effective programs and services to educate, empower and engage. The environment our youth grow up in is increasingly complex, high stakes and filled with a multitude of choices. As I focus specifically on alcohol prevention, I've found that the college experience has changed for our young people. A college degree today is a requirement and not necessarily an advantage, thus just going to any college doesn't guarantee a job. However, the transition to college life is still viewed as the time to let loose and experiment in social decision making. Students have increasing pressure to excel amidst an environment that is set up to guarantee success among a small sub set of the population; how will they be able to let loose while facing the pressure to be perfect?

A common way of existing that I've seen during my generation, was this idea of living a life you choose based on where you are or who you are with. Secularism has become a strong part of American society. Many catholics left the church, post holocaust Jews became more secular and a culture of sinning for 6 days and repenting for one day seemed to become more prevalent. Hyper sexuality, voyeurism and selfish indulgence have become a mainstay of self expression. This is evident in our culture of excess and the effect it is having on American's health. Could the mentality that we as inviduals are primarily accountable to ourselves- be a part of this? Is it really possible for an 18 year old to have complete responsibility over their choices in understanding their long term effects? No, and this may be why mental health problems of anxiety, depression and instability are emerging as a key health issue amongst our youth.

How might this change in the context of the hardships our society has gone through in recent years? Many young people graduating from college face the reality of not being able to get a job. This struggle has grown progressively over the last 5 years. When I graduated the challenge was about being able to translate an academic degree into a professional career. Today, many young people are going into public service. This might possibly help to build a more collective culture. The idea of community may soon become a necessity, given that we must band together to ensure our success. Questions as to whether the government is invested in our best interest hopefully become a part of daily conversations, and may finally alleviate the apathy amongst Americans.

Yet, there's much work to do. For too long we have sufficed in leaving behind those below us and giving power to those above us. Young people endeavoring in opportunities to give back to communities they may have never stepped foot in can open this door. Americans are holding accountable those who held the power and ultimately manipulated the majority. Institutions are now being forced to restructure and find ways to appeal to and accomodate for most Americans in addition to fulfilling self interests. In this process we must continue to keep the fate of our young people in mind. This is something I constantly think about while walking within the walls of an institution, and I continue to push for our young people to be at the table. Our success depends on the future, however we cannot ensure this until we ask, listen and include. Take a minute to get to know the young people around you and you'll realize how much you have to learn.

Globalization Turning on Its Head

spicersconsulting — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:55:00 GMT

In the past 20-30 years, along with a rise in the world's population and increased capacity in science and technology, we have been able to further track, monitor and study the spread of human disease. These advances have allowed us to combat such epidemics as Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Yet, in recent years the human exchange of goods and services across continental borders has led to an increased susceptibility to zoonotic diseases, mutation of common viral strains and the onslaught of pandemic flu. Swine flu is on its way to becoming an epidemic and as we try to identify the scope of this public health problem, we look at the origins and causes of the disease and its spread.

I saw a report today on CNN where people in Mexico were being asked where the disease came from. Many were saying that it came from Canada or the US, and one man said that we (the US) are always finding a way to blame it on Mexico. He said something to the effect of "if there's a jalapeno in the US that causes a disease outbreak, then it must be from Mexico." This is I think where the disparity lies. While we worry about a flu epidemic, we forget that millions of people in developing countries die from preventable diseases like Malaria, acute respiratory infections and cholera. We fret over a struggling US economy while 75% of the world lives on less than a dollar a day. As a human society, we are paying the price for global exploitation of ourselves and our natural environment for the production of goods and services. Anyone could list off the many economic development principles that have been driving the ignorance and oversight that we are left to see the results of today. The reality is that in this transition, a generational shift that everyone will see at least once in their lifetime, we can easily lose sight of what brought us here.

During a disease outbreak it is important for public health officials to monitor transmission of the disease, implement strategies and controls for preventing its spread and tracking confirmed cases, treatments and associated deaths. This must be translated to the public in a way that provides enough information to understand the scope of the problem, to know how to protect ourselves, without insighting chaos or hysteria.

If you are worried about contracting the flu, remember that it is treatable, it is not life threatening and we are lucky to be in a country where your likelihood of experiencing severe consequences is minimal. However, it may also be important to consider what brought us here today. The idea that we should be helping poor countries and those suffering around the world is not one of pity. Before we feel sorry for ourselves or others, we should consider, how to take a stand, not right wrongs, but move forward towards sustainable solutions withouht forgetting what leads us to trail behind in the fight for progress.

Responsibility, Accountability and Acceptance

spicersconsulting — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:30:00 GMT

In prior entries I've talked about the importance of ownership in the group process and the neccessity for accountability to the communities we serve. One political issue I've not yet delved into on this blog is the Israel Palestine conflict. I'd like to talk about this today and provide some commentary in a broader context. The three words entitled for this entry I think all apply to what is happening now and has happened with the peace process over the past nearly 61 years. There has been a fight for ownership in this region of the middle east, Who's responsible for shaking up this situation is constantly debated over along with who's accountable to do something about it and is that acceptable. This is where it becomes very complex. As I have in prior posts, I will start by stating my stance: I am Jewish, I strongly support Israel and the right to protect its border. Never will I condone or defend actions that violate human rights and I feel that this should not be ignored. This is what makes this issue complex for me.

There are many ways that we can rationalize behavior from the micro to macro levels. We can choose to take responsibility for some things and not for others. However, we must realize that if we do not take responsibility or we are remiss to acknowledge whether our actions have contributed to the pain or suffering of ourselves or others, we are limiting the way in which we can or will be accountable. In addition to this, the ability to accept the problem and find a solution becomes stifled. Yet, the key thing to understand is that all parties play a role in this type of approach to a problem and we must acknowledge the history and context that brought us to where we are.

I often think about the conflict in Israel and the middle east and every time I do so there is a different way of looking at it. We need to ask: Why did Jews need to establish a state and what was the reason for Israel? Why can't the land be shared and how is it possible that it would have been taken away from Palestinians? What is contributing to the problems with violence and human rights today? Both countries need to ask these questions and answer them within the context of their own history, actions and philisophical view points. We must also ask who was involved in determining, supporting and condoning the ways in which these countries operate. Yet, this is such a complex issue and until we admit that we will never fully understand all of it, there will be no way of coming to consensus.

I'll conclude by providing a few specific examples in context with these questions. With the recent conference on racism in Geneva and an emphasis on Zionism within this event, many are focusing in on the claims associated with Israel being an opressor of the Palestinian people. However, let's remember that Zionism started before World War II and it only became an urgent call to action when the Jewish people were nearly destroyed. Additionally let's remember that throughout history, Jerusalem and the surrounding territory have been fought over which did not have distinct ownership or a ruling power until Israel was founded. Finally, we must recognize that Palestinians in Israel have much better outcomes for health and education than they do in Arab countries and Jews are treated much worse in these countries as well. The US and the middle east must take responsibility for and accountability to the role they play in this conflict, while reaching towards acceptance of a shared role in negotiating peace and prosperity. There's much more to this issue, of which I plan to write about. Share your thoughts and help me to model open dialogue.

Luxury for Lifespan Leading to Death and Destruction?

spicersconsulting — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:02:00 GMT

Recent news of American journalist and former Ms. North Dakota Roxana Saberis' conviction in Iran and a report amongst others of murder suicide among a family in Maryland, leads to the ongoing question about capitalism and greed turning on its head. CNN's Don Lemmon on Saturday said the Saberis conviction was "another potential land mine in America's troubled relationship with Iran"
History has shown that in times of high stress, societies tend to act out through violence, especially when they feel as though there's no way out. The amazing amount of influence that the US economy has had on the world is now paying the price. Somalian pirates are holding US and other fleets hostage to earn money through ransoms, violence on the mexican border has exposed the corruption and greed associated with the US Mexican drug trade and now reports of increased violence over the past ten years from "going postal," columbine, Virgina tech and murder suicide are alarming trends that need to be addressed.

I see the source of many of these problems stemming from capitalism and greed promoting an unrealistic set of standards for income, appearance and overall worth in society. Individualist ideals truly exemplify the purest sense of survival of the fittest, however should we measure fitness by an inability to age and capability of making the most money all on our own? Should this be done at the stake of outsourcing jobs and corporations like the oil industry ruining Somali communities because their operating production facilities that would never be allowed nor tolerated in the US? These are unhealthy and non sustainable ways of living that although has increased lifespan greatly in developed countries, only so many individuals can actually reach these levels of expectation. In other words, we might be living longer, but does that mean we're happy, or most can really enjoy life?

Consequently, as I've discussed before, many Americans are finding artificial ways to appear healthy and productive. When suddenly the facade of success is swept out from under the rug or individuals feel hopeless, they act out in ways that are not usually considered normal. Many people in developing countries and underserved communities find the easiest way they know how to earn money or take care of themselves. Yet, it is the culture in our own community environments that may condone or discourage extreme behaviors and when we are promoting materialism as a sign of "social health" we are in many ways condoning unhealthy ways of living. Thus we are projecting this on to other communities when we take advantage of their resources and pass it off by saying that our government provides them with millions in foreign aid. The problem here is that there is a clear imbalance. We must address this and can not do so by only focusing on one side of the issue. Narrow focus relates to minute outcomes. As I always try to supplant, this is not impossible. We should look at why many are giving up and setting aside their morals and talk about ways that we can support each other and exercise the beautiful freedoms that we have on many levels in this country. There's more to be done and we can do it.

The Immigration Debate

spicersconsulting — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:01:00 GMT

In a prior posting I talked about border control issues and the impracticality of building a wall along the US Mexico border, when currently only half of the border has an existing barrier. Recent problems, controversy and reports on violence and drug trafficking along the border as well as the continued debate on immigration has motivated me to comment further on this subject. As many well know, illegal immigration has been a heated political issue in recent years as the Latino population has continued to grow in the US and many have responded negatively to the increased presence of undocumented immigrants. These people have become a part of our communities, yet our history with Mexico goes back much further. As a result of the US Mexican war from 1846-1848, Mexico lost much of its territory along the current Southwest of the United States. Mexicans have continued to immigrate to the US since then and have deeps roots within our Nation's history.

Current tensions around illegal immigration relate to individuals utilizing government funded resources such as schools and accessing healthcare primarily through Emergency Room visits without paying taxes. To state plainly before I go further, I am against many of the policies towards illegal immigration that our government has implemented. I do not see Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids leading to arrest and deportation and increased enforcement along the border as effective and sustainable methods for immigration control. Given that there is a long history of Mexicans in the US, we would be fooling ourselves to think that these methods are fair or just.

Recent surges in illegal immigration became opportunities for many in the labor sector to exploit these individuals for cheap labor. Yet, this is also a historical issue that goes back to farm workers in California and the civil rights movement against this type of exploitation led by Cesar Chavez. This makes me wonder whether a narrow interest in our economy and assuring all who live in this country contribute equally is actually pushing aside our history and ignoring the fact that in many ways our country has condoned illegal immigration. Commercial industries have capitalized on the Spanish speaking population here in the US by developing marketing materials and campaigns in Spanish and geared towards these populations. Our government and healthcare systems have made efforts to accomodate these populations among others, by providing information and services in their native language.

However, when this seems to become too much or too difficult, we just decide to seek out all undocumented individuals and send them back to Mexico? Who would work in factories, on farms and the many other industries where a large number of undocumented folks are currently working? What happens to the children of undocumented immigrants who were born in the US and are legal citizens? These are questions we must continue to ask and I hope that the new administration will consider.

A practical solution is to give individuals who've been here for longer than 5 years a certain amount of time to gain permanent residency or citizenship. We can take certain measures to ensure that recent illegal immigrants, particularly those with a criminal record will face deportation. However, let's not discount the fact that Mexican and Latino culture and traditions are a large part of this nation's culture, history and richness that it exudes.

Drug Culture: Collective Responsibility

spicersconsulting — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:51:00 GMT

As a follow up to a prior posting on drug culture, I'd like to further comment on this issue in regards to preventing and controlling the its negative impacts. I recently saw a story this morning on CNN about a young girl who died from a heroin overdose, which was followed up by a commentary with a Harvard economist and former DEA agent about legalizing such drugs. This made me think about the lessons of my work, in that policy change alone will never address the societal issues which are contributing to the risky behavior of teens. As I've talked about before, similar behaviors exists among new trends in teen exploits such as sexting, prescription drug abuse and emerging trends of methamphetamine use amongst middle class teens and adults.

The economist in this segment was arguing that legalization of these drugs would allow for further regulation and restriction on drug trade and availability. His theory was that we spend millions of dollars on enforcing drug laws, and we've learned from prohibition that restricting drugs can in many cases worsen the problem. However, the DEA agent argued that drug use requires us to also spend exorbitant amounts of money on addiction treatment and increased accessibility will only make this worse.

My reaction to this was that neither approach will work, especially in isolation. De-criminalizing drug use and possession is an effective measure, however legalization and more of a focus on treatment will not be effective. These are tools to addressing problems associated with drug abuse, however the fact that these trends are emerging among teens reminds me of the collective responsibility we all have. We as a community must come together to support our teens who are often finding discrete ways to express or relieve their angst and thus if we only try to solve problems in isolation or with a narrow approach, we will never see change.

Just as many teens say "that won't happen to me" adults are doing the same. We've learned that restriction will not work and in many cases will entice teens to further experiment. What we must do though is create a supportive environment where young people feel that they can communicate openly and seek support for the challenges they face at this stage in their lives. In many ways it is the nature of teens to become more removed or less open with their parents and other adults, however we must not use this as an excuse to focus our attention elsewhere.

Our biggest challenge, and one that I constantly face while working in the field of prevention is that we need to be more proactive. Often with issues related to alcohol and drugs, communities don't respond until their is a tragedy. Then, the parents and community members who thought it would never happen to them, suddenly are motivated to act because it has hit close to home. Yet, will we respond and then when the commotion dies down we forget about it? This is where a comprehensive approach which includes, policy, resource development and capacity building comes in. However, this can never be done without the support of the collective. To do so, we must hold ourselves to the same standards in which many of us hold to our youth. Share in the journey to enjoy a better world, one that already exists, we just need to seek it out.

Public Health Generation

spicersconsulting — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:24:00 GMT

As I was reminded that it's national public health week I watched an interesting video on the website: http://www.publichealthgeneration.org This reminded me of the impact that this industry can have on the health of our community. Today I gave a presentation to the leadership team in my division along with one of my colleagues in the health center. I talked about my work on alcohol prevention and he talked about occupational health. As he began his presentation after me, Dr. Shelden reminded us of the prevention paradox. Our goals is to prevent problems, and when the problems don't exist we've done our job. Public health has come to the forefront in recent years and in many ways because of the growth and complexity of our world. As I've discussed, this is the big picture approach to health and well being. Thus to understand our complex society we can now look at many health issues from the public health perspective. A big problem can be qualified within this context by seeing that there is a way to prevent it, treat it and allocate resources to accomplish both of these things.

This reminds me why I do what I do. As a public health professional I work to find ways that we can be most effective in benefiting the lives of others. Much of what I do, which many not be different in other fields sets the foreground for the future. In the course of my career I may have made changes or built up assets that demonstrate increased capacity. However, the true change will come after me and that is from the people that I've taught, ideals that have been instilled and will be measured by my ability to pass this on. To strive for this I must acknowledge that without the insights, leadership and involvement of those who I wish to impact I can never leave behind what I've set out to accomplish.

I listened to a lecture this afternoon on youth substance abuse trends and the speaker talked about how the world is not the way it was when he was growing up. He pointed to the reality that one wrong decision could potentially lead to life threatening diseases or other major consequences. This is true in many ways, but what he referred to through this is that we are no longer communities of caring, and we don't know our neighbors. Given that public health seeks to interpret and find solutions for our communities, to do so we must build them. If we can give people the opportunity to walk hand in hand and join in an effort to enrich themselves, this will be sustainable. As I always say, without each other we only have ourselves and alone we can only accomplish so much. In the context of this issue let's remember that although we work in an industry that is large and complex, the simplest and most effective solutions lie within the hearts and minds of those we serve.

Obama's Earning Street Cred

spicersconsulting — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:03:00 GMT

While following Obama's visit to Europe for the G20 summit and others, we are seeing that he has successfully followed through on his popularity in this region of the world. Prior to visiting the region he demonstrated positive relationships with Great Britain, Brazil and a few others and now is building on that while on the road. A crucial sign of this was a clearly positive press conference and a sign of being on good terms with French President Sarcozy. Obama showed his popularity at a town hall in France. The news reports are constantly saying that this is a true sign of change, in that these such events would have never taken place in recent years of the Bush Administration. This shows that the major economies in the world are coming together during a paramount time in our economic world history.

Now, what does this mean for our country? I feel as though this visit will help Obama and his administration to earn further credibility in the US and among our key leaders. The timing of this visit couldn't have been better. Obama has been faced with sharp criticism over his spending plans, handling of the TARP legislation and a recent forced resignation of the long time General Motors CEO. Although in some ways rightfully so, the Administration has had significant push back from our politicians, which in many ways is shifting the blame from past mistakes made by these same legislators. Yet, given that Obama has gone out of his way to be transparent, it is important that we recognize this, allow him to prove himself and capitalize on the opportunity to work with and not against our President.

As such, the fact that our President has continued to show poise and positivity among key leaders in this world, reaches beyond the rock star persona of Barack Obama. Yes, there's always the press focusing on Michelle Obama as a fashion icon. Yet it is clear in the presence of the President and First Lady, that they are strong and capable. Let's hope that this visit will encourage our nations' leaders to step back and further trust our new President.

Not only did Obama demonstrate grace in the presence of continued pressure, he has been strong on his policies, especially those towards nuclear proliferation and the war in Afghanistan. This morning's news brought attention to the situation in South Korea. Given that the Administration now has strong allies amongst world leaders, I hope this partnership will provide support to these challenges. It is hugely important that Gordon Brown remains a strong ally in addressing our economic downfall, a renewed partnership has developed with France and we are now engaging in open dialogue with Russia. Yet, we must acknowledge our shortfalls, challenges that exist within the UN and the large disparity amongst the developing world. In a falling economy, 75% of the world which lives on less than $1 a day is grossly impacted. This causes desperation, as we've seen in acts of violence as well as the need to assert egoes among world leaders. Thus, we must also maintain a focus on justice, and hope that these positive developments will not allow developed countries to undermine citizens of the world.

Defining the American Family

spicersconsulting — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:41:00 GMT

Recent news of the State of Iowa Supreme Court rejecting a ban on gay marriage and determining this to be unconstitutional, has brought shock and suprise to many Americans. Most may have thought that a midwestern state would be the least likely to pioneer this legislation among two other states- Massachussets and New Hampshire. This is moving, especially amongst the controversy of California's proposition 8 passing and repealling the supreme court ruling that banning gay marriage is unconstitutional. It brings up an important question, and relates to my continued focus on denying or preventing access to basic rights and resources as a way of negatively impacting the health of Americans.

The debate over gay marriage is multi-faceted, political and based on a history of opression and discrimination in this country. The 2008 Presidential election brought with it a response of mixed emotions amongst civil rights activists. A huge stride was made toward equality amongst African Americans and people of color, yet a continual (second time a proposition like this has passed in CA) step back for equal rights in California was evident. This in itself is ironic, given that in recent history inter-racial marriage was against the law. Thus as we move towards racial equality, we are regressing in the same direction in context with our history, particularly as it relates to marriage.

Opposition to gay marriage is strongly rooted in religious views defining marriage as a sacred union between a man and woman. Yet, with a clear separation of church and state in this country, is it right to legislate these moral tenants? Personally, I believe this is simply unethical. This can be justified within the context of the laws of democracy and equal access to civil liberties. A ban on gay marriage prevents a same sex couple from attaining many rights and resources. These include: shared custody of children, coverage on health and life insurance benefits, shared ownership of property and the ability to save costs on mortgages, financial assetts and accounts and from what I understand tax benefits. Same sex partners can be prevented from making medical decisions on behalf of their spouse and even the ability to be present as a family member while the other is in the hospital, especially under critical care.

Is this moral? Would denying Americans these rights be in support of the values and principles of Christian or other religious beliefs? This I believe, is what we must seek to answer. From the practical stand point, religious institutions have the choice as to whether they will recognize these unions and oversee a ceremonial same sex marriage. Yet, the provision that a state government has over marriage is entirely civil. Some say that using the term marriage as a way of also defining a same sex couple- will undermine their religious community. However, denying basic human rights to a large segment of our population (as much as 10%) is undermining, unjust and contradictory to our judeo-christian and overall theological world.

In looking at this issue, we must force ourselves to view it from this stand point. Many politicians like Obama, Joe Biden and even Sarah Palin have said they do not condone gay marriage, yet they are not inclined to carry this view point over to the regulation of our government's law. This is where our democratic principles apply. Can we simply say that respect for others and allowing our neighbors to live their lives as they choose is at the core? Given this, shouldn't we allow our fellow citizens the right to equality? Most will anwer yes, and thus we must ask ourselves how we can acheive this as a democratic society. Let us not fool ourselves to believe that this is a one sided issue. It is human, civil, ethical and essential.

Culture Shifts in Health and Wealth

spicersconsulting — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:14:00 GMT

As an undergrad I had the opportunity to do research on theories behind the advent of diabetes as a modern day health issue. Anthropological theory proposes that diabetes has become a disease of civilization due to a biological adaptation from hunter gatherers who needed to store fat during times of plenty in order to accomodate for times when less food was available. This feast or famine hypothesis relates to the negative impact that eating in excess or consuming extra calories has on our long term health. Evidence was seen in Native Americans exhibiting high incidence of diabetes as a major health problem within this indigenous community- the closest descendants of hunter gatherers. As I've discussed before, changes in modern human culture have in many ways benefitted the efficiency and productivity of human society, however this has not occured in a sustainable manner. Rapid expansion has led to a division in health and wealth that is now starting to bleed through economic barriers.

What I think has happened, much like the aforementioned theory is that we've worked against our natural inclinations to develop a society that runs on the newest and greatest. Thus, when we measure our success as individuals by wealth and not primarily by health, a need to attain success is second to our health. However, people that in many ways are more affected by modern day health issues are the least wealthy. Essentially, those who have a strong desire to become wealthy are in fact sacrificing the health of others to do so.

This creates an opportunity. When wealth is no longer so easily attainable, or the facade of wealth through loans and debt is no longer a possiblity we must shift the way in which we exist. More young people are voting for the sake of their future and going into national service and volunteerism during a waining job market. Going green has become a growing trend, and although I feel it is sad that people don't start to think more about this until it becomes popular, this lifestyle change is needed and beneficial.

Our next major step was I feel in electing a president who has made a strong commitment to restoring justice and equality in the US. Weekly we hear of stories where the President's reputation and capability is put to the test. The system that has perputuated many of the problems we are faced with today cannot change in less than 90 days and definitely not by one person alone. As I continue to emphasize, in order to make this change a reality for our future generations, let us remember our history, recall why and how we can preserve and protect our environment. This environment is our community, our home and key to true health and wealth. Thus to unlock the answers to our future we can look to our past, identify where we have made mistakes and use those as an opportunity to work for a shift in the right direction. To do this we must have faith and most of all patience. If we can look to history as a lesson for the future, maybe we can prevent ourselves from doubting many of the steps we are now taking.