Latest news with #HumanServices
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Pierce County's new head of homeless and health programs has federal experience
Pierce County's Human Services Department has a new director to oversee the county's homeless services, affordable housing efforts and behavioral health programs. Gary Gant, has been selected to serve as the new leader of Human Services, following what the county described as a 'competitive and meritorious recruitment process.' His first day in the new position was June 2. According to Human Services spokesperson Kari Moore, Gant will be paid $213,640 per year. In his most recent position as field office director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Gant helped increase access to behavioral health services and improve housing stability, according to the county. He previously served as deputy regional administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). According to the county, he co-managed a six-state region overseeing program delivery and organizing mass vaccination events during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his new role at the county, Gant will oversee Human Services many divisions, including Behavioral Health, Community Services and Aging and Disability Resources. He also will be responsible for overseeing more than 400 contracts with community-based agencies and local providers delivering services to some of the most vulnerable residents in the community, including individuals with disabilities, children, veterans and people experiencing homelessness. From 2020 to 2023, the department had an average annual budget of over $134 million. As of October 2024, the department had just under 300 employees. According to Human Services, Gant earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of the Incarnate Word, a master's degree in business administration from Western Governors University, and a master's degree in public health from the University of Washington. He has served on several boards and committees including the Puget Sound Regional Council, National Library of Medicine State Advisory Group, and the Somali Family Safety Task Force. Gant also has significant experience collaborating with the Veterans Health Administration and the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program to connect veterans experiencing homelessness with stable housing and support services. Helen McGovern had been serving as Acting Director for the department since the beginning of the year. Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello ousted the previous Human Services director, Heather Moss, as one of the first actions of his office.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Pierce County's new head of homeless and health programs has federal experience
Pierce County's Human Services Department has a new director to oversee the county's homeless services, affordable housing efforts and behavioral health programs. Gary Gant, has been selected to serve as the new leader of Human Services, following what the county described as a 'competitive and meritorious recruitment process.' His first day in the new position was June 2. According to Human Services spokesperson Kari Moore, Gant will be paid $213,640 per year. In his most recent position as field office director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Gant helped increase access to behavioral health services and improve housing stability, according to the county. He previously served as deputy regional administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). According to the county, he co-managed a six-state region overseeing program delivery and organizing mass vaccination events during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his new role at the county, Gant will oversee Human Services many divisions, including Behavioral Health, Community Services and Aging and Disability Resources. He also will be responsible for overseeing more than 400 contracts with community-based agencies and local providers delivering services to some of the most vulnerable residents in the community, including individuals with disabilities, children, veterans and people experiencing homelessness. From 2020 to 2023, the department had an average annual budget of over $134 million. As of October 2024, the department had just under 300 employees. According to Human Services, Gant earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of the Incarnate Word, a master's degree in business administration from Western Governors University, and a master's degree in public health from the University of Washington. He has served on several boards and committees including the Puget Sound Regional Council, National Library of Medicine State Advisory Group, and the Somali Family Safety Task Force. Gant also has significant experience collaborating with the Veterans Health Administration and the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program to connect veterans experiencing homelessness with stable housing and support services. Helen McGovern had been serving as Acting Director for the department since the beginning of the year. Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello ousted the previous Human Services director, Heather Moss, as one of the first actions of his office.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Can Trump Tackle US ‘Chronic Disease Crisis'? Experts Weigh In
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vow to "Make America Healthy Again" could fall short when it comes to chronic disease, experts have warned. When the MAHA Commission report on chronic disease came out in May, President Donald Trump made it clear his administration was committed to tackling the epidemic "We will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic in America, we're going to get it done for the first time ever," said Trump during a MAHA event at the White House on May . In a statement included in the press release accompanying the report, Kennedy Jr. said: "We will end the childhood chronic disease crisis by attacking its root causes head-on-not just managing its symptoms." Nearly 130 million Americans are estimated to have at least one form of chronic disease, which could be heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity or hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts told Newsweek that, while the Trump administration's ambition to "defeat" the "epidemic" is clear, whether its policies will help or hinder chronic-disease patients remains to be seen. On one hand, Kennedy Jr.'s recent MAHA report, which detailed what the administration believed to be the leading causes of chronic disease in children, indicated the aim was to reduce the prevalence of chronic conditions through public education and research. On the other hand, the proposed cuts to Medicaid funding and work requirements for eligibility to the benefits, which are set to come as part of the broader GOP budget bill, could leave many with chronic disease without access to vital care. As many as three in four adults enrolled in Medicaid report having one or more chronic conditions, and many are unable to work the hours needed to meet the new eligibility requirements, according to nonprofit health policy research and news organization, KFF. So, while some may be medically exempt, others will lose their health coverage, meaning their conditions could worsen without access to care. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via email on Tuesday. Since he became health secretary, Kennedy Jr. has promised to increase research in the root causes of illness and ensure the American diet is full of high-quality foods, while limiting access to ultra-processed food and certain chemicals, which he believes are contributors to chronic disease. The report states that consumption of ultra-processed foods "has gone up at an exponential rate as share of the American diet." Earlier in the year, Kennedy, had described products from companies like Kellogg's and McDonald's as "mass poison to children." Prioritizing research on the issue is crucial, Kenneth E. Thorpe, a professor of health policy at Emory University, Georgia, and honorary chair of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), told Newsweek. "Renewed focus on chronic disease and the impact that the U.S. diet has on it-focusing on artificial or chemical ingredients in food, particularly the impact of ultra processed foods-is important," he said. He added that this was because of the fact diet has "a direct impact on the growing rates of chronic conditions like obesity and obesity-related comorbidities such diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers and many more." "I applaud the Trump administration's focus on addressing the number one cause of death and disability in the U.S.-chronic, non-communicable disease," said Thorpe, who has been an advocate of chronic disease prevention in the U.S. for over 30 years. "We have more people with more chronic diseases, with just 5 percent of the population accounting for 50 percent of the costs in health care." He added that it is estimated that from 2016 to 2030 the cost of chronic disease will be in excess of $42 trillion. "The time is now to focus on the prevention and better management of chronic disease," Thorpe added. While it's too early to tell if the Trump administration is heading down the right path to lower chronic disease prevalence, Dr. Adrian Hernandez, director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute at the Duke University School of Medicine, told Newsweek that "leading indicators appear to be going the wrong way." He said this was partly because of the changes being proposed to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A proposal for the HHS, most of which was reported on in April, reduces by almost 40 percent its budget for 2026 and reveals major funding cuts for the NIH, according to CNN. Newsweek has contacted the NIH via email on Tuesday. Hernandez added that changes, such as the proposed cuts in federal funding, to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were also going down the wrong path. Rather than cuts to these federal health agencies, Hernandez said tackling chronic disease will require "an investment" in science and health. He said that the same was needed for health care delivery models like Medicaid and Medicare-rather than making cuts to the programs, the administration should "invest in preventative health." The GOP budget bill, which is progressing through the legislative ranks, instructs the committee to reduce the Department of Health and Human Services budget by $880 billion over 10 years, which would include cuts to Medicaid alongside other measures such as implementing work requirements. Ross Brownson, director of the Prevention Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, told Newsweek that Medicaid cuts would "likely have a detrimental effect on chronic disease risk among the most vulnerable populations," adding Medicaid-enrolled adults have significantly higher rates of chronic disease than individuals privately insured. "The drive to defeat chronic disease stalls if Medicaid patients are placed in the backseat," Thorpe said. "Today, the federal program is far from perfect, but it is a lifeline for those who need it," Thorpe added, saying it was "often the only pathway to care" for many with chronic disease. Experts insist that chronic disease is a deeply complex issue that requires long-term solutions and attention. Brownson noted that there has been "sparse attention to physical inactivity and tobacco use," as major risk factors for chronic disease. "This is a two-edged sword," Brownson told Newsweek. He said that while "on one hand, labeling this issue a crisis implies a sense of urgency and may mobilize action." Ultimately "the jury is still out on whether they will solve the chronic disease crisis." "We often have a short attention span and with this crisis label, policy makers may think the problem can be solved quickly and then move on to a new issue. We need to think of this as a long-term challenge in need of attention," he added. Related Articles Foods That May Lower Risk of Early Death RevealedRFK Is Right-Food Additive Transparency Can Make America Healthy Again | OpinionManaging PoTS: Tips for Living with the Chronic Illness Affecting MillionsWhat to Eat When You're Living With Long COVID 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Holyoke Community College holds 78th Commencement ceremony
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Holyoke Community College's Class of 2025 proudly walked across the stage to accept their diplomas Saturday morning during the college's 78th commencement ceremony. 'HCC has always been a community I always wanted to be a part of,' said Isa'Rose Ramos, HCC graduate. It all started by word of mouth for Isa'Rose Ramos, a Human Services major. In 2012, she lived at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts with her children. Ten years later, she transitioned from a volunteer to a domestic violence trauma-informed counselor at the shelter. 'In order to move up in the departments, you have to have Bachelor's in Human Services,' Ramos said. 'You have to start with an Associate's.' Holyoke organization hosts 'Golden Prom' for 50+ community This was a similar goal for the nearly 750 graduates at Holyoke Community College. After closing their chapter at HCC, the Class of 2025 walked across the stage on Saturday at the MassMutual Center in Springfield to receive their Associate's degrees and certificates. 'Commencement is just such an exciting time for us, because it's a culmination of so many struggles that our students have had,' said HCC President George Timmons. 'And this is just a way to celebrate this achievement in a grand way. For some, what takes a two-year degree may have taken them 10, 12, 15 years.' President Timmons told 22News that the graduates couldn't have done it without the help of the faculty members, which is why the college decided to grant an English professor with the Marieb Award of Teaching Excellence, the college's highest faculty award. 'Dr. Trobaugh exudes HCC mission and values, like she loves what she does,' Timmons said. 'Because I think that in life, don't chase money, chase happiness. And if you are happy with what you do, then I believe the money will come.' But the acknowledgements didn't stop there. The graduates decided to give back to the school, with the class of 2025 raising hundreds of dollars to give the college a donation to its Thrive Resource Center. It's in honor of a woman who started this student resource center to help with homelessness, food insecurity, SNAP, credit scores, and housing. 'Despite the odds, we made it because we kept showing up,' Ramos said. 'Not because it was easy, not because anything was handed to us in life, but because we know our worth.' The graduates' way of giving back is a direct representation of others who helped the college. Because of their work, four individuals were presented with Distinguished Service Awards. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC News
15-05-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Florida becomes second state to ban fluoride in public water
Florida has become the second state to officially ban fluoride in public water. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 700, also known as the Florida Farm Bill, into law Thursday. The bill doesn't specifically mention the word "fluoride," but it effectively bans the chemical compound by preventing "the use of certain additives in a water system." It will go into effect July 1. "What this does with respect to putting fluoride in the water supply is it basically doesn't allow that anymore in the state of Florida," DeSantis said during a news briefing Tuesday afternoon before he signed the bill. The governor also signed SB 56 into law on Tuesday, a bill brought forward by Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-FL., that criminalizes any form of weather modification, including cloud-seeding, which is used to bring rain to places that need it. Supporters of weather modification argue that it can hinder the impacts of global warming. Garcia fainted during the briefing on Tuesday while discussing the bill but quickly recovered and continued her remarks. DeSantis called the fluoridation of water "forced medication," saying that it violates "informed consent." He also said the mineral has been proven to negatively impact pregnant women and children, inviting medical professionals, including Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, to talk about the mineral's side effects. A study published in 2019 suggested that IQ levels were slightly lower in kids whose mothers had higher measures of fluoride in their urine during pregnancy, but its research was far from conclusive. The governor argued that there are other ways residents can get access to fluoride if they'd like, and stressed that the mineral shouldn't be mandated by governments. "There's nothing preventing you in your house from adding fluoride to your water," he said. DeSantis, a Republican, signed the bill in Miami, where Mayor Daniella Levine Cava vetoed a fluoride ban that the county commission passed last month. NBC South Florida reported the commission voted 8-4 in favor of overriding Cava's veto on Tuesday. DeSantis mentioned the commission vote in his briefing Tuesday afternoon, saying that they "voted the right way." Cava, a Democrat, has openly criticized the plan to ban fluoride in the state. "I am deeply disappointed by the Florida Legislature's decision to pursue a statewide ban on water fluoridation, a decision that disregards the overwhelming consensus of dentists, doctors, and medical experts and will end a practice that has been in place for decades to protect our health," she said in a statement issued last month. Florida is following in the footsteps of Utah, where Gov. Spencer Cox, also a Republican, signed a bill in late March prohibiting any person or government entity from adding the mineral to the state's water systems, making it the first state to do so. It will go into effect on Wednesday. The anti-fluoridation movement has been gaining popularity, seemingly fueled by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has said drinking fluoridated water has no "systemic advantage." Major public health groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, support adding fluoride to water, saying that drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavities. All studies have shown that it reduces tooth decay by 25%. Legislation to ban fluoride has circulated in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Hawaii, which has never mandated water fluoridation, has the 'highest prevalence of tooth decay in the United States' among its children, with only 11% of its residents served by fluoridated community water systems, according to a 2015 study of third graders throughout the state by the State Health Department.
