From Newstips.org reports

By Suzanne Hanney

Streetwise 

"Austin has one of the highest levels of lead in the city," said Patrick MacRoy, program director at the Chicago Department of Public Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.  The toxic effects of lead poisoning are well-established but there is help for area residents to combat the problem.    

By Suzanne Hanney

Streetwise

One in two unaccompanied homeless youths in Illinois were turned away from programs last year due to lack of resources, and a new study calls for doubling state funding. Youths who accessed programs numbered 2,895, but those who could not totaled 3,088.

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) announced Dec. 20 that it is seeking $7 million more in state funding for homeless youths, based on a survey of the state's service providers. Next year, the programs have been allocated $4.7 million, which CCH said has increased only $700,000 since 1998.

The new money would double the number of beds for homeless youth from 318 to 636. It would also allow most youths seeking help to be served. Right now, pregnant or parenting youths were identified as "underserved" by 37 percent of the providers and disabled youth by 21 percent.

New aisles are being added to grocery stores as organic foods grow in popularity, filled with everything from organic cereals and pasta to tortilla chips.

But what exactly are organic foods? The difference between organic foods and conventional foods is the way they are grown, handled and processed.

"I've been into eating organic and living a much healthier life in general for about a year," said 39-year-old Tonia Campobasso.

The eye-opening experience for Campobasso that made her switch to organic foods was when she was diagnosed with a thyroid neoplasm. She knew she had to start making some radical changes, she said.

More Americans are choosing organic foods over conventional foods even though it may or may not be beneficial to their health.

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that organic foods are more nutritious or safer than conventional foods," said Dr. Maria Whitmer, who is board-certified in Anesthesiology and Holistic Medicine.

Mary Elizabeth Medawar explores the health and workplace effects of secondhand smoke in and around Chicago in a recent video report. According to healthcare professionals, the effects of secondhand smoke can be severe. Because of the state-wide smoking ban that becomes effective Jan. 1, people in bars, restaurants and other public places will be safe from the toxic chemicals.

Heath insurer Humana is challenging Chicago to get healthy, with the Humana Health Challenge. The company is providing free resources to help participants stop smoking, manage stress, lose weight, conquer back pain or simply eat better. You need not belong to a Humana health plan. Anyone living in the greater Chicago area can take part.

Twenty participants will be selected for intensive health coaching and will have access to Humana's clinical tools & resources, including health risk assessments, fitness reward programs and more. Those not selected can still take part and work on their own, personal health goals, using resources on the challenge Web site. A panel of local physicians will also provide expert advice.

The challenge itself runs through early March, at which time the public will vote for the most inspiring success story.  Learn more at: www.humanahealthchallenge.com

By Becky Schlikerman

In today's world of gleaming supermarkets with brimming shelves and neatly stacked produce, some people - around the country and in Chicago - still don't have access to healthy food.

Studies have consistently found that residents of low-income neighborhoods have a harder time finding and acquiring healthy food. But efforts are underway in several Chicago neighborhoods to try and alleviate this problem.

Low-income African American and Latino neighborhoods have fewer grocery stores, according to Food Store Availability and Neighborhood Characteristics in the United States, a 2006 study conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study analyzed food store outlet data and 2000 census data.

This is a public health issue. Chain supermarkets have more selection of quality food for lower prices, said Lisa Powell, associate professor in the Department of Economics and Institute for Health Research and Policy at UIC, one of the study's researchers.

By Dara Belic

SisterHouse is a substance abuse recovery home for women on Chicago's West Side that opened its doors in 1982. This month, the center affiliated with School Sisters of Notre Dame, celebrated its 25th anniversary at the John Hancock's Signature Room.

The success of the residential program at 851 N. Leamington St. increases each year, said Rochelle Sims, a certified alcohol and drug counselor and co-director of SisterHouse. Every year, a higher percentage of women achieve sobriety, Sims said.

SisterHouse was founded by Sister Anne Meyers as a safe haven for women coming out of prison.

Since 1992, 99 percent of the primarily homeless, middle-aged, African-American women who become SisterHouse residents come to the facility directly from detox programs rather than the streets, Sims said.

"We won't allow you to become a resident here unless you've been clean and sober for at least a month," said Sims.