The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for public and private non-profit organizations to implement and evaluate sexual violence primary prevention strategies based on best available evidence across multiple levels of the Social Ecological Model.  MDHHS is committed to the goal of decreasing rates of sexual violence perpetration and victimization in Michigan using a public health approach to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors that impact sustainable community/societal-level change. MDHHS expects to award approximately $525,000 annually through this competitive RFP process to five agencies, with funding of $105,000 per year to implement and evaluate comprehensive sexual violence prevention programming.  Funded applicants will receive ongoing technical assistance from the MDHHS project coordinator as well as the evaluation team from the Michigan Public Health Institute. Technical assistance will include help with program start-up, reporting requirements and barriers to program implementation.  Grant applications must be submitted electronically through the MI E-Grants program by May 7, at 3 p.m. The program period begins Oct. 1, 2019 and ends Sept. 30, 2020. For more information or to apply, visit the MI E-Grants website and select “About EGrAMS” link in the left panel to access the “Competitive Application Instructions” training manual. The complete RFP can be accessed under the ‘Current Grants’ section under the “Public Health Administration” link and selecting the “SVP-2020” grant program.

The Cloverkids 4-H club will host their Annual Community Service Day this coming Saturday, at the Port Huron Senior Center at 600 Grand River Ave. in Port Huron   4-H is a program of Michigan State University which adds this event to the listing of service projects affiliated with the MSU Alumni Association’s Global Day of Service on April 13^th, resulting in MSU Alumni and Supporters in the Bluewater area being given an opportunity to be a part of that Global initiative.  The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and according to Mary Taylor, Cloverkids 4-H Club Administrative Leader, you can donate supplies or cash to purchase supplies.  Taylor says there are a variety of ways people of all ages can be involved including providing items to make blankets and cards.  Items needed include 2 pieces of fleece fabric 2 to 2 ½ yards long for the blankets and a number of items are needed to make cards.  They will be collecting food pantry items, as well as items for Kids in Distress.  A complete list can be found on the flyer that is posted on the WGRT Facebook page.

More than 40,000 pounds of ground beef products at Meijer stores throughout Michigan and Wisconsin are being recalled due to contamination, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The beef that was produced on March 20 was recalled this past Monday by JBS Plainwell Inc. in Plainwell, Michigan.  Authorities say the product may contain pieces of hard plastic.  A list of the products being recalled include:

One -pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “fresh from Meijer GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN 20% FAT” with case code 47283 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

One-pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “fresh from Meijer GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN 15% FAT” with case code 47285 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

One-pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “fresh from Meijer GROUND BEEF 90% LEAN 10% FAT” with case code 47290 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

One-pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “LEAN GROUND BEEF” with case code 42093 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

One-pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “CERTIFIED GROUND SIRLOIN” with case code 42090 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

One-pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “CERTIFIED GROUND ROUND” with case code 42085 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

One-pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “Fresh! BLACK ANGUS GROUND CHUCK” with case code 42283 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

One-pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “CERTIFIED GROUND CHUCK” with case code 81631 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

One-pound plastic wrapped ground beef loaf with “GROUND BEEF” with case code 81629 and sell by date of 4/10/2019 represented on the label.

The release stated that the recall is labeled as Class II, meaning that it is a “health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product,” according to the release.    The matter was addressed when the company received two complaints of hard green plastic in ground beef and USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified of the issue on April 5, the agency said.   Anyone who has purchased any of the products is advised to discard or return the items to the store where it was purchased.

St. Clair County youth risk behavior data shows the need to establish a new community prevention coalition.  According to Lisa Ruddy, BS, CHES, Health Educator at the St. Clair County Health Department, all voices are needed at the table in order to work together to reduce risk factors for youth substance use. Substance use is at the root of many societal concerns, such as not graduating, behavioral issues, truancy, violence, or family problems. Preventing risky behaviors will impact the health, well-being and ultimately the lives of teens and the community around them. Together, she says we will prioritize substance use issues to tackle and develop a five-year comprehensive, community-owned plan to guide coalition efforts.  They are looking for representation at all three planning sessions to help map out strategies that will improve the health of local youth. Mark your calendar and share with everyone you know. Lunch will be provided.

• May 3, 2019 from 11:00 am – 4:30 pm

St. Clair Technical Education Center (TEC) 499 Range Rd. Marysville, MI

• June 7, 2019 from 11:00 am – 4:30 pm

St. Clair Technical Education Center (TEC) 499 Range Rd. Marysville, MI

• July 11, 2019 from 11:00 am – 4:30 pm

Port Huron Areas School District McKinley Building 2720 Riverside Dr. Port Huron, MI

For more information and to RSVP, please visit www.scchealth.co or call (810) 987-5300. Follow us on social media @scchdmi.

The Port Huron Police Department’s “Gun Buy Back” sponsored by the James C. Acheson Foundation on Saturday, April 6^th, was a great success, according to Captain Marcy Kuehn.  The Port Huron Police Department took in 15 sawed off shotguns, 18 rifles and 29 handguns – one of which had the serial number scratched off.  Also collected were several non-functioning firearms and several thousand rounds of ammunition and black powder to be destroyed.  At noon the police department had run out of the $5,000 cash provided for the event, but the James C. Acheson Foundation advised they would support additional funding.  Officers made personal withdrawal at their ATM’s to continue to pay for the guns. A majority of the citizens advised they had inherited guns or held onto guns they didn’t feel safe owning and wanted them destroyed so they didn’t get in the wrong hands. In total, $9,310.00 was given out to area residents .All firearms collected from this event will be disposed of and not re-sold or retained.