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Show September 23, 1999 JT - l!isr sir "Youth by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times ;!'8ksw ceotera elocatita c3 yriog expaimsioim staff Kids on base have experienced cramped quarters at the Youth Activ- ities Center, Bldg. 883, so they're welcoming the addition of almost 8,000 additional square feet that will provide plenty of room to stretch out. The Youth Center will temporarily move to the Thornton Community Center, Bldg. 460, Nov. 1 for approximately one year while the permanent building is renovated. Construction is scheduled to begin Nov. 1 and the Youth Activities Center will relocate between Oct. 15 and Nov. 1. The facility as well as the Hess Fitness Center will temporarily host youth programs. Pro"When we move the School-Ag- e week-do ; gram, we plan to that oyer a end because we realize parents need care and can't have a break in service," said Jim Dicus, Youth Flight chief. "We hope to be fully operational at the community center by Nov. 1 and we only ask that parents and users be patient with us because during transition there will be some minor inconveniences in order to make our current facility better." The $1.2 million construction project includes both design and an addition to the existing facility. A majority of the project was funded through funds. Some approwill be used for maindollars priated tenance and repair.of the existing Facility and to redesign areas of the center so they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The entrance of the center will have I new administrative area and will provide additional security. A computer room will have the capability to host up to 20 stations. A quiet area where youth can study and receive peer tutoring will also be set up. Teens will have - age-appropria- 4 k. f. -- , ... . .., i.M.JM ,"W, The 8,000 square foot addition to the Hill AFB Youth Activities Center is shown in an artist's rendition. New space will allow the center to expand current program and offer new activities. J,..JM, tJa . "-- m,. We've needed a teen area for ike longest time and it will be a better way for the counselors to communicate with, the kids if they're divided into age groups. non-appropriat- ed by SrA. Veronica Pierce homework and research. "The kitchen is going to be remodeled with a separate dining area and it will become a fully operational food service," said Dicus. "Currently we're having meals brought in from the Child Development Center." The additional space will also provide room for more activities. The activity rooms will be able to accommodate karate and dance lessons. And children will be separated into groups so they can participate in activities. "A lot of the times in the rooms for the older kids it's really crowded and you can't do anything without someone bumping into you," said Randi Colbert, age 12. She's looking forward to the additional space, computer stations that will have Internet and access and the teleconferencing phone that will be installed. Her father lives in Hawaii and her mom is in Saudi Arabia right now so the calls will allow her to see her parents live even when they're thousands of miles away. Added Space will also help the center serve more children. "Our current capacity for the School-Ag- e Program is about 60. Depending on the design, we'll be able to go over 100," said Dicus. Additional bathrooms will be com- Carlos Cronquist their own separate area where they for the counselors to communicate can to listen to music, play games like with the kids if they're divided into pool, watch television or hang out with age-groups- ," friends without sharing space with age 14. younger children. "We've needed a teen area for the longest time and it will be a better way "' said Carlos Cronquist, Carlos said the addition will provide center kids with new things to do as to work on well as a computer-are- a cancer early enough to effectively diagnose and treat the problem accordingly. As the title "Preventive Health Assessment" indicates, the health care community, both military and civilian, wants to identify lifestyle habits and health risks that are modifiable. We plan to edu- te e-m-ail patible with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will have age-appropria- facilities with automatic sinks. The School-Ag- e Program will also have separate bathroom facilities. Dicus said the Thornton nity Center will become a total youth environment free of adults. Jazzercise and Kick Boxing classes will move to the Hess Fitness Center. For additional information, call Mike Rypien, Youth Center Manager, Ext. Health Assessment technician interviews the patient, discussing questionnaire answers or medical history questions and performing any necessary minor exams. The minor exams might include Many remember the times of the medical physblood pressure, a basic vision screening or weight. sometimes they would catch ical every five years Also, if the patient is an age ending in zero or five, us and sometimes they wouldn't. healtha doctor's appointment is scheduled for any addilive to how on Then came Desert Shield and Desert Storm. cate our active duty population education, stress tional exams needed.. Many of the Air Force's resources were taxed ier life styles through nutritionand After the interview, the patient could be sent to tobacco cessa-- . exercise because there were many active duty members management, proper in our few. a This increase tion to name will, any of several Hill AFB Clinic departments. This turn, who hadn't had their periodic physicals and shouldmobilincludes the Laboratory for the annual mandatory n't have been in the desert for medical reasons. overall health and contribute to the medical HIV blood test, blood tests, blood sugar tests That meant sending the ready peo- ity readiness to accomplish our missions. and a cholesterol check; the Immunizations Clinic must To accomplish this, active duty member ple back and replacing them with healthy ones. After considering the numerous dollars spent, ensure they fulfill this requirement by attending to ensure immunizations and records are up to any significant lost duty time and potential effects on the mission, an annual PHA appointment during .their birth date; the Nurse Managed Clinic forClinic for a Glauor the to in disease mind a Optometry history; keep the Air Force came up with the Preventive Health month. There are few things coma screening. Assessment Program. In October 1997, the Air when preparing for the PHA,appbintment A dental appointment is also scheduled either medical will obtain records technicians The your Force implemented the PHA as a tool to screen,, or after the Preventive Health Assessment before to on an annual basis, all active duty personnel resources two days before your appointment review them for any pertinent medical history. appointment, allowing the patient to complete all for mobility qualifications. You should have received a letter informing the annual requirements in the birth month. The Under the old physical system, personnel would Clinic does an exam and cleaning and schedarrive at their appointment, then receive numer- you about this appointment. It will tell you what Dental follow-up appointments as needed. ous exams and blood tests. This cost the Depart- time your PHA and Dental appointments are and ules Through the Preventive Health Assessment proment of Defense numerous dollars in unnecessary what you need to bring with you. As an active duty member, you're responsible gram, we've been able to identify personnel who s and lab resources. Through numerare at high risk for diabetes and heart disease due ous studies, the medical professions have found to know what you need to bring to your appoint- to family history and have them evaluated increased health risks at certain ages and genders. ment. This will help expedite the process. Bring andtheir treated by a physician before they have serioutpatient This in turn brought about the exam matrix that your immunization records, dog tags,besides outous problems. The program was also able to get we currently use to identify at what age certain records (if they're kept somewhere a patient treated for skin cancer before it became ID card. exams should be accomplished to identify increased patient records) and military asked worse. is During the PHA appointment, the patient For more information about the Preventive Health fill out paperwork that tells the technician such to risk For example, a male at age 40 is at increased Assessment as medications habits, Program, contact Capt. Tracy Roberts used, eating for developing prostate cancer. By completing the information or A Gonzales at Ext. or Pedro Preventive TSgt. exams and tests, we can potentially catch prostate exercise habits and other details. Preventative Health Assessment Clinic non-mobili- man-hour- ty te |