The Healthy Lee movement was created to empower and inspire visitors and the people of SWFL to live a life of Optimal Health and Well-Being by making Healthy Lifestyle Choices through education and action. This newsletter gives you access to our valuable resources and news. Please feel free to submit your organization’s news to www.HealthyLee.com under the Events tab. If you require assistance, please email [email protected].

Healthy Lee May Newsletter

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The Maternal Assistance Program (MAP)

The Maternal Assistance Program (MAP) is offered at SalusCare and is a unique program designed to provide supportive services and linkage of resources for women who are working toward sobriety and recovery. MAP is a voluntary, short-term program that helps provide women with the tools they need in order to overcome the barriers that prevent independent living and improved functioning.

The focus of MAP is to promote the health and wellness of mothers, children, and the entire family. With the help of community partners, we are able to work towards a healthier community by reducing the possibility of neonatal abstinence syndrome, NICU stays for newborns, and DCF involvement.
MAP is a family-centered program, so the family is encouraged to set their own goals and are guided as they work to achieve them. Some of the services we provide are linkage to community resources- such as child care, pre-and post-natal care, and coordination with other providers and agencies involved in their care. A MAP case manager becomes part of the dedicated support system to encourage progress toward goals, as well as ensure safety concerns are addressed, allowing for safer mothers, children, and the family unit.

To qualify for these services, women must have a current diagnosis, and/or past or current substance use. They must also be pregnant or have dependent children 18 years of age and younger.

Referrals can quickly and easily be completed online at https://www.saluscareflorida.org/referral/. Our online referral form is HIPAA compliant and utilizes 2048-bit encryption, making it the safest and most secure way to refer individuals to this program. To expedite the referral process, please be sure to include information about the reason for referral, as well as diagnostic information and or any substance use information, even if a formal diagnosis has not been obtained. Should you need to follow up on a referral, or require ongoing collaboration, please make sure a release of information is provided with the patient’s signature. Referrals can also be faxed to 239-703-8940.

If you would like more information, please contact MAP Case Manager, Samantha Vasquez, at (239) 989-2931, or email: [email protected]. You can also contact MAP supervisor, Katherine Cruz, at 239-841-0466, or email: [email protected].

We look forward to speaking with you and providing additional information about our services.

BE GREEN WITH AMY

Friday. May 6th 3 pm EST

Maya Acosta lost weight and regained her health. Hear how she did it!
on Be Green with Amy LIVE!
LIVE! + Q & A
FREE Online Event! Join us on Be Green with Amy LIVE! https://youtu.be/yXPhDmkCUHQ [youtu.be]

Friday. May 13th 3 pm EST

Lose weight after 70 years! Regain your health! Learn how Esther Loveridge and Al Schmidt did on Be Green with Amy LIVE!
LIVE! + Q & A
FREE Online Event! Join us on Be Green with Amy LIVE! https://youtu.be/yXPhDmkCUHQ [youtu.be]

Friday. May 20th 3 pm EST

Alzheimer’s and Dementia can be prevented and helped with Dr. Jeffrey Pierce, M.D. on Be Green with Amy LIVE!
LIVE! + Q & A
FREE Online Event! Join us on Be Green with Amy LIVE! https://youtu.be/yXPhDmkCUHQ [youtu.be]

Wednesday. May 25th, 3pm EST

Stuck in an office chair most of the day? Learn how simple stretches can add up to become more
flexible and strong with Yoga instructor Angela Fischetti on Be Green with Amy LIVE!
LIVE! + Q & A
FREE Online Event! Join us on Be Green with Amy LIVE! https://youtu.be/yXPhDmkCUHQ [youtu.be]

Be Strong, Be Well and Be Green🌱!

100 Deadliest Days for Teens

The “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Driving” occurs annually, roughly May through September or between Memorial and Labor Day. The rationalization behind this is that kids are driving more due to the holidays and their summer breaks. Oftentimes; teens are driving with less parental supervision as parents continue to work through the summer. The likelihood of a young person being involved in a driving fatality significantly increases at this time of the year and in fact; studies have shown that fatalities more than triple during these months. This is especially significant for those with less than 6 months of driving-time experience. Additionally, teens drivers lack driving maturity, are more likely to speed and make careless mistakes, they are less likely to utilize seatbelts, and can become distracted easily. This is especially true if teens have other passengers in the car riding with them.

According to American Automobile Association (AAA), more than 30 percent of deaths involving teen drivers occur during these 100 days. Sadly, these statistics do not count for the many teens who lose their lives prior to arriving at a local hospital or Trauma Center.

Lee County leads in teen driving fatalities, followed by Collier, Charlotte, and then Hendry County.

Parents play a key role in keeping teens safe while driving.
Talk with your teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous driving behavior while behind the wheel (speeding, impairment, distraction, aggressive driving, running red lights, etc.).
Parents should lead/teach by example by exhibiting safe driving habits while on the roadway.

What are the “Danger Zones” for Teen Driving?
Make sure that you and your teen(s) are aware of most instances that can cause motor vehicle collisions, injuries, and fatalities.
• Driver inexperience—practice at least 50 hours or more (all times of day and weather)
• Driving with teen passengers (limit passengers first 6 months)
• Nighttime driving (practice different times of the day)
• Not using seatbelts (buckle up every trip, all the time)
• Distracted driving, put all distractions away. Cell phones should be placed out of reach and turned off
• Drowsy driving, ensure teens are driving only after having adequate rest (minimum of 8 hours per night)
• Reckless driving
• Impaired driving (alcohol or drugs) call family or friends for a ride if they need help
Parents SHOULD:
• NOT buy their teen’s high horsepower vehicles
• NOT buy mini or small vehicles. Bigger and heavier vehicles are usually safer than smaller ones
• ESC (Electronic Stability /control) is a must for teen drivers
• Always check for the highest test crash rating

What are the biggest distractions for teens in the car that parents should be mindful of?
~ The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of teen drivers with each additional passenger. According to AAA, Distraction is involved in 58% of teen crashes. The likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behavior triples when traveling with multiple passengers. According to We Save Lives, a survey of high school students showed 39.0% texted or emailed while driving at least once in the past 30 days of the survey and 60% of teen crashes are caused by distracted driving.

For more information about teen driving visit: https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving

~ Tracey Thornton, BSHA
Lee Health Trauma Injury Prevention

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4211 Metro Parkway
Suite 300
Fort Myers, FL 33916