For Immediate Release

August 18, 2017; 11:00am

DPHSS Release No. 2017-069

Helping Young Children Manage Stress and Anxiety

Kariñu – an early childhood mental health promotion program – under the Department of Public Health and Social Services would like to share some tips for parents, caregivers and families on helping young children between birth to five years of age cope with stress and anxiety.

Just like adults, our children experience stress and anxiety and need our help to deal with it. As parents and caregivers, we can learn to recognize signs of stress and give our children skills to help them manage their feelings, emotions and behaviors.

Here are some ways your child may express his or her emotions and behaviors during stressful situations.

• Become clingy, impulsive and distracted
• Show nervous movements, such as twitches
• Have problems getting to sleep or staying asleep like they usually do
• Have sweaty hands, faster heart rate and breathing
• Have nausea, headaches and/ or stomach aches

Here are some ways you can help your child manage stress and anxiety:

1. For young babies, give them more positive, physical attention. Also recognize that for some, babies, touching can be irritating or overwhelming. Learn to read your baby’s cues and adapt to them the best you can.
2. Acknowledge that their feelings of stress and anxiety are real.
3. Create a safe and supportive environment for them to share their feelings. Allowing them to talk and ask questions and you giving honest answers and information. Use words and ideas your child can understand. Some young children may not be able to talk about their feelings and emotions and may be more comfortable with drawing pictures, playing with toys or writing stories. It’s also important to remember not to force children to talk if they do not want to.
4. Teach them how to rate their fears on a scale of one to five with five being the strongest. For young children who can use their bodies to explain this, such as “I’m scared up to my ankles; I’m scared up to my knees; I’m scared up to my stomach”, and so on.
5. Be there for your child. Sometimes when children feel stress and anxious and don’t want to talk about it, they usually don’t want to be alone. Do something interesting or fun together, like reading a book, playing make-believe, going to park, playing ball, baking cookies and watching a favorite TV show or movie.
6. Continue your child’s daily routine. Young children like routine and consistency. Continue doing what you do as a family. This will help children keep feelings of normalcy and comfort.
7. Limit your child’s exposure to negative media on TV, social media, newspapers, etc.
8. Be patient with your child.  You may feel like you want to solve all your children’s problems and make them feel better right away. It hurts to see your children unhappy or stressed. Focus on helping your children feel loved, safe and secure.

Remember that children, most especially young children, read off your emotions and feelings. If you are feeling overly stressed and anxious yourself, try to take a time out from your children, always ensuring their safety first and foremost, and do some activities to reduce your anxiety and stress levels such as: taking deep breaths, going for walks, writing, reading a book or listening to music. Talk to someone close to you, such as a friend or family member and reach out for help.

For more information on understanding young children’s feelings, emotions and behaviors, contact Kariñu at 478-5400. We are located on the 2^nd floor of the Terlaje Professional Building in Hagatna. Office hours: Monday thru Friday, 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm.

• Terry G. Aguon, Acting Human Services Program Administrator- terry.aguon@dphss.guam.gov
• Helene Paulino, Project Director – helene.paulino@dphss.guam.gov
• Jobeth Aquino, Social Worker III, Early Childhood Mental Health Clinician – jobeth.aquino@dphss.guam.gov
• Lavina Camacho, Social Worker III, Early Childhood Mental Health Clinician- lavina.camacho@dphss.guam.gov

Please click on "read more" to view the DPHSS FY 2016 Citizen Centric Report.

For Immediate Release

August 11, 2017; 1:10pm

DPHSS Release No. 2017-068

DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE COUNTER AT THE PERMIT CENTER

The Department of Public Health and Social Services would like to inform the public that on August 14-18, 2017 there will be no representative from the Division of Environmental Health (DEH) at the Permit Center in Upper Tumon to provide assistance to applicants or individuals seeking business clearances and information about Sanitary Permit.

DEH apologizes for any inconvenience and delay this may cause to those affected.  The temporary closure is made necessary as all division inspectors will be attending an important, mandatory week-long training.  For information and inquiries, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 735-7221 or Mr. Evan Lum at evan.lum@dphss.guam.gov.

For Immediate Release

August 10, 2017; 3:00pm

DPHSS Release No. 2017-067

2^nd Annual Guam Environmental Public Health Education Month 2017

The Division of Environmental Health (DEH) of the Department of Public Health and Social Services is pleased to announce, along with the Guam Environmental Public Health Association, that there will be a proclamation signing on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. in the Governor’s Conference Room in Adelup to proclaim the month of September as the “2^nd Annual Guam Environmental Public Health Education Month 2017”.

Every year, DEH highlights one environmental health program during the month of September for public awareness and education.  This year, the Division will focus on promoting infection prevention and control in beauty, barber, and nail salons through the use of social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), television commercials, and movie theaters.  This year’s Guam Environmental Public Health Education Month theme is “Beauty is only skin deep, but health and safety are forever!”   

For further information, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 735-7221.

For Immediate Release

August 9, 2017; 3:20pm

DPHSS Release No. 2017-066

Division of Environmental Health Processing Center Section New Office Hours

The Department of Public Health and Social Services would like to announce to the public that effective August 14, 2017, the Processing Center Section of the Division of Environmental Health (DEH) will observe the following office hours:

• 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday through Friday, except on observed Government of Guam Holidays

The new office hours apply to all individuals seeking to apply, renew, and request information for a Health Certificate, Sanitary Permit, and the Guam Controlled Substances Registration.  The last client accepted and entertained will be at 4:00 pm.

For further information or questions, please contact the Processing Center Section of the Division of Environmental Health at 735-7221.  Thank you.

For Immediate Release

August 7, 2017; 11:20am

DPHSS Release No. 2017-065

Division of Public Welfare Offices Closed

The Division of Public Welfare offices will be closed on August 18, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Staff will be attending an in-service training.

• State Office
• Bureau of Economic Security (Public Assistance Office)
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Issuance Office (EBT/Quest Card)
  • Medicaid
  • MIP

• Bureau of Management Support (Public Assistance Office)
  • Child Care Development Fund (CCDF)
  • Work Programs Section
    • Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS)
    • Guam Employment and Training Program (GETP)
  • Investigation & Recovery Office (IRO)
  • Quality Control (QC)

• Bureau of Health Care Financing Administration
  • Prior Authorization
  • Early Periodic Screening Diagnostic Treatment (EPSDT)
  • Castle Mall Office

• Bureau of Social Services Administration
  • Child Protective Services (CPS)
  • Home Evaluation & Placement Section (HEPS)
  • Family Services Section (FSS)

Individuals needing to make referrals to Child Protective Services may call  987-1575.  For emergencies please dial 911.

For Immediate Release

August 7, 2017; 10:15am

DPHSS Release No. 2017-064

New Recorded Mosquito Species on Guam                                                                            

In an effort to prevent the introduction of new mosquito species that can transmit mosquito-borne diseases, and control those mosquitoes already found on Guam, the Division of Environmental Health (DEH) of the Department of Public Health and Social Services has been conducting mosquito surveillance by collecting adult and larval mosquitoes in various parts of the island for identification.  Utilizing its new mosquito lab in the Guam Environmental Public Health Laboratory (GEPHL), DEH’s Mosquito Surveillance and Control Program, with the assistance of an entomologist from the Zika Emergency and Preparedness Project, which was established by the efforts and funding of the Pacific Island Health Officer Association and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a new previously unrecorded mosquito species has been found on island.

This newly recorded mosquito has been identified as Wyeomyia mitchellii through both morphological identification and DNA sequencing, which were facilitated by Dr. Cameron Webb and his colleagues at New South Wales Health Pathology (Sydney, Australia).  Although Wyeomyia mitchellii females obtain their blood-meals from warm-blooded animals, including humans, it is not a known vector of diseases to man.  Wy. mitchellii was first described from Jamaica, but is also native to South Florida.  This species lays its eggs in the water-filled axils of bromeliads, which is a flowering plant popular in gardens and homes.  Wy. mitchellii was first detected outside of its native range in Hawaii in the 1980s, and was subsequently recovered in Tahiti in 2007.  It is speculated that Wy. mitchellii arrived in Tahiti through illegal bromeliad imports from Hawaii.

According to Dr. Russell Campbell, agricultural entomologist with the Guam Department of Agriculture, his department inspects all legal imports of bromeliads from the Philippines and from Hawaii, but that smuggled plants hidden in containers may have previously introduced pest species on Guam.  As multiple specimens of male and female Wy. mitchellii were collected from only one location on island, it is difficult to determine both the timing of this species’ introduction, and the extent of its distribution on Guam.

The finding of this new mosquito species should be a reminder to the public that Guam is highly vulnerable to the introduction of exotic insects, including mosquito species, such as Aedes aegypti, which is an efficient vector in transmitting Dengue Fever, Zika Virus, and Chikungunya.  DEH and its partners are working to preventing the introduction and establishment of this particular mosquito and other vectors.  An outbreak of a mosquito-borne disease can have a severe impact to Guam’s healthcare system and its economy.

The public can do its part by eliminating mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water to prevent them from propagating.  Some tips include:

• Cleaning up debris, including that which can hold water;
• Properly disposing of loose tires;
• Cleaning pet water dishes regularly;
• Cleaning, emptying, and properly screening or covering containers used to store water;
• Clearing roof gutters of debris;
• Properly disposing all bottles, cans, buckets, and other containers that can collect water;
• Plugging tree holes;
• Repairing leaky outdoor faucets so as not to create standing water; and
• Changing the water frequently in flower vases and other containers that contain water.

For any questions, please contact the Division of Environmental Health’s Mosquito Surveillance and Control Program at (671) 300-9566 or 300-9575.

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