Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 September 2001 — Page 2

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2001

The Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership

Since 19K8, we have helped hundreds of Indianapolis residents secure quality homes*

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MENOPAUSE Continued from A1

GRANT Continued from A1 ment system is implemented, any low-income person in Indiana will be able to speak to an advocate simply by dialing a toll-free helpline number. Helpline operators will have access to a statewide database of pro bono attorneys and social services providers. “So, now, if a victim of domestic violence calls the hotline,” Rep. Carson observed, “she will not only be given legal advice, she will also be referred to a women’s shelter or counseling services that offer other important kinds of help.” As a result of this funding, the statewide legal assistance web site at www.indianajustice.org will begin housing an online resource center to aid pro bono attorneys as well as pro se clients seeking to represent themselves in court. A document assembly program on the site will ask users basic questions about their legal problems and, based on their responses, automatically create pleadings and other official documents that can be printed out and filed in court. The resource center will feature a variety of other tools to help clients and advocates, such as a brief bank and pleading library, separate rules and procedures from all 14 judicial districts, community education materials, and legal information for pro bono attorneys working out of their fields. Two new attorneys and two paralegals will be hired with this funding to ensure the highest quality of content on the web site. “This grant award steers Indiana Legal Services boldly into cyberspace,” said Randi Youells, LSC s Vice President of Programs. Corrections In the Aug. 17 edition of The Recorder, there were errors in the story about Eastern Star Church launching its first church plant, the New Life Worship Center. It was incorrectly called a facility. And the name of Pastor Ramsey’s newborn son also was wrong. His name is Jeremiah David.

passage, and encourages women to learn more about menopause and their bodies. “These symptoms can come at any time,” said Dr. Roderick Rhyant, who counsels patients at the Martindale/Brightwood Health Center. “(The symptoms) can last for months or years. Many people don’t understand what is going on.” For some, menopause represents a sense of freedom from contraception, menstrual periods and fertility. Alternately, this rite of passage may cause women to enter a mid-life emotional and social crisis. Typically a menstrual cycle is associated with preparing for child birth. African-American women tend to experience estrogenrelated symptoms at higher rates than other ethnic groups. These symptoms include incontinence, vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats. According to Dr. Rhyant, “there’s an emotional loss with not having your menstrual cycle.” Although the average age for beginning menopause is 51, woman can start experiencing symptoms in their 40s. There are several long-term effects of estrogen deficiency including osteoporosis and heart disease. “The menopause declining ovarian function starts 10 to 15 years before the (menstrual) period actually stops,” said Dr. Marguerite Shepard, who works at Indiana University Medical Center. Sleep disturbance and low sex drive are also components of menopause. For hot flashes, “you have sudden dilation of the peripheral blood vessels where heat builds up and is released suddenly,” said Dr. Shepard. The flashes typically last for two years or less for a majority

of women. In some cases, hot flashes are triggered by caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol and stressful events. The onset of menopause also causes the vaginal walls to become thinner, less elastic and dryer. This can also lead to increased urinary tract and vaginal infections, which are curable with antibiotics. After initial consultation, patients may receive estrogen replacement. This process is typically referred to as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Women receive female hormones progesterone and estrogen through skin patches, vaginal creams or a pill format. Over the counter soy products may help women cope with symptoms, but Dr. Shepard warns against certain brands. “Be aware of low-fat soy products. They use an alcohol extraction process, and you have to have something that has been purified with soy protein,” she said, noting the benefit of receiving consistent amounts of soy in products. Soy isoflavones act as phytoestrogens, and can replace the body’s loss of estrogen during menopause. In an attempt to lessen complications, women should also eat a well-balanced diet, low-fat meals and exercise regularly. Foods high in calcium. Vitamin D, Vitamin C and fiber are recommended to ease menopausal side effects. While menopause stands as a transitional period, women are breaking the silence and embracing their bodies and learning more about menopause and its symptoms. “It’s only the end of the reproduction life,” admitted Dr. Shepard. “Women are living 30 to 40 years after menopause.”

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INDIANAPOLIS FAMILIES COUNT AWARDS

Chikhvn dd well when theirJamilm do well Jwnilies do lx iter when they live in communities that sup/xwl them. Do you know an organization that helps make Marion Countv families stronger? Nominate it to receive a Families Count Award of up to $5,0()0 for its good work.

V . . We are seeking nominations of schools or school-based programs, neighborhood-based organizations, community or family centers, faith-based organizations, and small businesses. Organizations must be located and serve Marion County.* An organization must help the whole family, not just one or two family members. It must also connect families to services, activities or other people that can make it stronger. Examples include: / Connecting families to economic opportunities, such as: secure jobs with a good income, job training, education, transportation to work, home ownership, starting a small business. / Connecting families to each other or to the community by: helping families get to know and support each other, helping families become involved in a neighborhood association or community service project, or providing a place where families can receive support and be together. / Connecting families to accessible, affordable and culturally-relevant services such as: food, housing, transportation, clothing, legal help, child care, adult care, medical care. TAKE 5 MINUTES. Complete and return the form no later than OCTOBER 9, 2001. The Families Count Awards Working Croup will choose the winners who will receive awards during the Family Strengthening Summit, November 17, 2001, at the Indiana Convention Center. TTie Summit kicks off National Families Week (November 18-24, 2001) and is free, open to the public, and will have activities for family members of all ages. All families that send in a nomination form will be invited to the Awards Ceremony and listed in the Awards Ceremony program.

Sponsor

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The Annie E Caiey Foundation

*If an organization does not fit in one of those categories, it is not eligible for an award this year. Employees or board members cannot submit nominations for their own organizations. If a small business wins, it must donate its cash award to a nonprofit organization that strengthens families. SEND NOMINATIONS BY OCTOBER », >001 TO: Indianapolis Families Count Awards - CICF 615 N. Alabama, Suite #119, Indianapolis, IN 46204 hw miw mhvmwrthkt, call (SI?) wrt. 3?? tvr v tail

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21)01 INDIANAPOLIS FAMILIES COUNT AWARDS NOMINATION FORM

Your Name Your Address Your Daytime Phone ; Your Email (if available) Organization Nominated Organization Address Organization Phone Number Type of Organization - check one: □ School or School-Based Program □ Neighborhood-Based □ Faith-Based □ Community or Family Center □ Small Business How did you hear about the awards?

How do you know about the organization you nominated?

What does the organization do to make families stronger? BE VERY SPECIFIC AND GIVE EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF HELP THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES.

How has the whole family served by this organization become stronger? GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES.

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