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April 19, 2002
Prairie
Grove — At a press conference today,
health department director Fay Boozman announced the
formation of a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) for Prairie
Grove, Arkansas.
The
CAP is a group of volunteer residents that represents
the community as a whole and is a forum for open dialogue
about issues of mutual interest concerning the cancer
investigation in the Prairie Grove area. All CAP members
are equal, and consensus is the method of operation.
The
success of the CAP will depend on the commitment and
participation of all its members. The CAP will assist
the health department by sharing community concerns
and health information. The health department will assist
the CAP and the community in understanding the health,
environmental and technical information affecting the
investigation.
The
CAP will usually meet once a month — but meetings
may be more or less often, as needed. Meetings will
generally last one to three hours. The health department
cannot pay members for participating.
All
CAP meetings are open to the public, and everyone who
comes to meetings will have an opportunity to speak.
Rick Johnson, Washington County Health Unit Administrator,
will be the Arkansas Department of Health liaison to
the CAP.
The
health department is soliciting volunteers who:
- Are
at least 18 years of age;
- Reflect
area residents' various viewpoints as the health department
understands them (such as, citizens who either have
cancer or a family member with cancer, the business
community, city government, the clergy, etc.);
- Have
an understanding or knowledge of the investigation
into possible cancer clusters in the Prairie Grove
area and the community’s various health concerns;
- Are
permanent residents of the affected area.
If
you would like to volunteer or would like to nominate
someone to participate, please fill out an application
form available here
(requires Adobe Acrobat) or at the Anna Holmes Dorman
Public Library, at 123 S. Neal St., Prairie Grove.
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