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Lake County Health Update February 2017
Dear Lake County Residents:
When I started at the Lake County Health Department in 1991, my attention was focused
on protecting Lake County’s environment and assuring healthy places for people to recreate. As an aquatic biologist, I looked at ways to prevent problems like soil erosion and invasive aquatic species, and how to best restore and preserve our fresh water resources.
Since then I have been on a journey for 25-plus years as I advanced
from the Lakes Management program to eventually become the Health Department's executive director,
a position I am honored to fill. The various management positions I have held over the
years have given me the opportunity to work with many Lake County residents and policy makers, which has broadened
my understanding of the crucial role the Health Department plays in our county.
I am particularly excited about an event we just held called
the Together Summit. This was a gathering of more than 200 Lake County leaders discussing
how to improve the health and quality of life of all Lake County
residents. A question I posed at the
beginning of the event was, “What will it take for Lake County to become one of
the healthiest places in the country in which to live, work and play?”
The Summit was a major step in a long-term plan for
collective action, as we work together with our partners to address and solve
problems. Through our Community Health Assessment (CHA) and our Community
Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) efforts, we have identified four health issues
demanding our attention: obesity, cardiovascular disease, behavioral health and diabetes. These chronic health conditions impact our quality of life and the future of our communities.
Public health has always focused on keeping communities well, but our new emphasis is on making communities stronger. We will be working hard with our partners to meet our goals. The payoff is a healthier county for all Lake County residents
and for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Mark Pfister Executive Director Lake County Health Department/ Community Health Center
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Last
December, the Deerfield Board of Trustees approved an ordinance to raise the
minimum legal purchase, sale, and possession age for tobacco products,
including electronic cigarettes, from 18 to 21 years of age. The ordinance went
into effect on January 1, 2017.
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Every year, the Health Department's Animal Care & Control program schedules pet vaccination clinics in communities throughout Lake County. These clinics are a cost effective way to keep your pets up to date on shots. Microchips are also offered. Here is a list of upcoming spring clinics along with the costs. Please note that only cash is accepted at each clinic.
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The Health Department's Animal Care and Control program is offering free educational programs for classrooms and other group settings. Staff members answer questions, such as: Do you know the best way to approach a stray or injured animal? Do you know the first thing you should do before petting someone else’s pet? If you see
a bat in your living quarters, do you know what to do and who to contact?
Animal Care and Control can customize a program based
on the size and ages of the group, and can vary the length and subject matter
to meet specific needs.
All
programs are presented by well-trained and knowledgeable animal wardens. National Dog Bite Prevention Week is May 15th
through May 19th, 2017 and this would be an opportune time for the program to share
vital, potentially lifesaving information with groups. Their educational programs provide information
that would be applicable to the following school courses: physical education/health or
science. Our presentations cover the following topics:
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Animal Care and
Control: Who We Are and What We Do
Please
review this brochure and contact: jeckert@lakecountyil.gov if you have any questions
or would like to schedule a program.
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What will it take for Lake County, Illinois to
become one of the healthiest places in the country in which to live, work and play? This is a question that the Lake County
Health Department/Community Health Center (LCHD/CHC) and more than 200 Lake
County leaders discussed at the Together Summit that took place in January.
The event was hosted by 20
co-sponsor organizations and included members of the County Board, Board of
Health, city and village administrators, as well as representatives
from hospital/health systems, higher education institutions, park districts,
community based organizations, and faith communities. The event was a first step toward establishing a road map to collectively improve the health and quality of life of
Lake County residents.
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A
group of about 10 students pursuing associate degrees in nursing at the
College of Lake County visited the Lake County Health Department in early
February. A panel of seven Health Department nurses talked with them about
their own experiences as nurses in different public health programs including the
tuberculosis clinic, maternal and child health, immunizations, behavioral
health services, primary care and nursing leadership. The students then received tours of the Health Department’s
community health centers in Waukegan and Libertyville. This was the first in an
ongoing series to educate nursing students at CLC about public health career
opportunities.
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