Community Health Needs Assessment, Let Us Hear From You
Every three years, the Kent County Health Department conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in collaboration with healthcare and community partners to better understand the current state of health and well-being in Kent County and to hear directly from residents about the issues that matter most to them.
The results from this survey will be used to help determine health priorities that will be addressed over the next three years, as well as provide important data for communities working to meet the needs of residents.
Since the survey kicked off in February, we have heard from:
- Over 1,300 residents who participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS).
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79 community partners who completed the Collective Impact Assessment survey (formerly the Community Partner Survey) on behalf of their organization.
- More than 80 people who attended a community-led focus group and the 10 organizations that hosted these in-depth conversations about health and wellbeing.
As we work to complete the 2023 CHNA, there is still time to make your voice heard by:
The Tripledemic. What You Can Do To Increase Your Odds of Staying Healthy This Winter
As Fall quickly approaches, activities turn to indoor gatherings and celebrations. Along with this seasonal change comes the annual fall virus season. We will also likely see an increase in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), seasonal flu, and COVID-19. The impact of the three together has been dubbed a "tripledemic."
While flu and RSV pose risks to our most vulnerable populations - elderly, very young, and persons with underlying medical conditions, COVID-19 is less discriminating and often impacts otherwise healthy adults. For the first time, we are fortunate to have three vaccines to help us keep us from severe disease and hospitalization. These vaccines represent our strongest line of defense to avoid a tripledemic and it is strongly recommended that everyone who is eligible get these vaccines. Read more about individual vaccines here.
In addition to getting vaccinated, there are several simple things you can do to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others.
- Wash your hands often,
- Stay home if you are sick and
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or do it into your elbow
October is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
The chances are good that you know at least one woman who has been personally affected by breast cancer. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women is at risk of getting breast cancer during her lifetime.
Each year, October is set aside as a month to honor those impacted and to raise awareness about the illness.
Health professionals agree, the most important key to breast cancer survival is early detection. When caught in its earliest stages, the five year relative survival rate of breast cancer is now 90%.
At KCHD, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP) works in a regional approach to help women who may not otherwise be able to afford screenings, the annual care that they need.
The BC3NP program works with many health providers in Kent, Muskegon, Barry and Ottawa counties to offer free mammograms, clinical breast exams, Pap smears and pelvic exams to women who qualify.
The program also works to overcome the barriers of transportation and language and to ensure as many participants as possible have access to these services.
To find out if you qualify call (616) 632-7283.
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October is Infant Safe Sleep Month
October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month. The month is a nationally recognized time to raise awareness around infant deaths that occur due to being placed in an unsafe sleep environment.
Our team works to reduce these deaths within our community by providing training on safe sleep recommendations, offering a safe space to discuss your infant’s sleep environment and how to reduce the risk to your child, and providing resources to families, caregivers, and community agencies.
Always remember the ABCs of safe sleep:
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ALONE- without pillows, blankets, toys, people, or pets
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BACK- placed to sleep on their back for every sleep
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CRIB- in a crib, bassinet, or pack and play
For more information regarding infant safe sleep and our Infant Safe Sleep Program, please visit our website at www.accesskent.com/safesleep.
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Second Human Case of West Nile Virus Found In Kent County
For the second time in 2023 a Kent County resident has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV is the most common mosquito borne illness in the United States and is generally spread in late summer and fall.
The mosquito that spreads the virus will remain active until there have been several hard frost. The KCHD is encouraging people to take the following precautions to avoid being bitten.
- Use insect repellent that contains DEET
- Wear long sleeves and long pants
- Avoid being outdoors as much as possible during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are the most active
- Empty all standing water around your home from birdbaths, flower pots or any place it accumulates.
Fortunately, most people who get WNV will never know they have it but in rare cases WNV can lead to serious complication of the central nervous system such as encephalitis or meningitis. These issues can lead to long recovery times and even death.
For more information about WNV click here.
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Drug Take Back Day - Saturday, October 28
The Kent County Opioid Task Force is partnering with Corewell Health, Priority Health, Pine Rest, and Families Against Narcotics for the DEA Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. -2 p.m.
You can drop off unused and expired medications at:
- Kent County Health Department (700 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids)
- Spectrum Health Medical Group South Pavilion (80 68th Street, Grand Rapids)
- Priority Health Campus (3111 Leonard St NE, Grand Rapids)
- Spectrum Health Zeeland Hospital (8333 Fetch Street, Zeeland)
- Flat River Family Dentistry (918 W Washington St, Greenville)
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CDC Stops Printing COVID-19 Vaccination Cards
It may be one of the most memorable icons of the pandemic, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it will stop printing the the white COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.
But what if that is the only way you know where you stand in your vaccination schedule? How can you find your COVID vaccination record or any other vaccination record for that matter?
"Luckily, it is not hard to get your vaccination records," says Christopher Bendekgey, KCHD Division Director. "You can come into any of our KCHD locations or send us an email requesting a copy."
The KCHD can provide records of all of your past immunizations that you have received anywhere in Michigan by emailing medicalrecords@kentcountymi,gov. You can also find your records online at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services immunization records portal here. To maintain your privacy, you will have to create an account and you will need to upload a government issued ID such as a driver's license or a passport.
Neither of these options will be able to find vaccines that you have received in other states, but all states have some sort of immunization registry where you can find your records. Once found, those records can be migrated into Michigan's system to help you maintain a more complete and permanent record. Your primary care office or KCHD can help update the system. There is more information available about the process here.
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We Are Hiring
At Kent County we offer a surprisingly wide variety of career opportunities. The latest openings include a cook, public health nurses, an HVAC technician and many more. With good pay and great benefits, careers with Kent County offer an opportunity to serve your community while enjoying a productive work/life balance.
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