Public Health News & Alerts

In a significant boost to local homeownership efforts, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced a $1 million donation from Delta Dental of Kentucky that will support down payment assistance for families participating in the Healthy Start program.

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness’ Healthy Start program is referring participants who meet initial qualifications to the Financial Empowerment Center, which is operated by the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS).

Each year, 10 eligible participants who need assistance in buying a home can receive up to $25,000 to help with down payment costs. The interest-free loan is forgiven after five years as long as:

• They own and live in the home for five years.
• Or, if within the five years the home is sold, all proceeds are spent on another primary residence.

Healthy Start families can qualify for the down payment loan if:

• They have not owned a home within the past 12 months
• Their household gross income is 100% or below the area median income, adjusted for family size, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• The maximum purchase price of the home is $260,000
• They align with Metro’s Down Payment Assistance program for underwriting, inspection, general program process, etc.
• They engage in 12 months of post-purchase financial counseling with the Financial Empowerment Center.

About Healthy Start 

Healthy Start works to improve health outcomes for parents and reduce infant mortality rates by working with those who are pregnant and families with children 18 months and younger. Black infants have the highest mortality rate in Jefferson County. Black babies are 1.8 times more likely to die before their first birthday than White babies. Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their White peers.

Through virtual and in-person visits, Healthy Start’s staff of community health workers, nurses, and a social worker connect Healthy Start participants to prenatal care, doulas, food assistance, emergency supplies, transportation to care, housing navigation, and other health care services as well as critical social supports. The Healthy Start program also educates families on labor and delivery, breastfeeding, car seat safety, safe sleep practices, parenting style, and much more. Families get consistent education throughout pregnancy and after delivery, until the baby is 18 months.

Healthy Start is available to pregnant women, parents and caregivers who live in Jefferson County ZIP codes 40203, 40208, 40215, 40218, 40219, 40258, and 40272 which include the areas of Newburg, Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, and Hazelwood. The program also provides services to families living in neighborhoods in the ZIP codes of 40210 and 40212 which include the Portland, Park Hill, and Algonquin areas. 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as of July 15, 2024, 69 illnesses, including 36 hospitalizations have been reported across 28 U.S. states, along with one potentially associated death under investigation.

There have been five confirmed cases in Kentucky, and KDPH is actively investigating reports of new cases. People who became ill after consuming these products have reported symptoms including seizures, loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness, agitation, abnormal heart rates, hyper/hypotension, nausea and vomiting.

All Diamond Shruumz-brand products, including cones, chocolate bars and gummies, have been recalled and should not be sold or consumed. Despite the recall issued on June 27 and active efforts to remove known products from shelves, these products are likely to still be available in some retail locations in Kentucky.

The FDA has identified 22 retail establishments and/or distributors to have received products of Diamond Shruumz in Kentucky. All locations have been visited by the FDA, and the products were quarantined at six of those locations.

Consumers should destroy and discard purchased products, and contact Prophet Premium Blends (manufacturer of Diamond Shruumz products) to initiate a refund. If you have seen a store continuing to sell recalled Diamond Shruumz-brand products, please report this information to the FDA.

Consumers should seek immediate medical attention or contact their health care provider if they become ill after consuming a Diamond Shruumz product. They may call the Kentucky Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.