 Friday, April 17, 2026
Our Specialty Clinic offers treatment
for sexually transmitted infections
 This week marks STI Awareness Week, a national observance dedicated to promoting sexual health, reducing stigma, and encouraging routine testing. It’s an important reminder that staying informed and taking charge of your sexual health is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others. Rising sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates across the country show why awareness and access to testing matter more than ever.
STIs are infections that can be passed from one person to another during all types of intimate sexual contact (anal, oral, and vaginal). Examples of STIs include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes, gonorrhea, and HIV. Signs of STIs may include pain while urinating, burning, itching, sores, discharge and bumps or blisters in the genital area. However, a person may be infected with an STI and have no symptoms.
STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have been increasing in the United States and in Jefferson County. The CDC estimates approximately 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have an STI, and the cases continue to show there are no signs of slowing down.
Put yourself to the test. Knowing your status is an important step to stopping infections. The best way to know is to be tested. The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) Specialty Clinic, 914 E. Broadway, Suite #102, provides STI testing, treatment and counseling services. The clinic operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information about our Specialty Clinic, please view our brochure (Spanish version) to learn more about our services.
Healthy Start helps families have healthy pregnancies
 Healthy Start is a federally funded program operated by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. It helps families living in Jefferson County — including the neighborhoods of Newburg, Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, Hazelwood, Portland, Park Hill, and Algonquin — which experience the highest infant mortality rates, have healthy, full‑term pregnancies and deliver healthy infants who live to celebrate their first birthdays and beyond.
Healthy Start provides an array of innovative programming and support including:
- A licensed clinical social worker to address client’s mental health issues at all phases prenatally and postpartum.
- What To Expect When Expecting classes with a labor and delivery nurse.
- Healthy nutrition – all eligible Healthy Start participants are also enrolled in the Women Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program, (WIC). Parents are also provided breastfeeding support through peer counselors.
- Warm handoffs for housing and utility assistance to prevent evictions.
- Bus passes to families to lessen burden of transportation issues.
- Fatherhood program where fathers can speak confidentially about issues and concerns while providing support for one another.
Successes of our program include:
- Over 95% of participants have health insurance
- Over 80% have a usual source of medical care
- 99% of participants are screened for depression and inter-partner violence
- Over 75% of our participants report dual-partner involvement
- 80% of our participants report breastfeeding their child
If you know of a family who is expecting a baby and lives in ZIP codes 40203, 40208, 40210, 40212, 40215, 40218, 40219, 40258, and 40272 encourage them to reach out to the Healthy Start program by filling out this form. You can also email healthystart@louisvilleky.gov or call (502) 574-MOM1 (6661).
Mind‑Body Wellness series aims to strengthen
mental health across the community
 Mind Body Wellness with Mental Health Lou: The Ally’s Toolkit is a four-week educational workshop series held at 6 p.m. on Mondays at the South Central Regional Library, 7300 Jefferson Blvd. There's still time to catch the last two sessions:
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April 20: Safety & Suicide Prevention -- Practical steps to support someone in crisis.
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April 27: Refilling Your Own Cup -- Self-care practices that last.
The series is designed to strengthen community mental health through accessible, stigma-reducing programming. The free sessions are led by licensed mental health professionals and wellness educators.
For more information, please visit Mental Health Lou's website or call (502) 964-3515.
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