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Hi there,
Happy New Year! Wishing you and yours health and happiness in 2024! We had so many outstanding accomplishments in 2023. Here are a handful that demonstrate the Health Division’s positive impact for Oakland County residents:
- Conducted opioid listening sessions for the public to share thoughts on prevention strategies.
- Our Mercury Response Team successfully identified a source of mercury poisoning preventing further exposure to a local family.
- Distributed more than $15,000 in food assistance benefits at our Family Market Days facilitated by our Healthy Oakland Partnership.
- Responded to a Hepatitis A case at Pine Knob Music Theatre working to prevent further disease spread.
- Implemented our Culture of Care initiative focusing on staff wellbeing. More about this below!
We continued to shift to our pre-pandemic work roles with resiliency and adaptability. As I think about the year ahead, what stands out in my mind is the importance of well-being for all. Over the last few months, that has been a major focus for our Health & Human Services leadership team and staff. We call it our “Culture of Care” and the efforts we are trying to internally incorporate are important reminders to carry-out over this next year. A positive mindset, a psychological safety net where people feel comfortable being vulnerable or even stating their perspective without shame and people not being afraid to make and learn from mistakes. Creating a culture of appreciation is another key lesson. These are some proven keys to success that can help us foster connections that can result in healthier communities.
2024 will also be a year of celebrating our WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) program. WIC marks its 50th anniversary this year! WIC is a national program that provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals to healthcare and social services, and nutritious foods for qualifying parents, pregnant people, and young children. Oakland County WIC supports more than 12,000 residents and is ever-growing. Hat’s off to the work of our WIC staff in improving the health outcomes of these populations. Find out more about Oakland County WIC here.
In good health,
Leigh-Anne Stafford, Director, Health and Human Services
Purchase a radon test kit for $5 during the month of January
Protect your health by testing your home for radon during National Radon Action Month this January.
Radon test kits for homes are available for purchase at Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5p.m. for $5 during January, or $10, beginning on Feb. 1.
One in every four Michigan homes is expected to have radon levels that exceed the recommended federal action level. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is usually harmless outdoors. The only way to know if your home has high radon levels is to test. The gas can get into homes through small cracks in the foundation and can accumulate, becoming a health hazard.
Test your home for radon every two years during the winter months, since windows and doors typically remain closed during cooler temperatures, allowing radon gas to collect inside and be more easily detected. If high levels of radon are found, contact our Environmental Health Services at 248-858-1312 (Pontiac) or 248-424-7191 (Southfield) for more information about radon mitigation.
Birth Defects Prevention Month
Every 4.5 minutes a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. Not all birth defects can be prevented, but the chance of having a healthy baby increases by managing health conditions and adopting healthy behaviors before becoming pregnant. This January, Birth Defects Prevention Month, learn about what you can do to help you and your baby be healthy!
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Get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Having enough folic acid one month before and during pregnancy, can prevent major birth defects of the developing brain and spine (anencephalyand spina bifida).
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See a healthcare professional regularly. Visit a doctor when planning a pregnancy and start prenatal care as soon as you think you are pregnant.
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Avoid alcohol at any time during pregnancy. Alcohol passes to the developing baby through the umbilical cord. There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.
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Avoid smoking cigarettes. The dangers of smoking during pregnancy include preterm birth, certain birth defects (cleft lip or cleft palate), and infant death.
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Avoid marijuana and other drugs. Using these substances during pregnancy can result in a baby who is born preterm, low birth weight, has birth defects or other health problems.
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Prevent infections. Infections can be harmful to the developing baby and can even cause birth defects. Check out CDC’s 10 tips for preventing infections before and during pregnancy.
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Avoid overheating and treat fever promptly during pregnancy. Overheating by a fever or actions like getting in a hot tub increases the body’s core temperature which can be harmful.
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Strive to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Obesity before pregnancy increases the risk for pregnancy complications as well as several serious birth defects.
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Talk to a healthcare provider about taking any medications. Certain medications can cause serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy.
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Talk to a healthcare provider about vaccinations (shots). Most vaccinations are safe during pregnancy and some such as the flu and the Tdap vaccine (adult tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine), are specifically recommended during pregnancy.
Help end Human Trafficking
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is recognized each year on Jan. 11. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality.
The Oakland County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) was created in 2015. Its goal is to serve as Oakland County’s leading resource to prevent human trafficking and protect victims through education, advocacy and collaboration. Visit the Human Trafficking Webpage for more information.
Play a role in ending human trafficking by participating in the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign. The Blue Campaign encourages everyone to learn key indicators of the crime, raise awareness of human trafficking, and report suspected trafficking incidents. Participate by Wearing Blue on Jan. 11 to bring awareness.
 If you or someone you know needs help:
- Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text "INFO" or "HELP" to: BeFree (233733)
- Call or Text the Common Ground Resource & Crisis Helpline at 1-800-231-1127
Celebrating MLK Day and National Day of Racial Healing
This month we will commemorate the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and recognize his life and legacy as an activist working for racial and social justice. There are many events hosted across Oakland County commemorating this holiday and a chance for you to celebrate! Also in January is the National Day of Racial Healing, which falls on the day after MLK Day. This day extends the conversation on racial justice and encourages people, organizations, and communities to discuss how they can work towards racial healing and take collective action for an equitable world.
The CDC recognizes the health impacts of racism and tasks public health officials with addressing racism and its effects. OCHD is committed to racial equity and ensuring everyone has a fair opportunity to thrive and acknowledges that racism, both structural and interpersonal, and other forms of discrimination greatly impact a person's opportunities and health outcomes. Learn more on our Equity webpage.
Are you looking to act as an individual or as part of your community or organization? Consider attending a local event or watch this mini-series, “Changing the Narrative,” produced by NBC Universal and W.K. Kellogg Foundation, an international foundation working on equity worldwide and based right here in Michigan. There are also specific actions in toolkits that individuals or organizations can commit to do to work towards racial healing.
More Health Division info
Check out our webpage page for information about our services and various health topics. You can also call our Nurse on Call hotline at 1-800-848-5533 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Oakgov.com/health is the best place to receive the latest information. Add, update, or opt out of Health Division email or text communications by clicking here.
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