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Hi there,
June is a month I deeply appreciate. In public health, we use Pride and Juneteenth as opportunities to advocate for and raise awareness of the inequalities that have disproportionately impacted Black and LGBTQ+ communities. While no single month can fully recognize the daily resilience of entire communities, there is strength in being seen, honored and committed to inclusion. At the Health Division, we prioritize serving everyone in our community with dedication and compassion. I am proud that Oakland County has various programs, services, and coalitions that are working to address health disparities. Let us all continue to advocate for health equity. Learn more here. There is also information about Pride, Juneteenth and local celebration events below.
I know school is just ending, but it is not too soon to begin planning for next year. Make sure your child meets their kindergarten health-related entry requirements. Check out our Kindergarten Readiness guide, which details Michigan requirements for hearing, vision, and dental screenings as well as being up to date on immunizations. Have older kids? They still may need important vaccines or consider a free vision screening for a 9th grader in drivers training!
One final summer reminder - take steps to avoid tick bites while enjoying the outdoors. Tick-borne diseases are increasing across the state. Lyme disease cases in Michigan have increased by 168% over the last five years. Our website also has a variety of tips about preventing ticks.
In peace and wellness,
Kate Guzmán, Health Officer, Oakland County Health Division
Save the date! Health & Housing Summer Fest Aug. 5
We are hosting our second annual Health & Housing Summer Fest on Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Normandy Oaks county park in Royal Oak. Enjoy food and fun activities for kids while connecting with free health, breastfeeding and housing resources. We hope you will join us! Find the most up-to-date information here.
Summer is here. Get outside!
Temps are warming up, so we encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy the beautiful landscapes that Michigan has to offer. Right here in Oakland County, there are many trails and parks for you and your family to explore! Here are a few tips for you to stay safe and healthy while enjoying the great outdoors.
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Be safe around water. Watch kids in or around water without being distracted.
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Prevent mosquito and tick bites by applying EPA registered insect repellant and following product label instructions.
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Make sure to drink enough water and stay hydrated.
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Apply sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
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Follow food safety steps for a safe and enjoyable grilling season.
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Stay up to date on severe weather. Summer weather can sometimes be unpredictable. Floods, tornadoes, and lightning are all threats that come with summer thunderstorms. Find more information about preparing for severe weather events here.
New requirements for childhood blood lead testing in effect
By law, Michigan now requires blood lead testing for all children at 12 months and 24 months of age and at other intervals based on exposure risk. This is commonly called “universal blood lead testing”. It is the responsibility of the child’s physician to test or order the test.
A lead test measures the amount of lead in the blood by taking a small amount of blood from the finger or arm. It is particularly important for young children and pregnant women because exposure to lead early in life has been shown to cause problems with learning, behavior, hearing, and growth.
If your child does not have a health care provider, Oakland County Health Division offers free lead screenings for pregnant women and children 1 and 2 years of age. See the flyer below or call Nurse on Call at 1-800-848-5533 for more information.
Learn more: Questions and Answers for Parents, Caregivers and the Public
Keep firearms stored, unloaded and locked up from children
Kids will spend more time at home over summer break, so now is a perfect time to make sure your guns are stored safely. All guns in your home should be locked up and unloaded, with ammunition locked up separately. Make sure children and teens can't access the keys or combinations to lock boxes or gun safes. Remember not to keep loaded, unlocked guns in the car, or anywhere else on your property.
Oakland County residents can pick up a FREE gun safety lock at our Pontiac or Southfield locations.
Celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth in Oakland County
Pride Month
June marks Pride Month and commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan as the turning point for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights. Pride celebrates generations of LGBTQ+ people that have fought to live openly and authentically.
We encourage you to celebrate Pride at one of the many events happening around Oakland County. Oakland County kicked off Pride month at Ferndale Pride on May 31 and staff will attend other Pride events, providing health information, vaccinations, and outreach about our services. Find us at these locations:
Find a celebration happening near you here.
Juneteenth
This month, we also honor Juneteenth, which commemorates June 19, 1865 when the Union Army freed the last remaining slaves in Confederate Texas. This day marks the historic and continued fight of Black and African American residents for racial equity. Oakland County will honor Juneteenth on June 18 with the theme, “Stronger Together: Celebrating Freedom and Community.” Employees and the general public are welcome to attend the event which will feature speakers, performance of the Black National Anthem, rising of the Juneteenth flag, food, music, and meet-and-greet tables with local organizations. This event is sponsored by the Oakland County Equity Council. This Council’s mission is to create a culture that respects diversity, equity and inclusion and ensures that Oakland County residents receive services in a culturally sensitive manner.
Join our team!
There are some jobs open right now working for Oakland County. Health and Human Services are currently hiring Public Health Nurses, student positions and more! Visit www.oakgov.com/jobs to learn more about these positions and to apply.
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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