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Hi there,
I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather, which I think is finally here to stay! As summer approaches, I always look forward to the fresh produce at our Oakland County farmers markets. Eating produce in season is an affordable and nutritious option that supports our local economy! If you have an active EBT/Bridge Card, you can use Double Up Food Bucks at participating farmers markets and grocery stores. When you use your EBT/Bridge Card, Double Up Food Bucks matches your fruit and vegetable purchases dollar for dollar. Find a Double Up Food Bucks location near you!
Every five years, we conduct a community health assessment (CHA) to hear directly from our community members. In our most recent CHA, one of the strategic priorities identified was to “promote and increase access to healthy and affordable housing.” Housing should be a place of safety, stability and shelter — not a source of stress, strain or insecurity. When residents struggle to afford a place to live, the financial burden complicates making healthy choices, like eating a nutritious diet, filling a prescription or seeing a doctor. Increasing access to affordable housing is essential for improving the well-being of our residents — a goal we remain committed to meeting!
If you need help finding food, housing or shelter resources, call the Oakland Connects Helpline at 1-800-848-5533. Staff answering the phones can refer you to community resources that meet your specific needs.
I hope you will join us in celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth. Check out the article below for local events, activities and ways to get involved!
In gratitude and good health,
Khadija Walker-Fobbs, Oakland County Neighborhood & Housing Development Officer
Eating seasonally
Farmers markets are opening in preparation to offer spring and summer produce, like strawberries and asparagus. Eating seasonally supports local farmers, lets you enjoy fresh flavors and saves you money! Resources from Michigan State University (MSU) Extension can help you eat seasonally:
National Safety Month
June is National Safety Month, an annual observance to reduce and bring awareness of preventable injuries and deaths. In the United States, the leading cause of accidental death is unintentional poisoning, mainly from drug overdoses. Across the country, fatal substance overconsumption has recently declined but remains a major public health crisis.
Oakland County Health Division offers various evidence-based prevention programs for reducing risky behaviors that lead to substance use. All provided at no cost, the substance use prevention programs include:
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CATCH My Breath: An e-cigarette, JUUL and vape prevention program for students in grades 5-12.
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Vape 101: An educational presentation about the dangers of vaping.
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Michigan Model for Health: A comprehensive health education curriculum with skills-based instruction.
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Technical Assistance for Safe Medication Disposal: Help with how and where to properly dispose of excess or expired medication.
Virtual Baby Fair
Are you a new or expecting parent? Join the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for a Virtual Baby Fair to prepare for your best adventure yet! Learn about available resources, get important information and ask questions to experts.
Two sessions are available to choose from (on June 11 or June 16). Register on the MDHHS Virtual Baby Fair webpage.
Celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth in Oakland County
June brings two powerful celebrations of identity, history and freedom. Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and honors the contributions, resilience and continued advocacy of the LGBTQ+ community. Juneteenth — recognized as a federal holiday since 2021 — marks June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Together, these observances remind us that equity is both a celebration and a continued commitment.
You can join the annual Oakland County Juneteenth Celebration for music, food, family activities and reflection on what freedom means today. To celebrate Pride, explore Pride events across Oakland County.
Join our team!
Oakland County Health and Human Services is hiring! Visit the Job Listings for details and to apply.
More information from the Health Division and the Neighborhood & Housing Development Division
Check out the Health Division webpage and the Neighborhood & Housing Development Division webpage for information about our services and various topics. You can call us at 1-800-848-5533, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
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