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Welcome to the Health Promotion & Prevention Newsletter, released by Marion County's Health Promotion & Prevention Team! In this newsletter, our team shares information, tips, news, and community work being done to promote health and prevent disease in Marion County.
 What's in this Article: Table of Contents
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TRAININGS
- March 5: Youth Gaming and Gambling, Is it a Problem?
- March 7: Deep Dive into Prevention Ethics: Integrity and the SPF
- March 9: LOCAL! Part 1 Free Video Production Workshop- High School Aged Youth
- March 16: LOCAL! Part 2 Free Video Production Workshop-High School Aged Youth
- March 26: Living with Heart Failure
- March 26: Alcohol and Social Injustice: The Untold Story
- April 6: LOCAL! Additional Free Video Production Workshop- High School Aged Youth
- April 26: Mobilizing Marginalized Communities to Prevent Substance Misuse
Additional trainings and education opportunities not listed can be found at:
Know of another organization that provides great trainings and want to share with our network? Let us know at MCHDPrevention@co.marion.or.us.
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EVENTS
March 9th, 16th, and April 6th 1pm-4pm Salem, Oregon
High School Video Production workshops hosted at Capital Community Media. Marion and Polk Counties in partnership with Capital Community Media and Salem Health are hosting free video production workshops for High School youth ages 14-18. In this series youth will learn from professionals how to create quality videos!
This workshop will prepare youth to create a video for our Marion County Healthy Choices Video Contest.
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AWARENESS
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month
By Heidi Johnson, Problem Gambling Prevention Coordinator
On March 6th, the Marion County Board of Commissioners will be signing a proclamation recognizing Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
March is designated by the National Council on Problem Gambling as Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
Did you know that gambling disorder is recognized as a mental health diagnosis? Gambling is an activity that can carry risk. If an adult chooses to gamble it is important to do so responsibly, follow these guidelines below:
The Oregon Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 for confidential service that is FREE to Oregon residents.
Visit OPGR.ORG
Call 1-877-695-4648 or text 503-713-6000. To speak to someone in Spanish call 1-844-888-2537
March is Intellectual & Developmental Disability Awareness Month
By Melissa Gable, Communication Coordinator
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March is also Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities face in their daily lives. This year's theme is "A World of Opportunities" and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities says their goal is to "build a community that's committed to creating a world where everyone can do well and succeed."
On March 6, the Marion County Board of Commissioners will be signing a proclamation to recognize Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
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April is Alcohol Awareness Month
By Diana Dickey, Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. It is a good opportunity to raise awareness about alcohol misuse or abuse and take action to prevent it at home and in the community. Excessive alcohol use is associated with a variety of health problems. It is important to be aware that alcohol is a carcinogen (something that can cause cancer). All alcoholic drinks, including red and white wine, beer and liquor are linked with cancer. The more you drink the higher your cancer risk.
There are three main types of alcohol use:
Moderate Drinking: 1 drink or less in a day for women and 2 drinks or less in a day for men.
Binge Drinking: Having 4 to 5 drinks or more at a single time
Heavy Drinking: Having on average, more than 1-2 drinks every night over the course of a week.
What does alcohol use look like in Marion County? (source: 2018-2021 Oregon Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, BRFSS)
- Less than half of adults ages 18 and over report current alcohol use (within the past 30 days).
- Individuals with higher incomes consume alcohol at higher rates than those with lower incomes.
- More college graduates indicate current alcohol use than those who have some or no college.
- Overall, 6% of Marion County adults report heavy drinking.
- Individuals with incomes $50,000/year or higher report heavy drinking at higher rates than those with incomes less than $50,000/year.
- On average, 13% of Marion County adults report binge drinking, however that percentage is higher for ages 18-34 (20%) and 35-54 (15%).
To see the full Oregon BRFSS report visit: Oregon BRFSS
To learn more about cutting back on drinking visit: https://www.rethinkthedrink.com/resources
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Cori Hines, Public Health Intern
Cori Hines is excited to intern with the Prevention Team this Spring! She is working with the Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Team to help develop a Social Connection Assessment. She is currently a senior Public Health Major and Music Minor at Willamette University. Cori is also a member of Willamette Chamber Choir and Willamette Singers and enjoys music, art, and the outdoors in her free time. Cori is passionate about public health prevention and education and is excited to gain more experience in the field!
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We are excited Cori has joined our team! If you would like to connect with Cori, email us at MCHDPrevention@co.marion.or.us
By Michael Keuler, Environmental Health Resiliency Coordinator
Marion County Health & Human Services and Polk County Public Health have partnered with Willamette University to conduct an Environmental Scan. The goal is to assess community health and vulnerability to environmental hazards and natural disasters.
You can help by completing our community survey! Anyone 18+ who lives or works in Marion County or Polk County is encouraged to participate. Participants will be entered to win a $50 gift card. The survey will be available in English, Spanish, and Russian and can be completed online or with a physical copy.
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Click here or Scan the QR-Code to take the survey online!
Physical Survey: pick up at Marion County Health & Human Services:
3160 Center St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 | 8am-5pm, Monday – Friday
976 N Pacific Hwy, Woodburn, OR 97071 | 8am-5pm, Monday – Friday
Go to our new website for more information about Environmental Hazards & Threats
By Kat Mullins, CHIP Coordinator
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Marion-Polk Community Health Collaborative's new website. This site is designed to be a central hub for the Marion-Polk Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). We hope this will be a tool to keep our community connected and informed as we move this work forward. To visit the website click HERE.
What is the Marion-Polk Community Health Collaborative?
Since 2008, community partners in Marion and Polk Counties have collaborated to assess and improve local health. The goal of the Collaborative is to collectively improve health issues that have been identified by the community. By addressing these issues, the Collaborative hopes to make lasting changes in the health of Marion and Polk County residents. The Collaborative's Executive Committee oversees the community health improvement process and is comprised of representatives from Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health, Marion County Health & Human Services, PacificSource, Polk County Health Services, Salem Health, Santiam Hospital & Clinics, and Willamette Health Council. Click HERE to learn more about the Collaborative.
By Conor Foley, Chronic Disease Prevention Program Coordinator
Youth Substance Use Trends in Marion County
Last fall, our Alcohol and other Drug Prevention and Education Program (ADPEP) and Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) coordinators sent out a survey to Marion County city councilors to gather their insights on Youth Substance Use in their communities. This survey was part of a larger outreach process on behalf of the Health Promotion and Prevention team to offer support and explore partnerships with city councils and community organizations across the County. Our ADPEP and TPEP coordinators have since visited three city councils: Sublimity, Aumsville, and Stayton, to present recent data trends in youth substance use as well as the resources our team can offer. We hope that by partnering with council members and community leaders we will be able to move closer to our goal of realizing “a thriving community where all can live healthy and purposeful lives!”
Check out the short report we developed on youth substance use trends in Marion County, and if you are interested in partnering with our ADPEP or TPEP teams please reach out:
TPEP Contact: Conor Foley cfoley@co.marion.or.us
ADPEP Contact: Diana Dickey ddickey@co.marion.or.us
Marion County Problem Gambling Prevention is hosting its annual Middle School Art Search. If you know a middle school youth that likes to draw, this is a fun opportunity for them to showcase their skills!! Top 12 submissions will be posted on our Marion County website and social media channels. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. The deadline is April 12th. For guidelines scan the QR code on the flyer or visit gambling.MCHealthy.net. For more information contact Heidi Johnson hejohnson@co.marion.or.us
By Macie Reynolds, Youth Development Coordinator
A non-profit organization located in Salem, Punx with Purpose, is a group that focuses on supporting at-risk youth aged 11- 18. Their mission statement provides a good overview of their work: “Punx with Purpose will provide perspective on the challenges threatening our youth today. Peers with lived experience will empower the youth of Marion and Polk Counties by meeting the youth where they are at. We will continue to inspire our community to provide safer spaces where our youth can gather and gain the resources they need to succeed as they grow into functional community members.”
Late last year, Punx with Purpose rolled out an exciting new program called Epic Mobile Outreach or EMOs. Punx will host one pop-up a month for only youth to attend, offering access to a clothing closet, food boxes, hygiene products, and various resources while building relationships with other partner organizations committed to this work. Along with the pop-ups, the program will conduct two Saturday events each month where Punx staff and volunteers hit the streets with backpacks containing snacks, hygiene products, socks/clothing items, and other resources to youth currently living on the street. Last year, Punx with Purpose hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas events where they provided over 300 youth/ families with food boxes and 40+ youth with presents.
Another notable event that is held through this organization is called “Punx in the Park” which is a resource fair and concert held in Salem, Oregon. More to come on the 2024 event when details get scheduled. If you are interested in helping volunteer with Punx for their EMOs program, or any of their activities, please reach out to - punxintheparkhailey@gmail.com
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By Sally Cook, Title V Coordinator
In 2024 you may find yourself wanting to make decisions you feel good about. How can you know what to do to be healthy when information keeps changing?
Marion County Prevention and Promotion team works with community partners to make sure the things you can change are supported. Your safety, habits, physical activity, diet, physical environment, social connections, sleep habits, and screen time all reflect the wellness of our community.
This year, we look forward to walking with you to make healthy choices the easy choice.
 For more information, please click to visit: National Institutes of Health
By Kelly Martin, Mental Health Promotion Coordinator
In today’s fast-paced world, taking care of our emotional well-being is a vital piece to overall health. From reducing stress to getting quality sleep, having the right tools can make all the difference. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed 6 strategies for improving mental health. According to NIH, one piece of emotional wellness is to strengthen social connections. Building a healthy support system may include taking a class to learn something new or volunteering. For more information on strengthening social connections and other emotional wellness strategies, visit the NIH website. Emotional Wellness Toolkit, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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Marion County Prevention team in partnership with Polk County, Salem Health, and Capital Community Media are excited to host another High School Video Contest. This year's theme is Healthy Choices. We want to hear from youth perspective using youth voice. Watch our promotional video here: Healthy Choices Video Contest Promo!
This year we are offering free workshops for high School aged youth to learn how to create professional videos. Workshops will be held March 9th, March 16th, and April 6. To register click here: Video Production Workshop Registration
The top three videos will win prizes, and the creators, along with their families, will be invited to attend a special red-carpet event to view the winning videos.
If you are 14-18 years old and live in Marion or Polk Counties, here's what you need to do:
- Gather a group of 2-4 friends, plus an adult advisor at your school, or community organization.
- Create a 1–4-minute video focused healthy choices.
- Submit your video on, or before, April 30,2024.
The creators of the winning video will receive $500 to split amongst themselves, plus $500 for the eligible sponsoring organization or school.
Second and third place video creators will receive $250 to split, plus $250 for eligible sponsoring organization or school.
For any questions or details email Heidi Johnson at: HeJohnson@co.marion.or.us
Marion County Health Promotion & Prevention will be highlighting various programs and health topics to keep you connected to the most important Health Promotion Topics in the next newsletter. This newsletter will be released in the first week of March 2024. If there is a subject you would like covered, please let us know through the email below.
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