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 Welcome to the Health Promotion & Prevention Newsletter, released every two months by Marion County's Health Promotion & Prevention Team! In this newsletter, our team shares information, tips, news, and updates on community work being done to promote health and prevent disease in Marion County.
Help us spread awareness by sharing this newsletter with your friends and colleagues!
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Join us at the Marion County Fair - July 10th-13th!
It's almost time for the Marion County Fair! Join us for food, rides, music, animals, and more! Click here for more fair details.
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July 15th
Join the Mid-Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition Meeting on July 15th from 3-4:30PM. The meeting takes place at our Administrative building, which is located at 3160 Center Street NE in Salem. This meeting is open to all and everyone is welcome to attend.
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August 5th is National Night Out
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual campaign focused on strengthening community and neighborhood connections. Many neighborhoods celebrate by hosting block parties or other gatherings. Check with your local law enforcement agency, city, or county for information about NNO events happening in your area.
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August 9th is the Englewood Forest Festival
You don't want to miss this free local festival celebrating the arts, nature, and community in Englewood Park (Salem). This is a family-friendly event featuring music, environmental non-profit organizations, and live performances! Click here to learn more about Englewood Forest Festival
Trainings
Check out these additional health promotion trainings and educational opportunities.
Know of another organization that provides great trainings? Share them with us at MCHDPrevention@co.marion.or.us.
By Heidi Johnson, Gambling Harm Prevention Coordinator
Congratulations to the winner's of the 2025 High School Video Contest!
Earlier this year, Marion and Polk Counties teamed up with Capital Community Media and Salem Health to present the 2025 Healthy Choices Video Contest.
Finalists, along with their teachers and families, were honored at a red-carpet celebration hosted by Capital Community Media. The awards ceremony featured Oscar-inspired décor and attire, complete with cupcakes, popcorn, and plenty of Hollywood flair.
Following a viewing of the videos, winners were announced and awarded trophies and prizes.
First place: "To Live" created by Ellis D., Aidan C., and Jaeger B. from West Salem High School.
Second place: "Anxiety is Red" created by Michael T., Mikey K., and Phoenix O. From McNary High School.
Third place: "Step Outside" created by Jacob G. and Tristan S. from McNary High School.
We want to express our gratitude to the participants of the video contest, their amazing teachers, and our partnering organizations. We could not have done this project without you.
You can watch all the video submissions on the Marion County Health Promotion & Prevention Youtube channel.
Be on the lookout for more information on the next High School Video Contest!
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By Diana Dickey, ADPEP Coordinator
Earlier this year, the Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Education Program received one-time funding for initiatives related to opioids, fentanyl and substance use prevention. Several projects are in the works, including a new webpage that will be launched later this summer with free downloadable materials and other resources for healthcare providers, schools, youth and families, and the general community.
One initiative we're especially excited about is a series of Lunch & Learn sessions with Dr. Jill Pearson, MD, FAAP, focused on substance use prevention for healthcare providers and health-focused organizations. These presentations can be customized to cover a range of substance use prevention topics and tailored for audiences who serve pediatric populations, women of childbearing age, or other groups at increased risk of substance use-related harms.
To learn more or schedule a session, email MCHDPrevention@co.marion.or.us
The 2025 Community Health Assessment is now complete!
The Community Health Assessment (CHA) is specific to our region and identifies key local health needs through a comprehensive process of data collection and analysis. Th CHA reflects input from more than 2,286 community members---a significant increase from previous years.
Based on these insights, we've identified the priority areas that will guide the 2026-2030 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP):
- Access to Healthcare
- Housing Stability
- Mental Health & Substance Use
To learn more and to view the CHA, click HERE.
In May we celebrated Mental Health Awareness month. We're so grateful to the 80+ community partners who helped spread the message of hope by posting over 800 Signs of Hope throughout Marion and Polk Counites.
Hope is contagious.
You don’t have to have all the answers to make a difference. Sometimes, sharing hope is as simple as:
🌟 Listening without judgment
🌟 Reminding someone they’re not alone
🌟 Sharing your own story of resilience
🌟 Encouraging small steps forward
🌟 Just being there
In honor of pets being health heroes, the Prevention Team at Marion County Health and Human Services is highlighting their amazing pets.
Meet Marie Alaniz's Dog, Gili: The Best Man with Four Legs
Gili is a 12½-year-old Mountain Cur with a striking brindle coat. He’s incredibly smart, trained by his dad, and knows exactly where the kitchen ends (he’ll stand right at the line when told to “get out”). While he's not a fan of fetch, he’ll gladly chase any squirrel or bird that crosses his path.
Originally his dad’s dog, Gili became part of a trio when Marie joined the picture. Now a tight-knit family of three, Gili’s been with them for nearly six years—and never misses a chance to flash his signature “sad puppy” stare for some extra attention.
Most recently, Gili recently served as the best man at their wedding!
By Michael Keuler, MCHHS Environmental Health Resiliency Coordinator
Marion County Health and Human Services facilitated the review and selection process for mini-grant funding awarded to non-profit and community-based organizations working to improve community emergency preparedness and resilience to extreme heat and poor air quality. A total of $235,000, provided by the Oregon Health Authority, was awarded to ten innovative projects. We extend our congratulations to all of the award recipients for their incredible work and commitment to community resilience.
- Center for Hope and Safety
- Centro de Servicios Para Campeninos
- Creating Opportunities
- Glava’s House
- Northwest Human Services
- Nurturely
- Oregon LEAD
- Santiam Hospital & Clinics
- Seed of Faith Ministries
- Shangri-La
Stay tuned to future newsletters for spotlights on their work.
Written by Michael Keuler, Environmental Health Resiliency Coordinator
Through a collaborative community planning process, Marion County worked with 65 local leaders and experts from county and community-based organizations to develop the 2025-2030 Climate and Health Adaptation Plan. Click here to see the full plan!
Our vision: "Creating a vibrant, healthy, and prepared Marion County community that is resilient to periods of extreme heat, extreme cold, and poor air quality."
Over the next five years (July 2025 – June 2030), Marion County and partnering organizations will work toward 43 objectives and initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes related to extreme heat, extreme cold, and poor air quality. These efforts focus on:
- Strengthening collaboration across organizations
- Improving communication
- Distributing resources to families in need
- Expanding and enhancing resilience centers
- Reducing community heat exposure
- And other initiatives that build long-term community resilience
Thank you to all the leaders and experts who helped create this first-of-its-kind plan! Stay tuned to our Prevention Newsletter for updates on how the plan's initiatives are progressing. You can read the full plan and learn how to get involved at Prepare.MCHealthy.Net.
Written by Michael Keuler, Environmental Health Resiliency Coordinator
Extreme heat days (90°F or higher) have become more common in recent years, leading to an increase in emergency department visits for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These extreme heat conditions can also contribute to larger wildfires and worsening air quality. Wildfire smoke contains harmful air particles called PM2.5., which are about 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These tiny particle can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, posing serious health risks.
When combined, extreme heat and wildfire smoke can be especially hazardous to your health.
This summer, take steps to prepare for both extreme heat and poor air quality!
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Check the weather and air quality each day using your phone's weather app. It provides daily temperature and air quality reading.
- You can also download the Heat Index Safety App at gov/heat/heat-app or visit Prepare.MCHealthy.Net for more resources.
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Drink plenty of water, wear light clothing, and take frequent breaks on hot days.
- If possible, limit outdoor activities in the afternoon. Avoid direct sunlight and apply sunscreen regularly. During poor air quality days, stay indoors when possible. If you must go outside, wear a well-fitted N95 mask, available at most hardware stores.
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Prepare your home. Open secure windows at night only if air quality is good to let cooler air in. Keep windows closed during poor air quality days. Use curtains or blinds during the day to block heat, and run air-conditioning (if available) or fans to circulate air. Use HEPA/MERV 13+ air filters to remove harmful PM2.5 particles from indoor air, and replace them every 3 months. You can also build a DIY air purifier using a box fan, MERV 13 (or higher) filter, and duct tape for added cooling and clean air. Go to MCHealthy.Net for step-by-step instructions.
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Prepare your vehicle. Keep cool water on hand in your car. During poor air quality days, set your A/C to recirculate to filter the air inside your vehicle. On hot days, NEVER leave people or pets in a parked car - even for a short time.
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Check on vulnerable family and friends. Reach out to people who may be at higher risk of heat- or lung-related illness. This includes: older adults, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and people with chronic health conditions.
You don't have to face extreme heat or poor air quality alone - there are programs to help. Check out these resources:
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Energy Trust of Oregon: find various rebates and incentives for home cooling, heating, weatherization, and energy savings.
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Oregon Heat Pump Purchase Program: get up to $2,000 off a heat pump installation to cool your home or rental property using less energy. Limited supplies are available across Oregon.
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Prepare.MCHealthy.Net: Find health and preparedness information, tips, and resources on our website.
Save $2,000 on home cooling this summer! The Oregon Heat Pump Purchase Program (HP3) is part of the state’s Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action program. Starting June 17, Oregon homeowners, rental property owners, and new construction developers/builders can receive $2,000 off heat pump installations. No application required!
To participate, simply use an Oregon Department of Energy approved contractor.
Click here for more information and to connect an approved contractor to improve your home's heating and cooling.
Marion County Health Promotion & Prevention will highlight a variety of programs and health topics in our upcoming newsletter to keep you informed about key health promotion issues.
The next edition will be released during the first week of September 2025. If there's a topic you'd like us to cover, please let us know by emailing us at the address below.
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