Happy National Public Health Week!
It’s National Public Health Week! Thank you to our dedicated LENOWISCO Health District staff and community partners who work diligently to improve our local public health infrastructure and health outcomes.
This year’s theme, “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health,” emphasizes the importance of all community members feeling like they belong and fostering connections that support the health and quality of our lives. This focuses on how we can work individually and together as a community to protect, prioritize, and influence the future of public health. Learn more about the work we’re doing to improve our community’s health outcomes below.
Community Health Assessment Underway!
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A community health assessment, also known as community health needs assessment, refers to a state, tribal, local, or territorial health assessment that identifies key health needs and issues through systematic, comprehensive data collection and analysis. A community health improvement plan is a long-term, systematic effort to address public health problems based on the results of community health assessment activities and the community health improvement process.
A community health assessment gives organizations comprehensive information about the community’s current health status, needs, and issues. In turn, this information can help with developing a community health improvement plan by justifying how and where resources should be allocated to best meet community needs.
The LENOWISCO Health District has began their community health assessment process and is looking for interested community leaders, stakeholders, or concerned community members to get involved! To join in on the process, come to one of your local coalition meetings listed at the bottom of this newsletter- we look forward to working with you on this journey!
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April is STI Awareness Month
Program Highlight- FAMIS
Have you heard about Project Connect? Project Connect is a FAMIS and Medicaid outreach program. This program is offered here in the Cumberland Plateau district! Project Connect provides outreach, education and application assistance to qualifying children, pregnant women and adults for the FAMIS and Medicaid programs.
For those who may not know, FAMIS (Family Access to Medical Insurance Security) Plan is Virginia's health insurance program for children. This program makes health care affordable for children of families who qualify by covering all the medical care that growing children need to stay healthy, as well as medical care if the child becomes sick or injured. FAMIS is funded by the Virginia Healthcare Foundation and DMAS. The program covers the following services for children:
- Dental Care
- Doctor visits
- Emergency care
- Hospital visits
- Mental health care
- Prescription medicine
- Tests and X-rays
- Vaccinations
- Vision care
- Well-baby check-ups
- Well-child check-ups
Children are eligible for FAMIS under the following conditions:
- Live in Virginia
- Are uninsured
- Are under age 19
- Are U.S. citizens or lawfully residing immigrants
- Live in families that meet income rules
For more information about this program, or to apply, contact: Pat McGlothlin at 276-254-2919
Be Severe Weather Alert!
Spring is here an with it the potential for severe spring storms. According to the National Weather Service, a Watch means people should be prepared, stay informed, and be ready to act, because severe weather is possible. A Warning means people should take action. They should take shelter because severe weather is happening or about to happen.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Be Prepared! Severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Take Action! Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Take shelter in a substantial building. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a large hail or damaging wind identified by an NWS forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.
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Are you interested in becoming a trained storm spotter? If you live in Lee, Wise, Scott, or Norton- you can attend a virtual SKYWARN spotter training class from the National Weather Service in Morristown, TN. It consists of four interactive sections to complete, followed by a final exam that must be taken to receive credit. After finishing the exam, please be patient and understand that up to two weeks may pass between completing the exam and receiving your spotter ID card and certificate.
If you have any questions regarding spotter training classes, please email Jeremy.Buckles@noaa.gov or contact Anthony Cavallucci at (423) 586-3771 or email at Anthony.Cavallucci@noaa.gov.
Get Involved In Your Community!
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Live Healthy in Scott County Coalition
- April 20, 10:00am
- First Baptist Church, Weber City
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Lee County Health & Wellness Coalition
- April 26, 10:00am
- Lee County Hospital, Cafeteria
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Healthier Communities Coalition of SWVA
- April 27, 2:00pm
- Fit One, Norton Community, Norton
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Appalachian Substance Abuse Coalition for Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery (ASAC)
- April 13, 10:00am
- Mended Women, Abingdon, VA
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Join Our Team- We're Hiring!
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