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Our Free Infant Safety Class is Back!
New baby in the house? Or expecting one soon? We've got just what you need!
BRHD's Free Infant Safety Class teaches families how to prepare themselves and their environments for a new baby. We cover a variety of infant safety-related topics, including:
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Medication safety
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Friends & family CPR (non-certified)
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Choking hazard prevention
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Room-by-room home baby proofing
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Local resources
Our next class will take place on Saturday, August 23 from 10 AM to 12 PM inside the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department through Door #3 (1138 Rose Hill Dr., Charlottesville).
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Quit Smoking/Nicotine Blue Ridge Program Starts in September
Mark your calendars - the Quit Nicotine/Smoking Blue Ridge Program will be back this fall!
Starting September 24, this six week class will take place virtually via Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 PM through October 29. This program is free and open to anyone living in the Blue Ridge Health District (including the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, & Nelson).
From free nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) to acupuncture and nutrition education, this class has a variety of strategies to help you find what works best! You'll also get to hear from former smokers/nicotine users who have successfully quit and want to help others do the same.
Not quite ready to quit yet? You're still invited to join! Even if you're not 100% ready to quit, this class can help you learn more about what quitting looks and feels like so you're better prepared for your next attempt.
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BRHD RAISE Program
Exciting news: our HIV Services Department has rebranded! Say hello to Risk Assessment, Information, and Support for Everyone – or as we like to call it, RAISE. This new name and logo reflect our commitment to creating a welcoming, supportive, and accessible environment for all members of our community.
Services provided by the RAISE Team include:
- Opioid overdose reversal trainings
- Naloxone and testing strip distribution
- Condom and safer sex item distribution
- Rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing
- Rapid at-home test kits for HIV
- Medication disposal bags
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PrEP access and education
To request services, fill out this form or call 434-459-3089 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4 PM).
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What is Quit Now Virginia (QNV) and why is it important?
QNV provides free services to quit tobacco/nicotine use. Tobacco usage remains the most preventable cause of death and disease. Cigarette smoking accounts for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S., including more than 41,000 deaths from secondhand smoke exposure. This is about one in five deaths annually, or 1,300 deaths daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Who can use QNV?
All Virginians ages 13 years and older. Friends and loved ones of tobacco/nicotine
users can also call or visit the website for more information.
What free services does QNV provide?
- A quit coach to help create a personalized quit plan
- 5 counseling sessions
- 4 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
- Quitline & text support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round
How do you sign up for services?
Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669), text READY to 34191, or visit
QuitNowVirginia.org.
Are there resources available for teens?
Yes! VapeFreeVA.org offers free coaching, talking points, and resources for Support Circles (groups for adults who want to support a young person in quitting). Visit the website to learn about the risks of vaping and get tips for teens on how to quit for good.
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To read past publications, visit the BRHD Health Whys webpage.
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Hot temps, hot projects! Our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Transportation partners and conveners have been moving full speed ahead to achieve their 2023-2025 CHIP goals. Here’s a quick look at what’s been happening—and what’s coming soon:
Walk Audit in Rose Hill
Our Virginia Walkability Action Institute (VWAI) team, led by Community Climate Collaborative (C3), walked the Rose Hill neighborhood on July 15 with City staff and local residents. Together, we looked at ways to slow traffic and make it safer and easier to walk around the neighborhood.
New Bus Shelter at Midway Manor
Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) just celebrated the opening of a brand-new bus shelter at Midway Manor on July 29! Improving bus shelters was a top objective of this CHIP. We joined City Manager Sam Sanders, CAT Director Garland Williams, and longtime Midway Manor resident Mary Carey at the ribbon cutting. |
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Transit Takeover Climate Café
Next up, C3 will co-host the Transit Takeover Climate Café at The Bradbury on August 8. Come share ideas about how we can improve walking, biking, and transit in our area! Register now! |
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Transit Interviews with Older Adults
We’ve teamed up with Charlottesville Area Alliance and PATH to talk with older riders and people with disabilities who use CAT or JAUNT. If you’re 55+ or have a disability and use (or want to use) transit, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Focus groups will be held on September 9 and 24. Email Jen Fleisher CHA/CHIP Program Officer for more information.
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Loop de Ville Fest – Registration Now Open!
Join us September 27 at Rivanna River Company for the Loop de Ville Fest, a full day celebrating the Rivanna Trail network on the 20-mile loop around Charlottesville! Guided hikes, runs, and mountain bike rides, plus the finish line DJ, food truck, and cantina make the day a blast. New this year: PECVA’s 3-mile family walk and a 10-mile half-loop walk/run. We need volunteers, too! Volunteer or register at loopdeville.org.
Thanks to all our amazing CHIP transportation partners for keeping things moving forward—on foot, on wheels, and on the trail!
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- Saturday, August 23 – Free Infant Safety Class at Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department
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Monday, September 1 – BRHD Closed for Labor Day
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Monthly Rapid REVIVE! Naloxone Trainings
Free trainings and dispensing of Naloxone nasal spray used to treat suspected opioid overdoses. All are welcome. Visit the Harm Reduction webpage for more information.
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2nd Tuesday of the month: August 12 from 3 to 4 PM at the Greene County Health Department (50 Stanard St., Stanardsville)
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3rd Monday of the month: August 18 from 3 to 4 PM at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (1138 Rose Hill Dr., Charlottesville)
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3rd Wednesday of the month: August 20 from 1 to 3 PM at the Louisa County Health Department (101 Woolfolk Ave. Suite 202, Louisa) and the Nelson County Health Department (1645 Thomas Nelson Hwy., Arrington)
- 4th Wednesday of the month: August 27 from 1 to 3 PM at the Fluvanna County Health Department (132 Main St., Palmyra)
Monthly Test & Go Event
Free walk-in STI testing on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach capacity. No insurance or ID needed. Call 434-972-6269 for more information.
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3rd Tuesday of the month: August 19 from 4:30 to 6 PM at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (1138 Rose Hill Dr., Charlottesville)
Weekly Community Health Office Hours
Walk-in one-on-one sessions hosted in Albemarle County. All are welcome. Visit the Community Health Worker webpage for more information or call 434-270-3216.
- Thursdays: August 7, 14, 21, & 28 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Yancey Community Health Center (7625 Porters Rd., Esmont)
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