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New VA Food Regulations & EH Survey
New Virginia Food Regulations will take effect Thursday, September 10. If you own, supervise, or work in food establishments, review the updates to become familiar with the upcoming changes and how they may affect your facility.
Our Environmental Health (EH) team also wants to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete our short EH Survey. Your feedback will help us better understand our food establishments’ needs and identify ways we can improve our services, resources, and outreach across the district. You do not need to own or work in a restaurant to fill out this survey – any and everyone are invited to participate. Thank you for your partnership in protecting public health and keeping our community safe!
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Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department Under Construction
Over the next month, several bathrooms at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department will be fully gutted and renovated. We appreciate your patience as we make these much-needed improvements… and please excuse our mess in the meantime! - he ceremonially removed the first wall tile to launch the renovation last week.
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Today (9/4) is World Sexual Health Day!
Sexual health is a critical piece of our overall health and well-being. This year’s theme, “Every Body”, is a declaration that sexual health, rights, justice, and pleasure belong to every person, in every body, without exception. At BRHD, we couldn’t agree more! Our sexual health clinic services are available to everyone, regardless of identity, orientation, or ability to pay. Our offerings include:
- STI testing of 7 different infections
- PrEP medication prescription & management
- Free condoms & safer sex supplies
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Free at-home rapid HIV test kits
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Healthy Birth Healthy Baby Birth Expo
It’s that time again to save the date for the Healthy Birth Healthy Baby (HBHB) Birth Expo! This year, the Expo will take place on Saturday, October 3 from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Carver Recreation Center (233 4th St. NW, Charlottesville, VA).
Returning for the fourth year in a row, the HBHB Birth Expo showcases a variety of wonderful organizations around Charlottesville serving pregnant people and their babies. Expo attendees will have the opportunity to:
- Connect with 30+ local agencies
- Take pictures in our photo booth
- Enjoy free refreshments
- Win door prizes
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And more!
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Sickle Celebration Blood Drive
It’s Sickle Cell Awareness Month! Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder. In patients with SCD, their blood cells “sickle” (or turn crescent-shaped) and harden. This prevents them from functioning normally, causing chronic pain and in some cases serious health complications.
Join the Jefferson School Foundation for the Sickle Celebration Blood Drive on Saturday, September 19 from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Carver Rec Center (233 4th St. NW, Charlottesville, VA). This annual event supports individuals living with SCD by growing a more diverse donor pool, making lifesaving matches more likely! To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “JEFFERSONSCHOOL” in the zip/sponsor code search box.
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What is MAPP2Health?
MAPP2Health is the Blue Ridge region's collaborative approach to community health planning. Since 2009, the Blue Ridge Health District, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, and UVA Health have partnered to assess our region's health needs and develop shared priorities for action every three years.
How did our community choose its health priorities?
The 2025 Community Health Assessment (CHA) combined local health data with input from more than 1,100 community members through surveys, focus groups, interviews, and other engagement activities. Three major themes emerged:
- Chronic conditions, particularly mental health and obesity
- Healthcare access
- Social drivers of health, particularly transportation, economic stability, and healthy food access
These findings became the foundation for the 2025–2028 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
What is our community working on now?
The 2025–2028 CHIP focuses on three goals:
- Improve access to affordable, responsive health services
- Integrate the regional mental health ecosystem
- Strengthen support for nutrition, wellbeing, and economic opportunity
More than 40 organizations are leading or supporting strategies within the plan. BRHD coordinates the overall effort, while community partners lead individual strategies based on their expertise.
For more information visit:
2025-2028 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) - Blue Ridge
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To read past publications, visit the BRHD Health Whys webpage.
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Friday, September 4 – BRHD closing early at 12 PM
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Monday, September 7 – BRHD closed for Labor Day
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Friday, September 11 – BRHD opening late at 1 PM
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Friday, September 25 – BRHD opening late at 1:30 PM
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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: September 8 from 3 to 4 PM at the Greene County Health Department (50 Stanard St., Stanardsville, VA)
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3rd Monday of the month: September 21 from 3 to 4 PM at the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department (1138 Rose Hill Dr., Charlottesville, VA)
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3rd Wednesday of the month: September 16 from 1 to 3 PM at the Nelson County Health Department (1645 Thomas Nelson Hwy., Arrington, VA) and from 3 to 4 PM at the Louisa County Health Department (101 Woolfolk Ave. Suite 202, Louisa, VA)
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4th Wednesday of the month: September 23 from 1 to 3 PM at the Fluvanna County Health Department (132 Main St., Palmyra, VA)
Monthly Test & Go Event
CANCELLED FOR SEPTEMBER. If you need STI testing before the next Test & Go event in October, call 434-972-6269 to make an appointment in our sexual health clinic.
Monthly Community Health Worker (CHW) 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. Please note: Yancey office hours will be ending at 1 PM for the foreseeable future.
- Monthly on Thursdays: September 10, 17, & 24 from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Yancey Community Health Center (7625 Porters Rd., Esmont, VA)
- 3rd Thursday of the month: September 17 from 2 to 5 PM at the Dunbar Rosenwald School (2524 Mountain Hill Rd., Palmyra, VA)
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