Health Department Celebrates Public Health Month in North Carolina

By: Eric Nickens

Alamance, other Triad area health departments join forces to increase awareness about Public Health

Public Health in the Piedmont Celebrates Public Health Month

Public health is often referred to as the “quiet miracle.”  Because the work of local, state and national public health agencies is generally preventive, our work often goes unnoticed or is taken for granted.  That is why each April, we celebrate National Public Health Week and, in North Carolina, Public Health Month.  This year, the public health departments in Alamance, Davidson, Guilford and Randolph counties are joining together to draw attention to the important work being done to promote good health in each of our communities. 

North Carolina residents have benefitted from the work of public health for 130 years.  Locally, public health services began in Alamance County in January, 1917; Davidson in 1916; May, 1911 in Guilford County and   1927 in Randolph County.  Our mission, statewide, is to promote and contribute to the highest level of health possible for the people of this state.  The essential services to be provided by public health agencies are outlined in our state’s General Statues.   This is why you can rest assured that in every county in our state we are:

• Identifying and working to reduce the greatest health risks;
• Detecting, investigating and preventing the spread of communicable diseases, like TB;
• Inspecting restaurants and other institutions that provide food or lodging to ensure food is safe to eat and facilities are clean and sanitary;
• Helping families plan for and have the healthiest pregnancies possible, so that all our children are born healthy;
• Helping residents learn how to improve and protect their health and the health of their families.

Throughout the Piedmont, each county’s local health department works in specific and focused ways to address needs unique to the communities within the county.  All our departments use research based and evidence based strategies to improve our services and our successes. 

For example, Alamance County Health Department is now offering CenteringPregnancy®, an innovative prenatal program that allows patients to see the same provider throughout their pregnancies, participate in their own care, eliminate wait time and meet other pregnant women with similar due dates.  Women are given the chance to discuss topics important to them during their pregnancies and form friendships and support that last beyond the pregnancy, while at the same time receiving high quality prenatal checkups.  CenteringPregnancy® has been implemented in a wide range of settings nationally from private OB offices to local health departments and has been associated with lower preterm delivery rates, increased breastfeeding rates and higher patient satisfaction.

“We are exceedingly fortunate to have this program at the health department,” said Dr. Kathleen Shapley-Quinn, Alamance County Health Department Medical Director.  “CenteringPregnancy® has been proven, in multiple locations around the country, to improve outcome of some of the most vulnerable babies, as well as creating supportive communities for pregnant women.  It is programs like this which will help us continue to improve the health of women and children in our community."

As our communities change, our “ways of doing business” change too.  Health education and community partnerships are key components of quality public health efforts around the world.  In Guilford County, the Department of Public Health continues to find new ways to make health information accessible to community members.  The Department has a five module on-line course for child care providers on sanitation in the child care setting.  Continuing education credits are required for child care employees.  The on-line course, approved by the NC Division of Child Development, makes it easier for these professionals to earn ten contact hour credits, while learning important information that helps protect the health of the children and staff.  In addition, the Department is co-creator of the Lay Health Coach training program, in partnership with the Moses Cone Health System Congregational Nurse Program.  The Lay Health Coach Program is a four session training that provides members of participating faith communities with a basic and well-rounded training in health and wellness.  Topics covered include when to call 911; the basics of healthy eating; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; physical activity; healthy relationships; mental health and substance abuse.  Program participants are better able to establish and support health ministries within their faith communities and work with the Department to create more opportunities for faith community members to improve their health.

“Our mission statement includes the phrase, ‘In partnership with the community…’ said Merle Green, Guilford’s Health Director.  “We believe strongly in empowering our residents, be they professionals who need continuing health education or lay persons who want to bring health messages to places where people gather naturally.  Working together, we can make our community an even healthier community.”

Through on-going research within the community, Randolph County Health Department was able to identify widespread concerns about obesity and overweight.  Based on that input, the Department helped to develop the Healthy Children SOAR campaign, designed to create positive behavior change among young children and their parents or caregivers in the areas of nutrition and physical activity.  By following four simple strategies, Slow down on fast food, Opt for water, Add activity, and Reduce TV time, children can lead a lifestyle that is active and nutritionally balanced as well as engage in behaviors that are beneficial to the mind and body.  Community partners of the SOAR campaign include Randolph Hospital, Randolph County Partnership for Children, Asheboro YMCA, Lowes Foods and local pediatricians.
    
The Healthy Children SOAR campaign was developed with financial support from The Duke Endowment.  Now in its third year, over 3,400 Randolph County families have participated in initiatives from the SOAR campaign including parent/child physical activity classes, health fairs, educational seminars or community events.  The campaign has been able to determine positive behavior and attitude changes among these participants in the four SOAR strategy areas.

While the public may know little about health department accomplishments, the recognition and support of local, state and national grant organizations provide validation of program efforts and results.  One highlight in Davidson County Health Department is receipt of funding from the North Carolina Triad Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for Davidson County’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program    (BCCCP).  The goal of this program is to reduce breast and cervical cancer mortality and morbidity through early detection in Davidson County women, ages 40 to 64.  Women who are eligible for BCCCP receive important health screenings, assessments, a clinical breast exam or cervical pap screening.  If the initial screening indicates a possible problem, the patients are referred to either Lexington Memorial Hospital or Thomasville Medical Center for a mammogram.  The financial support from Susan G. Komen for the Cure will provide for expanded mammogram services, from initial screening through additional breast studies and surgical consultations.  Women who are uninsured, underinsured or low income, ages 18 to 64 will be seen through the Health Department, Davidson Medical Ministries Clinic or one of its hospital/medical center partners.  

Health promotion and prevention work conducted through local health departments often is collaborative, extending the reach of resources.  An example is the Greater Triad Regional Tobacco Free College program, led by a health educator based at the Guilford County Department of Public Health.  This program currently works with nineteen colleges in Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham, Davie and Davidson counties to develop and maintain a strong coalition on campus, provide materials for strengthened policy initiatives, promote and increase access to evidence-based cessation strategies, work towards eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke, and support programs to prevent the initiation of tobacco use in college students. The result:  many of these colleges have taken an important step to create a healthier environment for all by adopting tobacco free campus policies that promoted a healthier lifestyle for the students, faculty, staff and visitors. 

Local health department programs deliver “quiet miracles” almost daily.  Each department strives to provide quality services in the most efficient manner, working to make our local communities, region and state the healthiest in the nation.

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