Thank you public health employees, first responders, health care workers and all other heroes for your diligence and dedication during the COVID-19 crisis.

Anamaria Penagos (left) and Jasmine Selph (right) visiting
a local barber shop to discuss COVID preventative measures.

DOH-Okaloosa Health Educators Jasmine Selph and Anamaria Penagos conducted an outreach project focused on local barber shops and hair salons to provide COVID-19 education and resources. At each site, they spoke to shop owners and stylists about procedures that can prevent the spread of COVID-19. They also provided hand fans, window clings, cloth face masks and tip sheets to reinforce the messaging to their patrons. In total, they reached 18 sites across the county including businesses in Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Crestview, Laurel Hill and Holt.

Dr. Andrea Albertin, a community partner with the Leon
Health Department, sharing COVID-19 educational flyers
with a Spanish speaking vendor at the Tallahassee
Flea Market

DOH-Leon is demonstrating how partnerships matter. The Leon County Health Department has established partnerships with several Spanish speaking community leaders to bring COVID-19 information and education to a vulnerable group which is hesitant to engage with government health agencies. For example, in support of this effort, a Latina community member helped to hand out information flyers to Spanish speaking vendors at the local flea market. More than a dozen vendors accepted flyers that explained the correct way to wear a mask, and they agreed to display them on the doors and walls of their businesses.

Volusia County nurse Denise Ayers, MS, RN
administering the flu vaccine to a citizen of the
Spring Hill community as Jim Burns, Public
Health Preparedness provides support.

On November 17, 2020, staff from the Department of Health in Volusia County held a flu vaccine Point of Administration (POA) at the Dr. Joyce M. Cusack Resource Center in the underserved Spring Hill area of DeLand during their annual Thanksgiving Feed the Community Dinner. With combined community efforts the event hosted Volusia School Fuel providing hand sanitizer, masks and bags of canned goods. Rising Against All Odds provided access to free COVID-19 education and testing as well as the flu vaccine along with HIV and glucose screening.

Chidrine Frederic and Jermeka Anthony with DOH-Alachua participate
in providing testing and education to Gainesville residents.

The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County’s Medical Reserve Corps program, the Minority AIDS Program and the STD Control Program partnered with Gainesville Fire Rescue to provide flu shots plus HIV and syphilis tests and education to Gainesville residents in both October and November. The group traveled to low-income, vulnerable neighborhoods. This partnership proved to be extraordinarily successful. Over 110 people were tested for HIV and syphilis, and 392 flu vaccines were administered.

Joy Gatewood, Tina Allen, Candi Morris, Jacob Clore and Dawn
Harper at the World’s Greatest Baby Shower event in Jasper.

DOH-Hamilton and DOH-Columbia’s Healthy Start programs in partnership with Healthy Start of North Central Florida and the WellFlorida Council hosted The World’s Greatest Baby Shower on Saturday October 24, 2020 in Jasper and Lake City. This was a drive-through event and was offered to any parents who are expecting or have an infant that is under one year. They were gifted diapers, wipes, onesies, sleep sacks, water bottles and other goodies. They were also entered to win larger baby items like Pack n’ Plays, strollers and infant bouncer seats. In total, 73 mothers and 30 pregnant women attended the events in both cities.