DOH-Putnam’s Chronic Disease Prevention Programs’ aim is to educate and support the health of residents to avoid or manage chronic diseases. With that in mind, they used their Quality Improvement Plan to increase recruitment and awareness of the DOH-Putnam Heart Health, Diabetes Prevention and Diabetes Self-Management Programs among residents and participating community partners. The program was so successful that it was recognized as 2019 Model Practice Award Winner at a recent National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Conference. Learn more: #LiveWellPutnam

DOH – Calhoun/Liberty hosted their 12th Annual Women’s Health Seminar. The theme this year was “May your wellness be as plentiful as sand on the beach”. Over 170 women of all ages attended the beach themed seminar and heard three speakers talk about “A new healthier You”, “Coping with Loss After Disaster” and “From Stressed to your Best” – Stress training techniques for the real world. To go along with the theme, participants wrote their worries in sand and their blessings on a stone. The ladies also enjoyed manicures, massages and a craft table where they could make their own sand art sea shell bottle.

“I noticed a lot of people biking across dangerous intersections with no helmets. I thought it would be a great opportunity to do some kind of outreach in the community,” said Taela Cintron, a DOH-Okaloosa Health Educator Consultant and Crestview resident. As a result, staff members perform bike helmet fittings and bicycle education at local food pantries and meal stations where many people bike to the sites. Already, nearly 50 helmets have been distributed along with safety tips and reflective armbands.

Thirteen DOH-Brevard employees recently formed team Baby Aspirins and participated in the Space Coast Promise Walk to increase awareness of preeclampsia and "make strides and deliver hope" for families affected by preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome (a life-threatening pregnancy complication), and other pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. The walk helped raise over $6,000 and was a part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness about preeclampsia.

With a rising number of women with diabetes and the observation that about 30% of all deliveries in the county were high risk, staff at DOH-Brevard created an endocrine clinic to provide better care to clients. The clinic is staffed by an endocrinologist and APRN who provide care to women without access to specialty services. The program is helping those with pre-gestational and gestational diabetes, and participants show no significant increases in A1C levels.