Jefferson County Public Health takes parts in Colorado Denim Day!

Jefferson County Public Health staff took part in Colorado Wear Denim day.  Employees wearing jeans will also have stickers that they can wear to let everyone know why they are wearing jeans on Denim Day. Wearing jeans is a conversation-starter and visual sign of your support of survivors. Colorado Denim Day shows the power of communities coming together to support survivors and take a stand against sexual violence.  Employees were also given the option to donate 5 dollars to the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault.  JCPH staff raised 70 dollars and put up a group picture on social media to show their support.

New Social Marketing Campaign Takes on Stigma Around Mental Health

The Project’s Goal is to Lower Stigma so People Get the Help They Need

A new Colorado social marketing campaign is designed to reduce the stigma around mental health treatment so that people who need this care will access it. The campaign, called “Let’s Talk Colorado,” is sponsored by a coalition of public and private health agencies including Jefferson County Public Health.  This work is part of the Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM) grant to better integrate physical and behavioral health.

“The stigma around mental illness and seeking mental health care is one that unfortunately endures, and lowering this stigma is essential so that people who have mental health challenges know they are not alone, that there is treatment that can help and, finally, that they are valued and deserve quality care,” said Dr. Margaret Huffman, Community Health Division Director.

To ensure the project meets its goal of lowering the stigma around mental illness and mental health care, the project team used a series of focus groups to test messages designed to resonate with both patients, medical providers and the public generally. The revised messages were then integrated into a variety of materials including a short video, social media content, a presentation and flyer.

“We are so pleased that Jefferson County Public Health was able to participate in this project,” said Dr. Huffman.  “As we dived in we learned so much about how stigma impacts those who are struggling, and why people with mental illnesses are often reluctant to self-identify. We as a society have much work to do to allow people with mental health challenges to feel it’s okay to talk about their illness, and to seek care.”

The Let’s Talk Colorado campaign stresses there is no right or wrong words to use when talking to someone struggling with mental illness. Instead, the campaign emphasizes to be “present” when talking with someone with mental illness and to consider offering tangible, specific help. For example, instead of asking, “What can I do to help?” say, “I’d like to bring you dinner tonight. I will drop it off at 5 pm. Will you be home then?”

“Through our focus groups we learned that intent is much more important than specific language,” Douglas said. “People with mental illnesses – like everyone – need to be able to see and feel that you really do care, that your interaction with them is sincere.”

Besides Jefferson County Public Health, other agencies involved in the coalition that launched Let’s Talk Colorado include the Tri County Health Department, 9Health Fair, Aurora Mental Health Center, Boulder County Public Health, Broomfield Public Health, Centura/Denver South Group, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Clinica Family Health, ClinicNet, Community Reach Center, Denver Public Health, Doctors Care, Douglas County Government, Jefferson Center for Mental Health, Jefferson County Public Health, Mental Health Center of Denver, Metro Community Provider Network, SCL Health, Sheridan Health Services and West Pines Behavioral Health.

For more information on the campaign, and for links to the campaign’s materials and resources, go to LetsTalkCO.org.

Immunizations save lives

This April, make sure you and your family are up to date on your immunizations. April 23-29 is World Immunization Week and National Infant Immunization Week is April 22-29.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities. Learn more about NIIW(https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/overview.html).

Since 1994, hundreds of communities across the United States have joined together to celebrate the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our children, communities and public health.

But it’s not just infants and children that benefit from vaccination. Without the proper immunization, adults are also at risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases, which can cause serious illness, hospitalization, disability and in some cases, death, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

In the U.S., many adults aren’t vaccinated against all the recommended diseases.

To learn more about immunization rates in Colorado, view the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Immunization Rates and Data web page. JCPH urges everyone to be sure they and their children have the vaccinations they need. 

• Please call 303-239-7078 to schedule an immunization clinic visit at our Lakewood clinic. 
• For more information about the importance of infant immunization, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines

Beat the Buzz – prevent mosquito-borne diseases like Zika

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world because of the diseases they spread. Among these is Zika virus, a disease that is mostly spread by infected mosquitoes of the Aedes species. These particular mosquitoes bite both day and night and are located only in certain parts of the world — including some states in the U.S. 
Zika can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus or through sex with a person infected with the virus. 

The best way to prevent Zika — as well as other serious illnesses — is to prevent mosquito bites. 

Watch the video below to learn more: 

Tips to Beat the Buzz and prevent the mosquito bites include:

-Wear long sleeves outdoors

-Use an insect  repellent with an active ingredient approved by the Centers for Disease Control.

-Hang mosquito netting around cribs and beds.

-Treat clothing with an insect-repellent.

-If traveling to areas where Zika has been confirmed, follow as many guidelines as possible to prevent mosquito bites.

-If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, avoid traveling to areas with Zika.
- If you or a partner has travelled to areas where Zika has been confirmed, practice safe sex. Use latex condoms, the right way, every time, or choose not to have any type of sex with a partner who has been in an area with Zika.

View the JCPH Zika resource page for more tips and information. For more information on animal-borne diseases, please contact our Zoonosis Program at
303-271-5700 or dvolkel@jeffco.us.

Edgewater WIC Clinic Moves to 7495 W, 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Jefferson County Public Health announced today that it will be moving its Edgewater WIC clinic on Thursday, April 6 and Friday, April 7, 2017 to its new location at the Jeffco Family Health Services Center, 7495 W. 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.  The clinic will be open and available to clients on Monday, April 10, 2017 at the new location.  Jefferson County Public Health also has WIC clinic sites in Lakewood, 645 Parfet Street, Lakewood, CO 80215 and in Arvada, 5150 Allison St, Arvada, CO 80002.

“We are thrilled to be collocating with the Jeffco Family Health Services Center” said JCPH Community Nutrition Manager Kylie Harrison, “Our WIC participants will now have the option to receive medical, dental, mental health and care coordination services along with their WIC benefits, all at the same location.”

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, prescriptions for healthy food, health referrals and other services free of charge to Colorado families who qualify. WIC’s goal is to help keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under age 5 healthy.

WIC is for all kinds of families: married and single parents, working or not working.  If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent or other legal guardian of a child under 5, you can apply for WIC. In Jefferson County, please call 303-271-5780 and join WIC today.

We apologize for any inconvenience this move may cause and will do our best to minimize any disruptions to services provided.  Stay tuned for any updates at jeffco.us/public-health.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month - Make early childhood health a priority

More than 700,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in the U.S. in 2014, the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control. In the same year, more than 1,500 children died due to abuse and neglect.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and a time to acknowledge the important things communities and families can do to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Public health agencies, like JCPH, work to stop child maltreatment, including abuse and neglect, before it occurs. In doing this, national, state and local public health programs promote the development of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments between children and their parents or caregivers. Children's experiences are defined through their environments (such as homes, schools, and neighborhoods) and relationships with parents, teachers, and other caregivers. Healthy relationships act as a buffer against adverse childhood experiences and are necessary to ensure the long-term physical and emotional well-being of children. 

The first years of a child's life are some of the most important in terms of cognitive, social and physical development. Early experiences occurring when a child's brain and behavior are being shaped affect a child's ability to learn, to get along with others, and to develop an overall state of well-being. Unfortunately, not all children have the same positive experiences or opportunities, which can lead to disparities. Social, economic and environmental factors have been closely linked to health disparities.  

Research suggests that many disparities in overall health and well-being are rooted in early childhood. For example, those who lived in poverty as young children are more at-risk for leading causes of illness and death, and are more likely to experience poor quality of life. This growing problem costs the United States billions of dollars annually.

That’s why Jefferson County Public Health is hosting three screenings of “The Raising of America,” a documentary on early childhood health and the things community members can do to help the youngest among us. The first two screening took place the first weekend of April, and the third will be from 5-7 p.m. April 17 at the Golden Library. RSVP at roa-golden.eventbrite.com.
The documentary film series “The Raising of America” chronicles how a strong, healthy and supportive start for all children leads to better individual outcomes and to healthier, safer and more prosperous and equitable communities. 

 “‘The Raising of America’ changes the way we look at early child health and development,” said Sophia Yager, Jefferson County Public Health nurse program manager and lead for the Health in Early Childhood Collaborative. “Jefferson County can only benefit from considering how to best support its youngest residents and their families. Through these viewings, we hope to start those conversations.”

To learn more about “The Raising of America” and watch a trailer for the documentary, go to healthyjeffco.com/raising-of-america. 

Jefferson County Public Health’s home visitation programs such as Prenatal Plus, Nurse Family Partnership and the Family Collaboration Programs as well as its HEAL in Early Childhood and Clinic Services provide the support necessary to keep children and their families healthy.  The Community Health Services Division implements evidence-based prevention strategies to reduce health disparities and promote health equity to positively impact later health, well-being, education and productivity and self-sufficiency.

WATCH THIS VIDEO to learn more!

This Earth Day, focus on education

On Earth Day this year, April 22, take time to think about the environment and climate.
This year’s Earth Day focus is on environmental and climate literacy. The Earth Day Network is offering toolkits to help community members hold events and “Teach-ins” about the importance of climate change awareness, advocating for environmental education in schools and encouraging individuals to take action in their communities.

Climate change, and its impacts on health, have been widely recognized in the public health community. The American Public Health Association declared 2017 the Year of Climate Change and Health, and is dedicated to educating the public on just what a changing world means for them and their families.

"If anyone doesn't think this is a severe problem, they are fooling themselves," said APHA Executive Director Georges Benjami, in the Washington Post.

Water quality and availability, insect-borne diseases and the health impacts of extreme weather events are among the top public health issues regarding climate change.

A recent report from CNN also detailed the lasting impacts climate change has not only on physical health, but on mental health, too. With climate projections predicting an increase in severe weather events, like flooding, heat waves, wildfires, droughts and large storms, the mental and emotional impact of the environment is expected to grow. In the article, British psychologist James Rubin said the impact of climate on mental health needs to be given attention.

“There are a whole host of stressors around (flooding),” said Rubin, whose research centered around the impact of floods. “Preventing (climate change) from happening, from worsening and intervening is really important.”

To learn more about the impact of climate change on health, watch the videos from the national Climate and Health Meeting in Atlanta, Ga., in February. The conference was hosted by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, APHA, The Climate Reality Project, Harvard Global Health Institute and the University of Washington Center for Health and the Global Environment with support from the Turner Foundation and other organizations.