Health Education and Promotion
Our health department is committed to community based
health education and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Our health educators and clinicians offer health education
programs to the community throughout the year. Presentations
on health-related topics, displays for health fairs, and
assistance with program planning are available without
charge. You may e-mail the individual by clicking on
their name next to the program title. A comprehensive list
of our programs is included below:
Oral Health Program - Shana Peterson, Ext 1006
The health department sponsors a school based dental sealants program. We have targeted second, third, and sixth graders in the Jessamine County Schools who lack dental insurance or do not have a dental provider. The Family Resource Centers and Youth Service Center coordinators are our contacts at the schools. We contract with a local dentist for services for this program.
Nutrition and Physical Activity - Andrea Brown, Ext 1025
With the CDC’s heightened emphasis on obesity prevention and adult and child physical activity, this is a major area of emphasis for our health department. Our current programs include:
The health department and Central Baptist Hospital joined forces in 2000 to present the “Life with Diabetes” program to provide education and self-management skills to people with diabetes. The program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and consists of two sessions of two hours each that are offered to the community. There is no charge for the classes. Call the health department to register.
General Community Programs - Andrea Brown, Ext 1025
This is a miscellaneous classification that includes activities such as Baby Safety Shower, Postponing Sexual Involvement at East Jessamine Middle School, grief outreach, and skin cancer screening using our Dermascan.
Cancer Coalition - Andrea Brown, Ext 1025
The Jessamine County Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition was started in 1997. This coalition is the steering body for the health department’s women breast and cervical cancer program and administers the grant money this program receives. Its members include representatives from the American Cancer Society, Kentucky Cancer Program, the Jessamine County Extension Office, the Jessamine County Judge Executive’s office, the Jessamine County County Community Education, Asbury College, cancer survivors and other interested citizens. It meets monthly at the health department. The coalition’s ongoing projects include:
The tobacco program’s goals are set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and are taken from the CDC’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs. This report provides states with recommended strategies and funding levels for effective programs to prevent and reduce tobacco use, eliminate the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke, and identify and eliminate disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups. The tobacco goals are: 1.) preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people; 2.) promoting quitting among young people and adults; 3.) eliminating nonsmokers’ exposure to second-hand smoke; and 4.) identifying and eliminating the disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups.
Our tobacco coordinator works with the Jessamine County Tobacco Coalition to implement the CDC goals locally. The members of the coalition include representatives from the American Cancer Society, Kentucky Cancer Program, Bluegrass Prevention Centers, the Jessamine County Schools Youth Service Centers, and other interested citizens; the coalition meets every month at the health department. Some of the coalition’s major achievements are as follows:
The heart of our teen pregnancy efforts is the Jessamine County Teen Pregnancy Coalition. This coalition was started in 1997 and its membership is comprised of representatives from All God’s Children, the Extension Office, YMCA, and the Jessamine County Schools Youth Service Centers. The coalition administers Federal grant monies for teen pregnancy prevention. Among the agencies and projects to which funding is allocated by the coalition are:
This program is part of the Kids Now initiative. Healthy Start’s goal is to promote a healthy environment for young children in out-of-home care settings through the education of children, families, and child care providers on health, safety, and nutrition.
Our Healthy Start coordinators received formal training as a Child Care Health Consultant. A sampler of their activities for Healthy Start are:
HANDS stands for Health Access Nurturing and Developing Services. A part of the Kids Now initiative. HANDS is a voluntary, intensive home visitation program designed to assist parents at critical development points during their child’s first two years of life. HANDS target first time parents, from the prenatal period to approximately three months after delivery. The programs’ goal is to assist with child development, parenting skills, health services and other needed resources.
Oral Health Program - Shana Peterson, Ext 1006
The health department sponsors a school based dental sealants program. We have targeted second, third, and sixth graders in the Jessamine County Schools who lack dental insurance or do not have a dental provider. The Family Resource Centers and Youth Service Center coordinators are our contacts at the schools. We contract with a local dentist for services for this program.
Nutrition and Physical Activity - Andrea Brown, Ext 1025
With the CDC’s heightened emphasis on obesity prevention and adult and child physical activity, this is a major area of emphasis for our health department. Our current programs include:
- Five-A-Day Kickoff for staff and patients at the health department
- Women’s Wellness Forum held in collaboration with the Extension Office, Jessamine County Schools, Central Baptist Hospital, and other community partners
- Employee wellness program and Step Into Spring, a community walking program
- Bright Futures In Physical Activity, a CDC physical activity program for children.
The health department and Central Baptist Hospital joined forces in 2000 to present the “Life with Diabetes” program to provide education and self-management skills to people with diabetes. The program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and consists of two sessions of two hours each that are offered to the community. There is no charge for the classes. Call the health department to register.
General Community Programs - Andrea Brown, Ext 1025
This is a miscellaneous classification that includes activities such as Baby Safety Shower, Postponing Sexual Involvement at East Jessamine Middle School, grief outreach, and skin cancer screening using our Dermascan.
Cancer Coalition - Andrea Brown, Ext 1025
The Jessamine County Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition was started in 1997. This coalition is the steering body for the health department’s women breast and cervical cancer program and administers the grant money this program receives. Its members include representatives from the American Cancer Society, Kentucky Cancer Program, the Jessamine County Extension Office, the Jessamine County Judge Executive’s office, the Jessamine County County Community Education, Asbury College, cancer survivors and other interested citizens. It meets monthly at the health department. The coalition’s ongoing projects include:
- Mobile mammogram unit (three times a year)
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October Celebration)
- Breast Cancer Survivors’ Dinner
- Women’s Wellness Forum
- Various health fairs throughout the year
The tobacco program’s goals are set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and are taken from the CDC’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs. This report provides states with recommended strategies and funding levels for effective programs to prevent and reduce tobacco use, eliminate the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke, and identify and eliminate disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups. The tobacco goals are: 1.) preventing the initiation of tobacco use among young people; 2.) promoting quitting among young people and adults; 3.) eliminating nonsmokers’ exposure to second-hand smoke; and 4.) identifying and eliminating the disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups.
Our tobacco coordinator works with the Jessamine County Tobacco Coalition to implement the CDC goals locally. The members of the coalition include representatives from the American Cancer Society, Kentucky Cancer Program, Bluegrass Prevention Centers, the Jessamine County Schools Youth Service Centers, and other interested citizens; the coalition meets every month at the health department. Some of the coalition’s major achievements are as follows:
- A Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U) program at East Jessamine Middle School. T.A.T.U. is an American Lung Association program that employs a peer-teaching model as the delivery mechanism to teach young people about tobacco use and become advocates for tobacco-free communities.
- Cooper Clayton smoking cessation sessions for adults held three times a year at the Jessamine County Library. Call the health department more information.
- Implementation of the Make Yours a Fresh Start Family (MYFSF) program by health department clinic staff. MYFSF is an American Cancer Society cessation program for pregnant women and women with young children that is intended to raise their awareness of the risks of tobacco and second-hand smoke.
- Compilation of a database of smoke-free restaurants from information collected by environmentalists during routine restaurant inspections.
The heart of our teen pregnancy efforts is the Jessamine County Teen Pregnancy Coalition. This coalition was started in 1997 and its membership is comprised of representatives from All God’s Children, the Extension Office, YMCA, and the Jessamine County Schools Youth Service Centers. The coalition administers Federal grant monies for teen pregnancy prevention. Among the agencies and projects to which funding is allocated by the coalition are:
- Financial support for mentoring program, fall retreat, and community service programs at All God’s Children.
- YMCA Tates Creek Summer activities program for adolescents (average daily attendance of forty-five young people).
- Collaboration with Youth Service Centers for a transition program for at-risk teens entering 6th and 9th grades. This programs focuses on abstinence, peer pressure, self-esteem, and social interaction.
- East and West Middle School after school program supported by the YMCA and Jessamine County Community Education. This program focuses on education enhancement, abstinence, peer pressure, and many other activities.
This program is part of the Kids Now initiative. Healthy Start’s goal is to promote a healthy environment for young children in out-of-home care settings through the education of children, families, and child care providers on health, safety, and nutrition.
Our Healthy Start coordinators received formal training as a Child Care Health Consultant. A sampler of their activities for Healthy Start are:
- Quarterly newsletters
- Face to face visits to daycares to provide information on health safety and nutrition
- Infant and Toddler Safety Day
- Continuing education opportunities for providers, with parents welcome as well. SIDS is the topic for the next offering, with already twenty-eight registered participants. An all-day Saturday program dealing with children’s mental health issues is on the drawing board.
- Classes for children attending the Jessamine County Head Start. Examples of offerings: Don’t Forget to Brush Your Teeth, Call 911, Nutra Fruit Heroes, and so on.
- Surveys to evaluate educational needs of providers
HANDS stands for Health Access Nurturing and Developing Services. A part of the Kids Now initiative. HANDS is a voluntary, intensive home visitation program designed to assist parents at critical development points during their child’s first two years of life. HANDS target first time parents, from the prenatal period to approximately three months after delivery. The programs’ goal is to assist with child development, parenting skills, health services and other needed resources.