County Health Day is April 19
Ramsey County is joining the National Association of Counties (NACo) in observing County Health Day on Wednesday, April 19. In addition to National Public Health Week, County Health Day is an opportunity to celebrate the important work that local public health departments do year-round to support our communities’ health and well-being.
NACo’s 2022-2023 Healthy Counties Advisory Board Priorities has four health priorities which are embedded in the work Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health does with community and its agency partners.
Advancing and Measuring Progress Towards Health Equity
- This is a top priority of Public Health’s Strategic Plan, it’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and, the county strategic priority. It is also a focus of everything Public Health does from its work with Trusted Messengers, to other prevention, health education and clinical services provided directly by their staff. It’s part of the day-to-day work of Child and Teen Checkups, Women and Infants and Children (WIC), Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, Family Home Visiting, Club Mom and Club Dad, and work with of the Birth Equity Community Council (BECC).
Addressing the Social Determinants of Health
- The conditions in which we live, work, and play all impact our health. Public Health's CHIP priority to address “Homelessness and Housing Stability” is focused in this area, as are the county’s strategic priorities to advance a holistic approach to strengthen families and intergenerational prosperity for racial and economic inclusion.
- Public Health’s HouseCalls works to address housing insecurity and collaborates with other county departments and partners many ways. This includes work on county efforts to address food insecurity through the WIC program and Public Health staff who work on the Statewide Improvement Partnership (SHIP).
Improving Maternal and Child Health
- Maternal and child health is a top priority for WIC, a supplemental food, nutrition and breastfeeding/chestfeeding program that helps eligible pregnant women, new mothers, babies and young children eat well, learn about nutrition and stay healthy through health screenings.
- It’s also a priority for Family Health’s home visiting for pregnant women, as well as community collaboration focused on eliminating disparities and improving birth outcomes led by BECC. Public Helth also has new and increasing partnerships with community organizations advancing maternal and child health through whole family and Family Coach models under Maternal and Child Health block grants, and continued investment in addressing maternal and infant mortality.
Promoting Mental Health as Public Health
- As the national mental health crisis grows, Public Health and the county are addressing issues though work of its Mental Health and Wellness Action Team (MHWAT) focused on cultural healing. Other work in this area includes the Appropriate Responses Initiative, which is in the early planning phases, Healing Streets and Public Health's collaboration with Social Service’s Mental Health Clinic and crisis response.
Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 - 12:58 p.m.