I came to this Hidden in Plain Sight presentation to understand how to support my kids as they grow up and face decisions about vaping and substance use. We toured a mock bedroom to recognize warning signs of substance use, mental health struggles, and trafficking. Then we sat down to listen to the presenter share more information on rates of use, risk factors, and how adults can support the kids in their lives.
It takes many small actions to keep children healthy and growing but one action that could use support is helping families access childhood immunizations. Just like children need to have access to books to educate them for the future, their immune systems need access to vaccines to educate them about viruses. Once their immune systems have been educated, it helps keep the children in school, active, and protected from long-term health issues.
This topic has gained a lot of attention locally due to contamination found in the West Plains area of Spokane County. The subject can become a little confusing because many people aren’t familiar with what per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are. Here is a basic overview so the next time you see those letters they might make a little more sense.
April 11-17 is Black Maternal Health Week! Maternal health is important for all pregnant people regardless of race or ethnicity. However, Black pregnant people continue to be disproportionally impacted by higher rates of maternal mortality, or death during pregnancy, during delivery, or up to one year postpartum. This week, we want to recognize the importance of Black maternal health and share important community resources available to support people of color in having a healthy pregnancy and postpartum experience.
National Public Health Week 2024 is coming to an end! We had such a fun week spent with staff and community partners as we celebrated public health and its importance in our community. Our theme for this year was "For the Public Health of It!" in which staff shared six-word stories that offered a unique reflection on how they support the health and safety of those in our community and what working in public health means to them.
