The Union County Health Council meets the third Thursday of each month at noon at Cherokee Health Systems, and meetings are open to the public. Last year the Health Council worked with the Health Department to complete a health assessment to determine the needs in our county.
Part of the assessment process involved getting feedback from the community to determine our biggest health concerns, which served as the primary driver of the action plan to be developed. We learned that three major health concerns were substance abuse, teen pregnancy and third grade reading level. The council took that information and formulated an action plan. Here is what is being done in each of those three areas.
1. Substance Abuse - Increase community understanding on the harms and associated risks of illegal substances with at least three community anti-drug events per year.
- Address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome among the inmate and probation population by providing monthly education on the syndrome and contraceptive options.
- Partner with other organizations to support evidence-based initiatives to end substance abuse. (Mindy Grimm, director of ICare, leads in coordinating efforts between ICare and the Health Council. She and Mary Nell Varner have been meeting with Knoxville Metro Drug Coalition about getting certified recovery congregations within Union County.)
- Educate the community about Hepatitis A and vaccinations.
- Identify vulnerable populations in the community who could benefit from Hepatitis A awareness and vaccinations.
2. Teen Pregnancy Prevention - Decrease unplanned teen pregnancies by holding at least two educational events for students per year, by developing and beginning two plans for improving family planning promotion, and by reaching out to at least five pregnant teens with information packets that include family planning information each year.
- Promote HPV vaccine uptake and family planning in the community.
- Explore what information can be given to seventh-grade students who come into the health department to receive their shots for school, and whether or not this is an opportunity to further promote family planning and HPV awareness.
- Provide a packet of information on resources available for pregnant teens.
- Participate in school and community-based prevention and awareness events.
3. Third Grade Reading Level - Improve reading levels among community members.
- Install little libraries at the Health Department and Big Ridge State Park.
- Add storybook trails at Big Ridge and Wilson Park.
- Hold at least two reading events/programs for children in the community such as story time at the health department and a reading/mentoring program at the health department or in the local schools and daycare centers.
- Distribute Talk to Me Baby1 or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)2 information to at least five families.
By February of each year, the council prepares specific plans for the upcoming year and reviews the previous year’s efforts.
The tremendous goals being addressed would not be possible without the active participation of the Health Council members: Jason Bailey, Catherine Brunson, Kathy Chesney, Kim Gipfert, Mindy Grimm, Dr. Mary Headrick, Leslie Hyde, Dr. Darrell Johnson, Debra Keck, Ursula Manning, Barbara Nicodemus, Sonja Sailor, Beth Sexton, Garnet Southerland, Alyshia Victoria, Brandy Walker, and Derek Wilson, and representatives from the community.
Many hands make light work! Please consider attending the next council meeting and participating in the discussion to help plan solutions to these issues that affect us all.
1. ACEs Resource Packet: https://www.ebookphp.com/talk-to-me-baby-how-you-can-support-young-chil…
2. Free EBook PDF: https://www.childhealthdata.org/docs/default-source/cahmi/aces-resource…