Indiana has 95 local health departments across the state focused on improving Hoosier health and safety.
Here are a few ways public health is working to meet the needs of their communities:
Indiana North
Montgomery County
Diaper Pantry
Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) began offering a diaper pantry in January 2024. Parents can apply for diapers, or they can be referred by community partners. The number of diapers a family is given is based on the child’s age.
The diaper pantry gives MCHD the opportunity to connect with families in the community and offer education on safe sleep, water safety, child lead poisoning prevention and immunizations. Administrator Adrianne Northcutt says the MCHD team meets families where they are and offers individualized resources and support.
The diaper pantry recently served a local family in need. A community partner referred the family and MCHD supplied them with a month’s supply of diapers for three children. This program is sustained by Health First Indiana funding and continues to be a touchpoint between MCHD and community members.
Indiana Central
Parke County
Life Jacket Distribution
On May 4, Parke County Health Department (PCHD) distributed 43 life jackets to children participating in the Fishing Derby at Rockville Lake. Because of Health First Indiana funding, PCHD raised awareness about water safety and injury prevention. “Ensuring the safety of our community members, especially children, is paramount”, says Natalie Cole, Parke County Health Department nurse. “By providing life jackets to young anglers at the Fishing Derby, we hope to instill good safety practices early on and reduce the risk of water-related injuries”.
As part of the ongoing Health First Indiana campaign, PCHD is focusing on trauma and injury prevention initiatives. “We believe that prevention is key to maintaining the health and wellbeing of our community”, says Cole. “By working together with partners like Rockville Lake, we can make significant strides in promoting safety and reducing the incidence of preventable injuries”.
View the full article here.
Indiana South
Ohio County
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Checks for Students
Ohio County Health Department (OCHD) School Health Liaison Regina Crouch partnered with a local school nurse, Jamie Works, to scan students for cardiac conditions. MCore Foundation provided a mobile unit and checked students ages 12-18 for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). According to the MCore Foundation, SCA in youth is not uncommon.
Because of HFI funding, MCore Foundation checked 32 students. They identified three students for follow-up testing and one student with a critical heart condition. According to OCHD Administrator Penny Koons, identifying a critical case is important to the Ohio County community. In the past, an Ohio County student lost their life to SCA, so preventing future death is of utmost importance. OCHD is hosting another SCA check with MCore Foundation this fall, and another clinic is scheduled for 2025. Clinics will be hosted biyearly until all students have been checked. The goal is to have all Ohio County students checked before age 15.
