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Free Testing Offered as
Part of National HIV Testing Day
Free, rapid HIV tests
will be available at four Northern Kentucky locations in observance of
National HIV Testing
Day.
Testing will be done on Thursday, June 27, at the Boone County Health
Center, Campbell County Health Center and Kenton County Health Center; and
on Friday, June 28, at the City Heights Health Fair.
Learn more.
Changes to Medicaid
Impact Services for Children
In the past, the Health Department
has provided well-child health care to those children covered by Medicaid.
But, a shift in reimbursement guidelines mean that children are now required
to get well care at their regular doctors.
It’s estimated that 1,800 families
throughout Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties will be affected.
Learn more.
2013 Awards of Excellence in Public Health
Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Awards of Excellence in
Public Health: Christina Rust, for her efforts to immunize against whooping
cough; and Mark Ihrig, for on-going support in disaster preparedness.
Learn more.
Flu Season Ends with Record Numbers
Tracking of
flu cases in Northern Kentucky
ended May 25, 2013.
A total of
3,492 cases of flu were reported.
This makes the 2012-2013 season the highest ever.
Eight deaths were reported.
Low-Cost
Hepatitis B Vaccine Available for High Risk Groups
Northern Kentucky residents who are considered high-risk for contracting
hepatitis B are
now eligible for low-cost vaccine at the Health Department. The vaccine
consists of three doses given over a six-month period. Cost is on a
sliding-fee scale based on the patient’s income and family size, with no one
turned away for inability to pay. The vaccine is available by appointment at
the Health Department’s four
county health centers through a grant from the Kentucky Department for
Public Health. Adults age 19 and older in high-risk groups are targeted for
vaccination and include: men and women who are sexually active with multiple
partners; men who have sex with men; individuals diagnosed with type I or
type II diabetes, hepatitis C, HIV or a sexually transmitted disease;
individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse; and household or sexual
contacts of a person infected with hepatitis B. Those interested in
vaccination can be screened further by health center staff when scheduling
an appointment.
Eleven Schools Recognized for
Excellence in School Heatlh Many schools in Northern Kentucky
are actively shaping the health and wellness of their students and staff.
The Health Department supports these efforts through its school health
initiatives. As a part of this, the Award of Excellence in School Health was
developed to recognize and celebrate schools in Northern Kentucky that have
policies, programs, and the infrastructure to support and promote school
health. This year, 11 Northern Kentucky schools will be recognized with
either a gold, silver or bronze level Award of Excellence in School Health.
Read the
news releae, including info about all 11 winners.
Supermarket Tours with Diabetes
Educators
The
Northern Kentucky Diabetes Coalition is hosting free supermarket tours to
provide real-time nutrition information to those with diabetes. A tour is planned for
6:30 to
8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, at Meijer, 5400 Alexandria Pike, Cold
Spring, Ky.
Participants will have a chance to sample healthy foods, get personalized
tips for healthy shopping, learn to read labels and learn how carbohydrate
counting can be incorporated into grocery shopping. Health information will
also be available in the pharmacy. All participants will receive a reusable
shopping bag filled with information and product samples. Registration
is required to guarantee a space. Please email your name, contact info and
which tour time you prefer to
NKYDiabetesCoalition@gmail.com or call Julie Shapero at 859.363.2116 or
Joan Geohegan at 859.363.2115.
Public Health Accreditation: One of First in Nation
The
Health Department was one of eleven in the nation to be accredited by the
Public Health Accreditation Board,
the
independent organization that administers the national public health
accreditation program.To
achieve accreditation status, the Health Department had to undergo a
rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process. It had to assure
that it is providing the 10 Essential Public Health Services, and
demonstrate that the agency supports efforts for quality improvement.
Learn more.
Healthy Challenge 2013 A school-wide
program for all students and staff, the Healthy Challenge is offered
by the Health Department for National Nutrition Month every year in March.
The theme of National Nutrition Month this year is "Eat Right, Every Day,"
and the Healthy Challenge will focus on helping families use the US
Department of Agriculture's My Plate guidelines. The goal of the challenge
this year will again be to eat five servings of fruits or vegetables each
day and consume zero sugar-sweetened beverages each day for seven days
(juice and milk are exempt).
Learn more.
Medical Reserve Corps The Northern Kentucky Medical Reserve Corps is a branch of the federal government's Medical Reserve Corps program, and its goal is to provide a volunteer pool for the region that can enhance and support first responders, public health agencies and the health care infrastructure during a crisis. Anyone interested in joining the Medical Reserve Corps is invited to attend a two-hour training session from
9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at the Health Department's District Office. Learn more.
Walking School Bus/Safe Routes to
School in Erlanger
As part of Kentucky's Safe Routes to School program, children in Erlanger
are getting to/from school using what's called a Walking School Bus. The
children are physically active and arrive at school safely, with adult
supervison. Learn more.
Annual
Report Now Posted
In fiscal year 2011-2012, the Health
Department was
efficient, ready to respond, proactive, able to lead and able to follow. See
how by reading our
most recent
annual report.
Health Centers Now Accept Credit,
Debit Cards
Clients of the Health Department’s
county health
centers now have the option of paying any fees associated with their
services by credit
or debit card. The health centers began accepting Visa, Mastercard,
Discover and several debit-card networks such as Jeanie and Pulse, on July
2. In the first month that the Health Department accepted credit/debit
cards, fee collection was double that of the same month the previous year.
Radon Test Kits Available Again
The Health Department is once again offering free radon test kits to
residents of Boone, Campbell, Grant or Kenton Counties.
Radon gas is known to be a cancer-causing agent. According to the U. S.
Surgeon General, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in
the United States, after cigarette use.
Learn more and request
a kit.
Whooping Cough Vaccination Urged
TRUST: Tobacco Retailer Training
Kentucky is
educating tobacco retailer employees to prevent the sale of cigarettes to
underage youth. As part of this effort, state tobacco prevention
specialists have developed a FREE program called
Tobacco
Retailer Underage Sales Training (TRUST). According to the Food and Drug
Administration, having employees trained through a program that follows FDA
guidelines such as TRUST could reduce fines to store owners if they were
found in violation of federal tobacco laws.
Concerned About Bedbugs?
With the recent news reports about bed bugs
in the region, many have questions about the insects. Find out more about
bed bugs, how they spread and steps you can take to try to prevent them from
infesting your home or business.
Learn more.
Paternity
Acknowledgement
Parents who are not married and who did not have
the father's name listed on the birth certificate at the hospital may want
to legally establish paternity by completing a
paternity affidavit at the Health Department's
county health centers.
The process is free and can be done by appointment. Please call the
health center most
convenient to you and ask for the clerical coordinator. Please note: Both
parents must be at the appointment to complete the affidavit and must bring
proof of identity. Also note: the Health Department does
NOT
provide
paternity testing. For more information on
paternity affidavits, please call 1.888.675.7425.
HIV/AIDS Case Management Program
The
HIV/AIDS Case Management program provides support, referrals and guidance
for persons living with HIV/AIDS and members of their households
as part of
the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Care Coordinator
program.
Assistance is available to people living in Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Grant,
Gallatin, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton Counties.
Learn
more.
Birth and Death Certificates The Health Department does not
provide copies of official birth and death certificates locally. They must be
obtained from the
Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.
Northern Kentucky residents wishing to obtain an official copy of a birth of
death certificate have several options to obtain a birth or death certificate,
including by phone, online, mail or in person.
Learn more about obtaining a copy of a birth or death certificate.
What's Going Around?
Find out about illnesses that are currently circulating at
a higher rate than usual in Northern Kentucky (Boone, Campbell, Grant and
Kenton Counties) on the What's Going Around
page.
Find-it-Fast
The
Find-it-Fast page is designed to help you quickly find information about
diseases, health topics and services provided by the Health Department.
Have Mold in Your Home?
Mold in houses, apartments and condominiums is a potentially serious
health risk. If you have mold in your dwelling, you can fix the problem and
keep it from coming back.
Learn more.
Find Help
Quitting on Facebook

The Health Department's smoking cessation program has launched a Facebook
page. From the page, you can learn more about the health benefits of
smoke-free air and resources to help you quit smoking. Note: You must first
log on with a Facebook account and then you'll be taken to the page.
New
Retail Food Establishments
The Health
Department is responsible for inspecting and regulating any establishment
serving food, whether it's a restaurant or a temporary food establishment.
Learn more about the steps that need to be taken to open a new
permanent or temporary food establishment.
Volunteer with the Health Department
There are a variety of ways in which you can volunteer for the Health
Department. Apply
online.
District Board of Health The Northern Kentucky
District Board of Health and Executive Committee has announced meeting dates for
2013. Please check the Board of
Health Web page for dates, times, and locations. For more information call
859.341.4264.
Local Board of Health Meetings
The Boone County, Campbell County, Grant County and Kenton County Local Boards
of Health meet periodically. Please check the
Meeting Schedule page for times and locations.
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