The Barren River District Health Department provides group health education and promotion activities targeted toward the general population. Program topics in this area include: personal safety and injury prevention, stress management, fitness, nutrition, healthy aging, smoking cessation, sexually transmitted infections, cardiovascular disease, dental education, blood borne pathogens training and HIV/AIDS education for both the general public and for Health professionals.
Community Projects
Staff work with community partners to plan, facilitate and evaluate evidence-based strategies that are relevant to the communities they cover. Typical activities for team members include: media interviews, car seat checkup events, facilitating meetings and professional education programs, gathering data on health issues, designing and maintaining Web Quests, planning and organizing community events with community partners, coalition building, providing latest health related information through health fairs, physicians and dentists offices, and any public gathering facility.
Target populations for projects vary and are ever-changing. Some examples of activities and strategies are described below:
Body Mass Index project –
Beginning in 2001, Public Health professionals in Barren River District investigated how Barren River children compared to the national average in terms of being overweight. Working with schools in our district, we began to collect height and weight information from physical forms required for kindergarten and 6th grade entry. Our Health Information team analyzed and summarized the data for presentation to interested school and community groups. We found that among sixth grade students surveyed, 30% had BMI’s equal to or greater than the 95th percentile. This is compared to 15% nationwide. This has helped spark the formation of coalitions to deal with nutrition and physical activity in several of our counties. Our Clinical branch also focuses on the importance of proper nutrition and weight in our WIC program as well as our Well Child program.
Injury prevention
(Bucklebear, Living Seatbelt, booster seats and seatbelt safety) – Bucklebear is a musical lap puppet that talks to kids ages 2-8 about seat belts, air bags, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety. Bucklebear and Bucklebear programs are distributed by the Bucklebear creators and producers. These materials can be used to provide to preschools, learning centers, daycares and elementary schools a creative way to teach young children. All materials are copyrighted. For more information on Bucklebear you can visit him at his website
www.bucklebear.com.
Healthy Cooking and Eating classes –
CHP staff offer a variety of cooking and eating nutritiously educational classes. Demonstrations, taste testing and recipe cards give a hands on approach to learning to change old habits into new behaviors.
Senior Center exercise programs –
Chair volleyball, stretching and flexibility moves are incorporated into this program for the “mature” adult to stay active and alert.
Bullying Prevention Workshop -
Bullying Prevention Workshops are offered to parents, educators and school personnel as well as classes for children grades 3-5. Classes are designed to assist in identifying current trends in bullying, define the three types of bullying, and develop an intervention plan.
Sexting/Texting Workshops -
Workshop is offered to children in grades 6th and up and is intended to highlight the dangers that lurk when youth send inappropriate content via cell phone, social networking websites, and emails. Workshops do not include any sexual content in their presentations.
Child Care Health Consultation (CCHC)– formerly 'Healthy Start in Child Care' is a 'Kids NOW' Initiative that was implemented in July 2000. It was established in order to reach the goal that all children in Kentucky are healthy and safe. The program provides consultation on health, safety, nutrition, and social/emotional well being to child care providers. Trained Child Care Health Consultants provide group and individual education for childcare staff. They also partner with Early Childhood Councils and resource and referral agencies in their area to ensure collaboration and coordination on issues impacting the quality of child care.
Bloodborne Pathogens Training -
CHP staff offer Bloodborne Pathogens training to businesses and schools in the community. The training is designed to provide information to staff on how to recognize potential exposure to blood and other infectious materials as well as how to prevent exposures, and what to do in the event of an exposure incident. A web-based self study class for school staff is also available. For more information or to schedule a training, please call
Ashley Elkin (270)781-8039 ext 191.
Community-based partnership committed to reducing the number of deaths and illnesses attributed to tobacco use. For more information call
Joyce Adkins at 781-8039 ext. 138 or
Carol Douglas at 781-8039 ext. 144.
Cooper Clayton Smoking Cessation Program - an effective method to becoming a non-smoker. Each participant will use a type of nicotine replacement product (gum, patch, or lozenge) at a discounted price. Using these products will minimize nicotine withdrawal. Meetings will be held once a week for 13 weeks. Over the course of the program, participants will learn different techniques to handle the triggers that prompt cravings. This program is also successful for people who use spit tobacco. All facilitators are healthcare professionals who received instruction through the Cooper Clayton training course. Facilitators have been trained in evaluation individual smoking patterns, introducing behavior modification techniques, leading group discussions, and minimizing relapse. For more information or to sign up for a class, please contact Carol Douglas at (270) 781-8039 ext. 144.
is comprised of a comprehensive group of individuals from Butler, Logan, and Simpson Counties. The Board's mission is to develop a long-term strategy that is designed to reduce the occurrence of youth and adult alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and addiction by the implementation of prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies.
The Board holds bi-monthly meetings alternating in the three county area. The Board accepts applications year round to provide grant funding to entities wishing to pursue programs that correlate with the goals and objectives of the ASAP Board. If you wish to know more about the funding or apply for funds, please download the B-L-S mini grant application.
