Tag: CHIP

Goochland Health Department to Host an Open House

Goochland, Va. – The Chickahominy Health District (CHD) invites you to explore the services available at the Goochland Health Department during an Open House event on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Health Department is located in the Goochland County Administration building: 1800 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland, VA 23063.

“This is an opportunity for community members to learn more about the public health programs provided by their local health department and ask us questions. We’ll have staff available to discuss clinical services, the WIC nutrition program, our environmental health program, naloxone education, and the car seat program, among other topics,” stated Emily Hines, CHD’s Population Health Planning and Improvement Coordinator. “Attendees will have the opportunity to provide recommendations regarding the recently published 2025-2029 Goochland County Community Health Improvement Plan so we’re looking forward to your input!”

There will also be food, activities, and a chance to receive a thank-you prize during the event. The Open House is for all Goochland County community members and local organizations. For more information about the Chickahominy Health District, please visit: www.vdh.virginia.gov/chickahominy.

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Central Shenandoah Health District Reminds Residents About Lead Poisoning Hazards

October 20, 2025
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, Rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998

Central Shenandoah Health District Reminds Residents About Lead Poisoning Hazards
Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 19-25

STAUNTON, Va. – Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 19-25. The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) is committed to educating the community about lead poisoning. Childhood exposure can be reduced if families can recognize and lessen lead hazards within the home.

Lead is a highly toxic and naturally occurring metal found in the environment. Lead can cause negative health effects. Even low levels of lead in blood are associated with developmental delays, behavioral issues and attention and learning problems.

“There is no safe blood level of lead,” says Dr. Allison Baroco, Acting Health Director for CSHD. “It’s important to take any elevated levels seriously to help identify and remove the source of exposure, especially for children.”

Common sources of lead exposure include:

  • Paint found in houses built before 1978.
  • Soil surrounding old buildings or near airports, highways, or factories.
  • Water from lead pipes.
  • Certain jobs and hobbies.
  • Consumer products including some imported toys, jewelry, spices, candies, and medicines.

Most children with elevated blood lead levels will not have any physical symptoms. Higher blood levels can cause headaches, irritability, hearing loss and abdominal pain. If you are concerned about potential lead exposure should talk to your health care provider about testing. A blood lead test is the only sure way to determine if a child has been exposed to lead.

Simple prevention measures to reduce the risk of exposure include:

  • Cleaning floors and surfaces regularly using wet methods.
  • Washing children’s hands, toys, and bottles often.
  • Preventing children from playing in bare soil.
  • Removing shoes before entering the home.
  • Preparing nutritious meals high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C.
  • Using cold tap water for cooking and drinking.
  • Keeping paint intact and undisturbed.

The Virginia Department of Health recently introduced a new public education campaign aimed at helping families recognize and reduce lead hazards in their homes. The campaign features an alligator mascot named “Chip,” who helps people spot a telltale sign of lead-based paint: cracked, scaly surfaces that look like alligator skin.

For more information on how to keep your family safe from lead exposure, visit the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program webpage or contact the Central Shenandoah Health Districts Environmental Health office at (540) 332-7830.

Rappahannock Area Health District and Mary Washington Healthcare Seek Community Input for Health Assessment

November 21, 2024
RAHD Media Contact: Allison Balmes-John, Allison.Balmes@vdh.virginia.gov
MWHC Media Contact: Eric Fletcher, Eric.Fletcher@mwhc.com

Rappahannock Area Health District and Mary Washington Healthcare Seek Community Input for Health Assessment

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) and Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) invite community members aged 15 and older to take a quick, anonymous survey about important health issues. The survey is open to those who live in the City of Fredericksburg and Caroline, King George, Orange, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland counties.

“This is a great opportunity for community members to make their voices heard about the biggest health issues facing our area,” said RAHD Director Olugbenga Obasanjo, M.D. “We use this feedback to guide decisions about programs and services that are prioritized in our area. The results are taken very seriously by the health department, the healthcare system, and many other community-based organizations.”

The survey can be completed in English at https://redcap.link/CHAsurvey_PD16, or in Spanish at https://redcap.link/CHAencuesta_PD16 . Questions ask respondents to share their thoughts on the biggest health concerns facing the community as well as the greatest opportunities for health improvements. Demographic information is requested to ensure responses from different groups and geographic areas, but no identifiable information is requested. Upon completion of the survey, respondents will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for one of 20 $25 gift cards.

“We want to hear from as many community members as possible through this process,” said Xavier Richardson, senior vice president for MWHC. “Our residents see things impacting the health of our community that we may not see, and this is a great chance to help bring to light things not shown in other data sources.”

This survey is part of the broader Community Health Assessment (CHA) effort, which examines health issues including rates of disease, access to care, patterns of behavior, and social factors that contribute to health. Assessment results will inform the development of a five-year Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) based on community priorities.

Additional opportunities for feedback are also available through a series of focus groups taking place through mid-December. To learn more about focus group opportunities, please contact 540-899-4797 or rahd_callcenter@vdh.virginia.gov.

For more information on the previous CHA and CHIP, please visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock/fy23-fy25_cha-chip or www.marywashingtonhealthcare.com/foundations/community-benefit-fund.

Rappahannock Area Health District and Mary Washington Healthcare Announce Launch of 2025 Community Health Assessment

September 12, 2024
RAHD Media Contact: Allison Balmes-John, Allison.Balmes@vdh.virginia.gov
MWHC Media Contact: Eric Fletcher, Eric.Fletcher@mwhc.com

Rappahannock Area Health District and Mary Washington Healthcare Announce Launch of 2025 Community Health Assessment

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) and Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) are excited to announce the launch of their joint 2025 Community Health Assessment (CHA) for Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties, and the City of Fredericksburg, as well as MWHC’s surrounding service areas. Building on the success of their 2022 collaboration, which saw participation from more than 70 organizations, including nonprofits, faith-based groups, and government agencies, RAHD and MWHC are embarking together on this important initiative once again.

“Our last Community Health Assessment in 2022 exceeded our expectations. We saw a multitude of organizations come together to collaboratively address the biggest issues affecting health in our community which had not been seen before in our area,” said Xavier Richardson, MWHC Senior Vice President and President of Mary Washington Foundation and Stafford Hospital Foundation. “We look forward to improving upon that experience to engage even more organizations and people in our region in the 2025 assessment.”

The CHA is a critical tool for gaining a comprehensive understanding of our community’s health needs and resources. Expanding the focus beyond traditional healthcare measures, this assessment will explore a broad range of social drivers of health, including housing, income, employment, education, food insecurity, and access to care. This collaborative effort will engage various organizations, groups, and residents to paint a detailed picture of health and health disparities in our community.

“The CHA is about getting a clear picture of the urgent health needs in our community and aligning community resources to better address those needs,” said Dr. Olugbenga Obasanjo, Health Director for RAHD. “A key step is to hear directly from residents about the health needs in our community, and we encourage community members from all walks of life to get involved and provide feedback during this process.”

To launch the CHA, a series of kickoff meetings will be held throughout the region:

  • Thursday, Sept. 26, 1 – 2:30 p.m., Porter Library, 2001 Parkway Blvd., Stafford
  • Friday, Sept. 27, 12 – 1:30 p.m., Fick Center, 1301 Sam Perry Blvd., Fredericksburg
  • Thursday, Oct. 3, 1 – 2:30 p.m., Salem Church Library, 2607 Salem Church Road, Fredericksburg
  • Tuesday, Oct. 15, 12 – 1:30 p.m., Caroline Community Services Center, EOC Conference Room, 17202 Richmond Turnpike, Milford
  • Thursday, Oct. 17, 12 – 1:30 p.m., King George Citizens Center, 8076 Kings Highway, King George
  • Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7 – 8:30 p.m., online meeting

Residents, as well as representatives from local businesses, nonprofits and government organizations, are invited to attend any of the kickoff meetings. Lunch will be provided at all in-person meetings. Registration is requested, and is available at https://tinyurl.com/chakickoff2025

The assessment will incorporate both quantitative data and qualitative feedback to identify key health priorities. The insights gained will inform the development of a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), aimed at enhancing population health outcomes and addressing community inequities. RAHD and MWHC plan to initiate the three year CHIP process in spring 2025, following the completion of the CHA.

For more information on the previous CHA and CHIP, please visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock/fy23-fy25_cha-chip or www.marywashingtonhealthcare.com/foundations/community-benefit-fund. For additional information about the CHA and CHIP processes, please visit the NACCHO website at https://www.naccho.org/programs/public-health-infrastructure/performance-improvement/community-health-assessment

Pittsylvania-Danville Health and Southside Health Districts Conduct Meeting to Recognize and Educate Staff

May 9, 2024
Media Contact: Linda Scarborough, PIO, linda.scarborough@vdh.virginia.gov

Pittsylvania-Danville Health and Southside Health Districts Conduct Meeting to Recognize and Educate Staff

CHATHAM, Va.– The Pittsylvania-Danville (PDHD) and Southside (SSHD) Health Districts held an All Staff Meeting on April 19, at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham, VA. The meeting was hosted by Dr. Scott Spillmann, director of the two health districts.

During one of the sessions, Dr. Spillmann gave an overview of the Robert W. Johnson County Health Rankings. The County Health Rankings is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI). Through this data, counties within each state are ranked on more than 30 health factors such as education, jobs, and access to quality health care.

Population Health Manager Brenna Link discussed the Community Health Assessment (CHA) and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) processes. The CHA is an examination of the health status of the community that is used to identify key health issues and assets within the community. Based on the data discovered in the CHA, a collaborative plan (CHIP) brings multiple local organizations/groups and residents together to develop an action plan for the community.

To further educate the group, special guest Phil Hysell, science and operations officer with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Va., gave a presentation on dangerous weather conditions, which included identification of various thunderstorm and cloud types.

Additional topics covered during the meeting included a staff health and wellness session presented by Kelsey Jones of CommonHealth Virginia. The health district’s Business Manager, Krystal Davis, covered a variety of employee engagement topics, including various updates scheduled for the facilities to enhance the work environments at both health district offices.

Several team building exercises were conducted during the day, including staff forming small groups to move stacks of Solo cups into a six-cup pyramid shape using a grappler tool made from a string and rubber band.

Other special guests included: Susan Fischer Davis, M.D., chief deputy commissioner for community health services; Michael Kalson, district senior HR manager; Christina Niblett, regional HR business partner; Brookie Crawford, central region public information officer (PIO) and Linda Scarborough, western region PIO.

Also recognized during the event was Tracy Corns, BSN, RN. Tracy’s compassion and expertise helped comfort an individual who needed emergency medical attention. Recently, Tracy was leaving the Department of Social Services (DSS) to return to the health department office. She saw a man walking towards the building who she thought appeared to look ill. As he was headed into the DSS building, Tracy held the door for him and asked how he was feeling. While he thought he might be having a heart attack, he refused to let Tracy contact 911. She advised DSS to watch for any deteriorating symptoms which may require medical assistance. He later returned to the health department to ask for Tracy to call 911. As they waited for the ambulance to arrive, Tracy took his vitals and continued to comfort the man.  Once the medical personnel arrived, the electrocardiogram indicated that he was having a heart attack, and he was transported to the hospital. Tracy was presented with a certificate of recognition during the staff meeting for her keen observation and her compassion to readily assist someone faced with a dire medical emergency.

Both PDHD and SSHD offer a variety of community health services to prevent disease, promote healthy lifestyles and protect our community from environmental and other hazards. You can learn more about these services on PDHD or SSHD websites.

Chickahominy Health District and Partner Agencies to Host New Kent Community Health Forum

September 28, 2022
Media Contact: Caitlin Hodge, Caitlin.Hodge@vdh.virginia.gov

Chickahominy Health District and Partner Agencies to Host New Kent Community Health Forum

New Kent, Va. – The Chickahominy Health District and community partners will kick off the New Kent County Community Health Improvement Planning (CHIP) on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. All New Kent based organizations and community members are invited to take part in this process to help identify health priorities by reviewing the results of the recently completed Community Health Assessment (CHA).

Community partners, including Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern Division, Department of Social Services, Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond, Habitat for Humanity Peninsula & Greater Williamsburg, Mind Meld Psychotherapy, New Kent Economic Development, New Kent County Fire & Rescue / Emergency Management, New Kent County Parks & Recreation, New Kent County Public Schools, Plan RVA, Proclaiming Grace Outreach, Senior Connections, Thrive VA, United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, Victim Witness, and VCU Health – New Kent Emergency Center have worked hard over the last few months to identify strengths and challenges present in New Kent County. We will discuss those findings and will be determining priorities, as well as discussing potential strategies for improving the community’s overall health and wellbeing. As part of the process, priority goals will be set for improving the county’s health over the next few years. Community input is valued and encouraged, and residents are invited to attend the CHIP meetings to provide input.

“We are excited to bring the community together to select health issues and collectively develop strategies to address the needs of the community,” stated the district’s Community Health Coordinator, Emily Hines. “We hope to see you there!”

The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. and end by 12:00 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Training Room (11995 Courthouse Circle, New Kent, VA 23124). A virtual option will also be available for those wanting to participate online. Please register to attend by visiting https://bit.ly/NKCForum2022 or emailing CHDWellness@vdh.virginia.gov. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

To learn more, visit: www.vdh.virginia.gov/chickahominy/community-health-assessment/ or call 804-572-3672.

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