Loup Basin Public Health Department

Program Accomplishments:  Prevent, Promote, Protect

Youth Programs

Loup Basin Smiles:  Fluoride Varnish Program offered to Head Start and Elementary students in every school within the nine-county area.  Last year 37 schools participated, 1029 students were screened, 870 fluoride treatments provided, and 156 were referred to a dentist.

Scrubby Bear:  This hand washing program focuses on preventing the spread of communicable diseases.  720 students were provided the opportunity to learn the proper hand washing techniques in 2008.

Germ City: NEW! Advanced hand washing!  This program is geared toward older students and even worksites to promote prevention and the spread of communicable diseases.

Healthy Lifestyle Programs

Worksite Wellness:  Loup Basin Public Health Department has been helping worksites create and strengthen employee wellness programs.  Policy assessment and program ideas as well as opportunities for blood pressure and cholesterol screenings help employees improve their health.

Walk for Better Health:  This program is a spin-off of the worksite wellness program.  Join over 100 participants in walking for better health as an individual or as a team.  Receive a monthly newsletter, activity log, and a chance to win prizes.  Success stories include weight management and loss, increased energy, and overall better health for participants.

Tobacco Cessation & Awareness:  The health department is actively involved in tobacco cessation and awareness efforts.  Public health focuses on population-based health, but the health department is able to help individuals find resources within the nine-county area who are interested in counseling or are trying to quit.

• “No Limits” Youth Advocacy groups have been involved in ocal, state and national efforts.
• National speaker Gruen Von Behrns, cancer survivor, spoke to approximately 900 youth and 93 adults about the harmful effects of chewing tobacco.
• Clean Indoor Air Act:  The health department has been involved in educating and informing businesses about the Smoking Ban and works with businesses to help make a smooth transition.
• Worksites:  Businesses have worked to create successful tobacco policies with the help of the health department.  Concerned businesses and residents can contact LBPHD for assistance to comply with the new smoking ban, provide education for employees, or answer questions about tobacco issues.

Emergency Preparedness- (Planning, Collaborating, Practicing, Protecting): Planning is a critical component to preparedness.  A CO-OP plan has been developed to address the impact on the health department during a crisis and the steps to continue services if a disaster were to strike.  However, planning is only the first step.  Practice is equally important.  The Loup Basin Public Health Department hosted two exercises this year.  131 participants discussed the topics of pandemic flu and mass distribution clinics.  The result of the exercises created changes in tracking software and sparked the interest in another community to create a preparedness plan.  Just as important, the LBPHD emergency response coordinator collaborated with agencies in implementing five exercises throughout the district.  The topics for these exercises included pan flu, agriculture, large scale blizzard, treating dental patients, and a flu vaccination clinic.  Given the sparse population of the LBPHD area, it is very effective and efficient to collaborate and partner with the agencies who would be involved in a real crisis.