September is National Preparedness Month. The 2022 theme is "A Lasting Legacy." The life you've built is worth protecting. Take some time this month to build a kit and make a plan to protect your family and property.

Ashley Swanson joined the Saline County Health Department in December of 2021 as the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Director.

While Ashley may be new to the health department, she is no stranger to healthcare!

"My background is in nursing homes," she explained. "I worked my way up from an 18-year-old CNA to Administrator. I felt I needed a change of scenery, and I really enjoy what I do, even though I didn't see myself in finance!"

Ashley prepares reports for the Home Care Cost Report Audit, assures revenues and expenses are tracked properly, enters payroll, payables and revenues and is responsible for administrative and financial management of the health department. She also serves as the agency administrator in the absence of the health director and assists the director with oversight responsibilities for the health department.  

"I love being in a support role for helping the community with making sure the grants are done so we can provide the services," she said.

When she isn't working or being a taxi for her children, Ashley enjoys making shirts, signs, and other things with her cricut.

Did you know the Health Department provides resources to protect the health of those in Saline County through efforts to educate the public, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, infectious disease, terrorism, and mass casualty emergencies?

This is conducted in conjunction with Saline County Emergency Management and the healthcare partners in Salina and Saline County.

For the month of August, the staff at the Saline County Health Department held a fundraiser for Kansas Honor Flights. Thanks to our staff members and cash donations from Long McArthur and Southwinds Physical Therapy, staff raised a total of $1080. Local businesses generously donated goods to the office raffle, which was responsible for more than half of the funds raised for the flight.

The Kansas Honor Flight is an all-volunteer organization that works to honor Kansas veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War by providing them with an all-expense paid journey of honor and remembrance to visit their memorials in Washington, D.C. 

The cost to send one veteran on a Kansas Honor Flight is approximately $900. For more about Kansas Honor Flights, click the link below.

Find out more about the COVID-19 situation in Saline County, Kansas -

Teresa describes her brother RJ as creative, a talented writer, and incredibly bright. Teresa and RJ were extremely close growing up and as young adults, until RJ’s prescription opioid addiction took hold of him and eventually took his life. RJ was 32 when he passed away from a prescription opioid overdose. When they were kids, RJ would often host parties at their house when their mother was away, relying on Teresa to keep his parties a secret. Not wanting to betray her big brother’s trust, she kept his secrets safe, and she continued to do so as they got older and RJ began using prescription opioids recreationally. Teresa trusted her brother, so when he told Teresa he knew what he was taking and that she shouldn’t worry, she believed him. She was too young to anticipate how things could turn out, but looking back, she now wishes that she had reached out to get him help sooner.

RJ’s addiction led to car crashes, an arrest, and multiple failed attempts at treatment. He eventually enrolled in the military in an effort to get himself back on track. He served in Iraq in 2006 and returned home still struggling with his addiction. He was in recovery for six months before his final relapse and the overdose that caused his death. Following his passing, Teresa found RJ’s diary, which revealed her first true look into his suffering and struggle. It became clear to her that he had simply been pretending to be okay, when in fact, he was losing his battle with addiction. Teresa has become an advocate for drug use awareness and policy, among other social issues. She is co-founder of Speak Up Florida and is an ambassador for Shatterproof.