❄️ 6 More Weeks of Winter!
The verdict is in! Punxsutawney Phil, Jimmy the Groundhog, and Gordy of the Milwaukee County Zoo all saw their shadow meaning 6 more weeks of winter.
And with the current frigid temps, frostbite and hypothermia can happen quickly. Making sure to bundle up and limiting your time outside ensures your safety from the cold. Warming shelters are available throughout our communities to provide public spaces for community members to warm up and get out of the elements. Find a list of warming shelters in Winnebago County on our website and click here to learn more about how to stay safe in cold weather.
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👨👩👧👧 WIC: We Got You!
Have kids under 5 or a baby on the way? Count on WIC for nutritious foods, breastfeeding education and support, and access to health professionals and other community services.
Who qualifies?
- Pregnant women
- Postpartum mothers up to 6 months
- Breastfeeding mothers up to 1 year postpartum
- Infants and children up to age 5
- Fathers, guardians and foster parents may apply for WIC for their children.
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Find income eligibility guidelines at: dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/income-guidelines.htm
What's provided?
- Healthy, Wholesome Foods:
- Women (pregnant and postpartum) and children receive dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and iron rich foods.
- Infants, partially breastfed or non-breastfed, receive infant formula. Older infants receive cereals, fruits, vegetables and meats.
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Nutrition Education: WIC dieticians work with families to address healthy eating habits, infant feeding, dietary needs, food shopping and meal planning.
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Breastfeeding Support: WIC provides one-one-one breastfeeding support for mothers through classes, peer counseling, support groups and supplies.
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Referrals: WIC can connect families to health and community services, resources and programs for needs such as prenatal health care, smoking cessation, water testing, Medicaid, FoodShare and Head Start.
It's easy to apply for WIC! Call our Oshkosh office at 920-232-3350 or our Neenah office at 920-729-2945 for more information or click here to apply.
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Black History Month is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the achievements of Black and African Americans who have made and continue to make an influence on public health. And it is also a time to acknowledge the challenges and adversities that Black people face due to systemic, interpersonal and structural racism. Racism is a serious threat to the public's health and is a fundamental cause of health inequities and disparities throughout society. Click here to learn more about the impact of racism on our nation's health.
Celebrating Black and African American Trailblazers in Public Health
Black and African Americans throughout history have made brilliant breakthroughs in every major discipline of public health. Those highlighted below come from an extensive list of Black trailblazers.
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Alice Augusta Ball is best known for her research that led to the creation of the first injectable leprosy treatment proving successful in alleviating symptoms associated with leprosy and forever changing the treatment of this highly contagious disease.
Dr. Hildrus Poindexter was a specialist in tropical diseases, epidemiology, and microbiology in the public health field. He was the first African American to receive an M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1929.
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Dr. Regina Marcia Benjamin may be best known for her tenure as the 18th U.S. Surgeon General from 2009-2013. In this role, Benjamin led the operational command of 6,500 uniformed public health officers who served around the world.
Michelle Obama promoted healthy eating and ending childhood obesity through her Let’s Move! campaign, which she initiated in 2010, on the same date that President Obama created the Task Force on Childhood Obesity.
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✔️ Be prepared. Have a plan.
Deaths from opioid overdose are at an all-time high across the state and our local communities due to Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. Fentanyl is being mixed into a variety of substances without people’s knowledge, and it’s increasingly being found in our area.
The Winnebago County Health Department supports efforts that work on preventing substance use, reducing harm, and increasing access to treatment. Narcan and Fentanyl Test Strips are available, free of charge, during normal business hours at the Winnebago County Health Department in Oshkosh, 112 Otter Avenue (Second Floor). No insurance or ID needed.
Narcan, also known as naloxone, is used in opioid overdoses to counteract life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. Anyone can pick up and carry Narcan. If given to someone overdosing on opioids, it can save their life.
Fentanyl Test Strips detect the presence of fentanyl in substances prior to use. Fentanyl cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.
More Information:
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🍽️ Extra FoodShare Benefits Ending at End of February
Due to changes in federal law, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that FoodShare recipients will no longer receive the additional emergency allotments provided during the pandemic, effective March 1, 2023. Regular benefits within FoodShare will continue, but the last month for extra benefits is February.
For example: In February 2023, a household will get $281 in regular FoodShare benefits plus $95 in extra COVID-19 FoodShare benefits. Starting in March 2023, the household will no longer get the extra $95 in benefits.
DHS has created a new webpage with additional information regarding this change and resources for nutrition support and financial assistance. If you are in need of additional local resources, including food pantry locations, please call 2-1-1 or visit their website.
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📈 Communicable Diseases in Winnebago County
One of the roles of public health is to detect, prevent and control illness in the community by investigating all reportable communicable diseases, monitoring disease rates and trends, and guiding strategies to prevent spread of diseases. As part of this, we provide education on communicable diseases and outbreak management, and we provide data on the diseases prevalent in Winnebago County in our quarterly Communicable Disease Report. The most current Communicable Disease Report can be viewed here. Archived reports can be found on our website. Sign up here to automatically receive the Quarterly Communicable Disease reports via email.
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❤️ February is American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. To lower your risk:
- Watch your weight.
- Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
- Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
- Get active and eat healthy.
Help to promote American Heart Month and bring awareness to heart disease by wearing red on Friday, February 3. For more info visit American Heart Association (AHA).
Click on the flyer to download and share.
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🏠 Make Your Home Safe for You
The health department provides services to residents of Winnebago County to ensure the safety of those over the age of 55, including providing Falls Risk Assessments. Falls are common, but preventable.
When scheduling a Falls Risk Assessment a public health nurse will come to your home to discuss your health history and provide information for a healthy home environment. Our nurses can help you identify needs and link you to resources to ensure your safety in your home.
Call 920-232-3000 or email health@winnebagocountywi.gov for more information or to schedule a free nurse visit.
Click on the flyer to download and share.
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⚧️ National Condom Day February 14
National Condom Day is an ideal opportunity to promote healthy relationships, and remind people about the risks of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies. You can pick up free condoms at the Oshkosh and Neenah Health Department offices (112 Otter Ave, Oshkosh and 211 N Commercial St, Neenah).
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😷 COVID-19 Update
The CDC Community Level for Winnebago County is currently LOW. Get tested if you have symptoms or were exposed. Stay home if you are sick. Test before you go to a group gathering. Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations. Find this information and more in our weekly COVID-19 Data Summaries.
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💪🏽 Ongoing Wellness Class | | |
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Strong Bodies is a research proven strength training class for men and women 55 and older. Research shows that strength training improves bone density, reduces falls, improves arthritis symptoms, increases flexibility and improves mood and confidence levels.
Classes are ongoing and you can join at any time. Days and times vary by location. Locations include, but not limited to, Neenah Highlands at Mahler Park, Menasha Senior Center, Winneconne Highlands Senior Center, and Bridge of Faith Baptist Church in Omro.
If you have questions please call 920-232-3000. Click the image to download and share.
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🩹 COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing | |
Click on the flyer to download and share. Contact us to request additional languages. | |
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Public Health Information
Communicable Disease, Environmental Concerns, Community Resources,
WIC, and more!
Contact 920-232-3000 or visit our website.
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Non-Medical Related Information
Utility, Food & Housing Assistance, Elder Care, Crisis Intervention, Alcohol & Drug Recovery
Contact 211 or visit their website.
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Mission: Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) protects and promotes health through services, partnerships, and equitable practices and policies so all can live their best life. | |
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STAY UP TO DATE!
Visit wchd.pub/newsletter to receive Public Health Happenings, press releases or public service announcements from the Winnebago County Health Department.
Find a copy of this newsletter on our website.
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Please distribute widely. The format may be altered when forwarded in an email. Find a shareable link here. | | | | |
