This Month in Health

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

In 2022, we launched the 'See Our Trails, Not Our Jails' campaign, leveraging community touchpoints to achieve our goal of reducing local accidents and instances of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

The campaign successfully utilized multiple channels to achieve wider visibility:

Restaurant Collaboration: The initiative partnered with local restaurants to distribute safety messaging using materials such as napkins, pint glasses and coasters.

Outdoor Advertising: Public awareness was further promoted via a dedicated billboard located in Port Henry.

This effort is part of an ongoing community campaign designed to promote awareness and education about impaired driving. Stay tuned for more in 2026!

Excessive alcohol use remains a public health concern across New York State.

Key Data Points

Approximately one in five adults in the state report engaging in binge or heavy drinking.

Health Impact: This level of consumption is a contributing factor to various injuries and the development of chronic diseases.

Youth Risk: A concern is youth substance use; nearly 90% of addictions begin before age 18, and alcohol is frequently identified as a gateway substance leading to other forms of misuse.

Focus on Essex County

There were 26 alcohol related crashes in Essex County in 2023. Viewing that as a standardized rate per 100,000 population, Essex County has almost twice as many alcohol related crashes than the NYS (excluding NYC) rate and almost 25% more than Upstate NY.

Consumption: High rates of overall alcohol consumption among the population.

Retailer Density: High density of alcohol retailers within the county.

Associated Disease: Elevated rates of chronic diseases linked to alcohol use.

Need route ideas?

Check out our walking maps of Elizabethtown👇

Walking Maps

Because the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has now declared the flu widespread across the state, we have officially activated our reporting for the 2025-2026 season.

On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, we began issuing weekly reports detailing the number of respiratory illnesses—including Flu, COVID-19, and RSV—within our county.

Protect Yourself: No single step provides 100% protection. The most effective way to reduce your risk is by using multiple layers of prevention.

To help stop the spread of respiratory viruses:

• Stay Up-to-Date: Keep current with your seasonal vaccines.
• Practice Hygiene: Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
• Clean Surfaces: Regularly disinfect high-touch areas in your home and workspace.
• Improve Air Quality: Seek fresh air and avoid overcrowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
• Mask Up: Consider wearing a mask when in crowded indoor settings.
• Stay Home: If you feel unwell, please stay home to protect others.

📱 Stay Connected on Social

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram👇 to get these weekly reports as soon as they are released.

Growing Up With Children's Services

Early Intervention Update

The Early Intervention program has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a 4% rate increase for services provided in rural and underserved areas. This approval was finalized on September 25, 2025, and the increase will be applied retroactively to April 1, 2025, as outlined in the 2024–25 New York State Budget.

This 4% increase applies to in-person Early Intervention services, including evaluations, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special instruction. (Telehealth services are not included.)

To determine which areas qualify, the state looks at three factors: poverty levels, rural status, and how long children are waiting for core services. Zip codes only need to meet one of these criteria to be included, and the list is reviewed at least once a year.

In Essex County, the qualifying zip codes are: Wilmington, Port Henry, Ticonderoga, and Ausable Forks.

Nourishing News from WIC

Emily French, Nutritionist/Breastfeeding Coordinator/Car Seat Technician recently spoke at the NYS DOH WIC Manager's Workshop about the WIC-N-Pick Program. Managers from every WIC in NYS were in attendance to share new or innovative ideas to promote healthy lifestyles.

This initiative, which first started in 2022, was a tremendous hit with our WIC families, and we were excited to bring it back for another season of fresh produce and community connection.

We completed 13 Tuesday WIC 'N' Pick evenings from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at DaCy Meadow Farm, and it was a resounding success. We were thrilled to see that 425 people attended the WIC 'N' PICK events this season!

This was a fantastic opportunity for our community to:

• Connect with other WIC families: Participants shared experiences, made new friends, and built a stronger community.
• Support a local farm: Our collective presence helped sustain DaCy Meadow Farm, a vital part of our local economy.
• Pick fresh produce: Families gathered an abundance of extra veggies, fragrant herbs, and beautiful flowers directly from the farm to take home and enjoy.

WIC 'N' PICK is more than just picking produce; it is about fostering healthy habits, supporting local agriculture, and strengthening the bonds within our WIC community. 

5th Annual WIC-MAS!🎄

WIC had special visitors last week. The Sherriff’s, NYS Troopers and the Grinch came together to drop toys off at WIC for the 5^th annual WIC-MAS.

The Grinch's heart grew very large at the sight of the amazing donations. WIC will have 117 families come through their office to pick out toys and clothes for their families.

Find a flu vaccine location here

Get your Narcan kit here

Healthy People in Healthy Communities