The Healthy Community Coalition team consists of nurses, health educators, community health workers and support staff who offer services and events to support healthy lifestyles that prevent disease and improve quality of life. Community outreach is ongoing in almost every town in the area. Together with community partners, our mobile health outreach includes:
- Health screenings
- Blood pressure checks
- Flu shots
- Body composition analysis
- Health and wellness education
- Connections to health resources (finding a doctor, health insurance, food pantries and more)
Harm reduction services are also available for people with substance use disorders. Our direct engagement helps prevent overdoses and infectious disease transmission, and improves physical, mental and social well-being.
What are harm reduction services?
The substance use disorder (SUD) crisis continues to negatively impact our community. Protecting the lives of people with SUD is critical until they are ready to begin a recovery plan. Harm reduction is an approach that emphasizes engaging directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission, and improve their physical, mental, and social well-being. Services include:
- Naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and is easy to administer
- Hepatitis and HIV at-home testing kits
- Wound care supplies
- Fentanyl test strips
- Safer sex supplies
- Relationship building and support
- Resource connections
Evidence shows that harm reduction services contribute to safer communities.