The Navajo County Health Department provided breakfast and a presentation for this month’s Good Morning Winslow, held at the Chamber of Commerce. Community Health Liasion McKayla Keems was on hand to speak on the many programs geared toward the overall health of county residents.
Some available resources include injury prevention, such car seat safety, tobacco education and cessation support, chronic disease management and child care health consultations. Also included is child care facility staff trainings and information.
Beyond those, the county also offers resources and outreach surrounding teen health topics, mental health education and substance abuse.
According to an outline distributed by the health department, the Teen Health Program includes curriculum geared to teens from middle school through high school. Keems said, “These are evidence-based programs, so we know that they work.”
The evidence on the “Love Notes” program has been provided by The Dibble Institute, a national non-profit that focuses on relationship training for youth, especially, as their website states, in the context of dating and romantic connections. The institute is widely recognized as developing a credible impact on key target areas for adolescent and young adults.
“Love Notes,” according to the information provided by Keems is 13 lessons. “We talk about teen dating violence, healthy relationships and behavior and life skills adult preparation subjects. We also offer 45-minute presentations to teens about substance abuse, bullying, human reproduction and financial literacy.”
Navajo County Health also facilitates a teen health line, Keems said. “Teens can text the line with any questions they have about relationships, body change or mental health issues. The line is staffed by trained professionals who can offer advice and resources on these subjects.”
To schedule a presentation of “Love Notes” in your youth environment, contact the county health department at www.navajocountyaz.gov. The teen health line can be reached by texting (928) 414-1478.
Keems made sure to announce that the county also offers presentation and trainings on the subject of mental health for teens and adults. “We have programs on stress management, creating safe spaces and even mental health first aid. We do a one-hour presentation for parents or youth teaching about what stress is and how to manage it, positive coping mechanisms and moving away from negative coping skills. We can also address workplaces and other adult environments and teach them stress management skills. We then encourage activities to establish peer to peer support and team building for overall emotional well-being in the school or workplace.
“When we talk about creating safe spaces, we mean we offer training on mental health and dedicate an individual in the workplace or in the school to be a point person for any issues that may come up. Then, we continue support, we don’t just teach the curriculum and disappear because we want the program to be ongoing.”
Mental health first aid, as Keems explained it, includes training of adults to notice signs and symptoms of suicide or other concerns facing adults and youth alike.
Keems concluded, “We as the county health department have a lot to offer and I think it’s important that these programs are in the community. I have spoken to a lot of individuals who didn’t know we still existed much less that we have all of these resources and programs available free of charge to Navajo County residents.”
There are three facilities in Navajo County at which residents can gain access to educational resources and information regarding public health service programs. In Holbrook, the office is located at 117 E. Buffalo St. In Winslow, the office is at 619 E. Third St. And in Show Low, there is an office at 600 N. Ninth Place. Information is also available on the county website at www.navajocountyaz.gov/deaprtmentspublichealthservices.
