|
Health Matters
A quarterly publication of the
Farmington Valley Heath District
Spring 2024 |
|
|---|
|
|
Serving the towns of:
Avon
Barkhamsted
Canton
Colebrook
East Granby
Farmington
Granby
Hartland
New Hartford
Simsbury
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
In this issue...
- Progress on our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
- Local Health Highlight: What We Do To Protect Your Food
- What is CT Wiz?
- LGBT+ and Nicotine Survey
- National Mental Health Awareness Month
- Mental Health Book Club
|
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
Connect with us on Social Media |
|
|---|
|
|
|
95 River Road
Canton, CT 06019
860-352-2333
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
Community Health Improvement Plan Updates
|
|
|---|
|
The Farmington Valley Health District and our community partners are in the midst of developing our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The FVHD Community Health Assessment, completed in the fall of 2022, identified a number of health issues in our communities. Using the
Share Your Voice! Survey, community members were able to prioritize the health issues they felt were most important. Now, the FVHD, in partnership with community organizations, subject matter experts, and passionate community members, is drafting plans to address each of the following focus areas in the Farmington Valley:
- Healthy eating and active living
- Issues associated with aging, including fall prevention and living independently as safely as possible
- Mental health across the lifespan, with particular focus on prevention and early intervention
- Emerging public health issues such as Climate Change
Together, these plans, which include goals, objectives, strategies, action steps, and indicators, will make the CHIP. The CHIP will serve as a roadmap for collaborative health improvement for all people who live, work, learn, and play in the Farmington Valley. Be on the lookout for the complete CHIP this summer!
|
|
|---|
|
Service Highlight: Food Protection
|
|
|---|
|
The Farmington Valley Health District (FVHD) is dedicated to keeping our community safe from foodborne illnesses through our Food Protection Program. We focus on inspecting food establishments to ensure they meet safety standards and minimize risks associated with five major factors:
|
|
|
|
|
- Poor employee health and hygiene
- Improper holding time/temperatures
- Improper cooking temperatures
- Contaminated equipment/cross contamination
- Food from unsafe sources
FVHD’s Food Protection Program is responsible for regulating, permitting, and inspecting over 600 food establishments operating within our 10-member towns. Food establishments include but are not limited to restaurants, caterers, grocery stores, school cafeterias, concession stands, assisted living facilities, churches, bakeries, and food trucks. We also permit and inspect food establishments operating at temporary events. Temporary events include fairs, carnivals, farmers markets, community events and fundraisers where food is sold or dispensed to the public.
All food establishments must comply with the FDA Food Code, state and FVHD food service regulations. Individuals are required to contact FVHD for permits and approval if they are:
- Opening a new food service establishment
- Remodeling an existing food service establishment
- Operating or vending at a temporary event
- Operating or vending at a brewery or winery
Have questions or are looking for a form? Check out our newly updated Environmental Health page for more on Food Protection and our other programs.
|
|
|---|
|
CT Wiz is a public portal to Connecticut's immunization database. It allows individuals who were vaccinated in Connecticut to access their own immunization records, as well as those of their dependents. So, if you're looking for your complete immunization record, look no further: |
|
|---|
|
Anonymous Survey on Smoking/Vaping in the LGBT+ Community
|
|
|---|
|
National Mental Health Awareness Month
|
|
|---|
|
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month, offering an opportunity to highlight the importance of looking after our mental health. Last year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) focused on the inherent value we each hold no matter our diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background, or ability. “You are
#MoreThanEnough, just the way you are!”
|
|
|
|
|
Our past and present experiences may leave us feeling inadequate, despite our successes. We may feel unworthy of kindness, compassion, and support and may feel ashamed when we find ourselves struggling. These feelings may lead to a delay in reaching out when we need support, and this delay in receiving support may further impact our relationships, work and social connections.
Take time this month to celebrate all of the reasons you are
#MoreThanEnough and remember that there are people and resources available to help you
Try some of these things to focus on all of the reasons you are perfect just the way you are:
- Remember your strengths – write them down and keep them so you can reflect on them
- Let go of the need to be perfect – none of us are
- Don’t compare yourself to others – you are unique, and no one has the same life experiences that you do
- Breathe – take some deep cleansing breaths and focus on a mantra that helps to remind you of your strengths. You are enough.
- Focus on what you love - pick up a new hobby or revisit an old one.
- Connect with nature – get outside and move
- Connect with people who are supportive and positive influences.
- Make time for self-care
- Consider finding a therapist or counselor to support you
Looking for more mental wellness resources? Check out our CredibleMind platform for self-help articles, podcasts, quizzes and more.
|
|
|---|
|
|
I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Making the Journey from "What Will People Think?" to "I Am Enough"
by Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW
|
|
|---|
|
|
Brene Brown explores the idea of how shame affects our lives, covering topics like embracing our imperfections, the power of empathy, overcoming shame and embracing vulnerability. This book offers practical tools for overcoming feelings of unworthiness and building the resilience to embrace our vulnerabilities.
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
I am Enough
by Grace Byers
Ages: 3-6 years
|
|
|---|
|
|
Explore a beautiful book that celebrates the diversity that makes us all individuals. None of us have the same looks, talents, or struggles. Sometimes we agree with our friends and sometimes we do not, but we are always enough just the way we are.
This book will help you have the important conversation with your child about self-acceptance and also the importance of supporting others' differences by always being kind.
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
The health department strives to prevent disease outbreaks and conditions that give rise to poor health, promote health programs and policies that support good health, and protect members of our community from health threats. |
|
|---|
|
|
|
|