Adams County public-health team highlights sharps drive, farm-worker outreach and suicide-walk turnout

Adams County public-health staff used the advisory committee meeting to outline outreach efforts that officials say extend beyond vaccines and communicable-disease response.

Corey, the county's public-health outreach lead, said targeted nutrition and heat-illness prevention outreach during June through August reached about 1,035 farm workers at seven farms, affecting roughly 1,100 families. "We were able to impact 1,035 farm workers at 7 farms," Corey said.

Corey also described an Adams County sharps-disposal drive held during the senior fair that collected about 180 pounds of sharps; Corey's team filled a county DHS vehicle within three hours. "We collected over a 180 pounds," Corey said, and said the county intends to continue the drive annually.

Other efforts included Narcan distribution in coordination with state programs, a diaper drive with the United Way for WIC clients and first-time moms, a "Men's night out" event with about 80 attendees, and a suicide-prevention walk in September that drew more than 240 people and nearly $6,000 in donations.

Corey said the department is preparing a community health assessment required by state statute; the assessment will guide public-health priorities for the next five years.

Supervisors asked where collected sharps are processed; Corey said county DHS coordinates pickups and that a recycling facility in Madison handles them. Supervisors also suggested using Adams County images in future slides.

Why it matters: The outreach programs described focus on prevention, harm reduction and community trust-building in a largely rural county; the upcoming community health assessment will set county public-health priorities for five years.

What the board did: The advisory committee heard the presentation and asked follow-up questions; no formal votes were taken on presentation items.