Jenea Highfill and her team of school nurses

On October 28th the Santa Rosa County School Health Team was at SS Dixon Intermediate School doing vision screening for 3rd graders and Flu mist for all grades at the school (3rd-5th for an intermediate school). The children enjoyed the costumes and for some it brought a smile and eased the uncertainty of getting the vaccine mist. This proved to be an excellent team building activity that created positive morale and strengthened the feeling of unity within the team.

DOH-Baker's parking lot drive-thru operation

On October 6th, DOH-Baker’s Healthy Start program partnered with Baker County WIC, Episcopal Children’s Services, First Coast Women’s Pregnancy Crisis Center and Meridian to host a Drive-Thru Community Baby Shower honoring pregnant women in Baker County. Participants were provided with educational materials on maternal and child development, stress management, infant care, safe sleep and reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Participants were also entered in a drawing for door prizes. This event hosted by DOH-Baker since April 2020 has been a successful outreach for pregnant moms and has increased Healthy Start participation.

Representatives from FDOH-Osceola and
the NIH provide outreach in Kissimmee.

DOH-Osceola partnered with the National Institutes of Health on a barbershop and salon outreach initiative. Recognizing that barbers and cosmetologists serve as trusted sources of information for their clients and staff, participating barbershop and salon owners were provided with packets containing COVID-19 educational materials. They were also provided with training opportunities to help them engage with their clients about the importance of following CDC and state health guidelines. During this initiative, 30 barbershops and salons were engaged and 275 educational materials were provided in English and Spanish.

Fresh grapefruit and oranges from local farms
located in Vero Beach, Florida.

DOH-Indian River celebrated National Farm to School Month by kicking off a Farm to School campaign to recognize the connections between schools, food and local agriculture. Farm to School activities were done to enrich the connection the community has with fresh, healthy food and local food producers, while enhancing nutrition education. DOH-Indian River's SNAP-Ed program partnered with local citrus farms to share fresh fruit with youth at Head Start Centers, United Against Poverty, Dasie Hope Center and the Public Library. More than 300 oranges and grapefruits were distributed to families and used in fruit tasting activities across Indian River County.