RCAHD Health Updates Newsletter
03.15.23
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Health updates for residents of the
Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD)
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We'd like to hear from you!
Since the first local case of COVID was identified three years ago, the conversation about public health has significantly shifted.
This local health newsletter began in early 2021 as a way to share updates about RCAHD community vaccination clinics. Since then, we have shared focused information about COVID activity as well as vaccines and testing opportunities. As COVID activity has waxed and waned, we have widened the scope of coverage to include other subjects such as restaurant inspections, maternal and child health, vital records, insect-borne illnesses, and more.
In each issue, we strive to keep you updated with the latest local and state VDH health information and news you can use (over 25,000 of you read each issue!). We'd like to hear from you about what you would like us to cover in these newsletters. Please choose among the public health issues below that you think is most pressing. We'll share the results of this informal poll in the next newsletter. Thank you for reading!
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VOTE!: What do you think is the most serious non-COVID public health issue now?
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Chronic disease (ie, cardiac disease, diabetes)
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Health equity (lack of access to medical care, healthy food)
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Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
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Substance use (opioids, tobacco, alcoholism)
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Violence and preventable injury (gun violence, vehicle accidents)
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RCAHD Reproductive Health services available to all residents
As part of its role in community health, your local VDH health department is committed to ensuring that all Virginians have access to reproductive health services. The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD) offices employ a clinical team with doctors, physician assistants, nurses and skilled support staff who work together to provide a range of services to keep both adults and teens healthy.
All services are confidential. We accept many insurance plans, and for those individuals who do not have insurance, costs for services are based on a sliding scale.
What screening and clinic services are available at local VDH health departments?
What public health efforts are underway to address teen pregnancy?
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Overdoses are on the rise. What can I do?
Because drug use can have serious consequences, we are committed to help provide individuals with resources to make informed decisions about their health and safety.
RCAHD offices provide overdose-reversing medication and fentanyl test strips at no charge to residents.
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Naloxone (Narcan) reverses the effects of an opiate overdose by blocking the opiate’s effects and restoring breathing. Narcan is easy to administer and has no potential for abuse or side effects of its own. Narcan is safe and does not harm someone who receives it even if they are not experiencing an overdose. Overdose deaths are preventable and when more people carry and use Narcan, more lives will be saved.
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NEW!: Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reducing harm. FTS are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables). A dose of fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and up to 100 times stronger than morphine. Every person is different, but two salt-sized grains of fentanyl can be enough to cause an adult to overdose.
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RCAHD Health Situation Update
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Join Our Team!
We are currently hiring for 4 contract positions with an outreach focus to educate the public and promote well-being:
- Serves as a liaison between health department and social services to provide care coordination for clients and health department outreach in the community. Key duties include staffing outreach events, coordinating referrals with partners and using the Unite Virginia network. Will work throughout the RCAHD footprint, with flexibility on being based out of our various offices in Roanoke City or other localities. Up to $20/hour.
- Organize engagement opportunities with the community, particularly with individuals with substance use disorder and the LGBTQIA+ community. Key duties include event planning, group facilitation, and coordination with partners. Prefer experience with people who use drugs or the LGBTQIA+ community. Up to $26/hour.
- Train community members on overdose reversal using naloxone, an overdose-reversal medication. Key duties include planning and coordinating with partners to set up training, working with harm reduction programs and other partners who reach individuals with substance use disorder or who use drugs. Prefer experience working with people who use drugs or with people who have a mental health disorder. Up to $25/hour.
- Based at our Covington office. Provide general community health support to Alleghany County and Covington. Key duties include attending community meetings and conducting outreach, engagement, and education (including overdose reversal). Prefer someone who lives in and is familiar with the Alleghany Highlands. Up to $28/hour.
- Program Support Tech (RN021) - Roanoke City - No Closing Date
- Nutritionist Associate - #AY001 - Covington - Closes: 3/16/23
- Nutritionist Associate (Wage) - #RNX30 - Roanoke City - Closes: 3/20/23
- EH Tech Specialist - #RN049 - Roanoke City - Closes: 3/28/23
- Human Services Program Specialist (DIS) - #00370 - Roanoke City - Closes: 3/29/23
- Breastfeeding Peer Counselor - #PCX44 - Roanoke City - Closes: 3/29/23
- Breastfeeding Peer Counselor - #PCX10 - Covington Health Department - Closes: 3/29/23
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Nutritionist Sr. - #07747 - Roanoke City -Closes: 4/9/23
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Rabies Alert:
Now is a good time to remember to protect your pets. Virginia law requires pet owners to maintain current rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats that are older than four months. In addition, citizens should not feed, approach, or touch wild animals, and should report any abnormal behavior involving wild animals. All animal bites and rabies exposures from wild and domestic animals must be reported to the RCAHD Environmental Health Division (540) 204-9928.
· AVOID contact with wild animals and domestic animals you do not know.
· REPORT an animal that is acting strangely.
· VACCINATE all of your dogs, cats and ferrets, and keep their vaccinations current.
· CALL your doctor and the local health department if you are exposed, and your veterinarian and local animal control if your pet is exposed.
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Women's Health & Resource Fair this Saturday, 11am-2pm! |
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