Suicide Prevention Month

Everyone has a role in saving lives and creating healthy and strong individuals, families, and communities. Suicide impacts everyone. Here are a few things you can do to prevent suicide and get the help you deserve:

• Know the risk factors
• Recognize the warning signs 
• Reach out to get help before and during a crisis.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15 - October 15 in the United States to celebrate Hispanic and Latin cultures and the contributions of Hispanic Americans.

As part of local Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, The Essex Experience and the Double E Lounge is offering the Viva El Sabor Community Kitchen Pop-Up.

Discover the flavors of authentic Mexican cuisine from Viva el Sabor. The kitchen will be staffed by Latin chefs, based out of Addison County. Hours of operation depend on when The Double E has a live event.

Indigenous Peoples' Day Rocks!

The 5th Annual Indigenous Peoples' Day Rocks (IPD Rocks) is on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at The Current, 90 Pond Street, Stowe, Vermont from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

IPD Rocks is a full day's celebration of Vermont’s Indigenous culture, customs, music, drumming, dancing, and community that directly benefits Abenaki Helping Abenaki, a 501(c)(3) organization that addresses health disparity among Vermont's Native people, provides a strategy of land access, and supports the Abenaki Food Security Program.

The celebration is a collaboration with Chief Donald Stevens of the Nulhegan Abenaki Nation.

Tickets are $15. FREE if you are Indigenous. Full schedule here: https://www.ipdrocks.com/indigenous-peoples-day-rocks-1

Proceeds from IPD Rocks! go to Vermont's Indigenous tribes: https://abenakitribe.org/

Come Alive Outside

Conscious Homestead was one of the community-based organizations that received funding from the Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Community Foundation through the CDC grant titled National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities. 

The funding allowed Come Alive Outside to employ four full-time equivalents and significantly boost outdoor equity efforts in Rutland, Vermont. They extended the fulltime program manager’s role and allocated 25% of the executive director’s time, specifically for outdoor equity initiatives.

They conducted weekly “outdoors for all” activities facilitated by those who have lived experience with identities that have been historically excluded or disenfranchised from outdoor recreation.

Their efforts reached more than 15,000 individuals from priority populations during the grant period, and they saw a notable increase in participant retention across our programs and outreach activities.

Vaccination Rates of Vermont Adults with Disabilities  

Some individuals with a disability are more likely to get sick and have worse symptoms from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. Medical conditions and social factors, like not having enough support, can make it harder for them to stay healthy, access care and get vaccines.

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey asks Vermonters questions about their health habits, including vaccination status. The survey also asks about disabilities. Survey data from 2020, 2021 and 2022 were used to see how many Vermont adults with a disability got vaccines for influenza, pneumococcal, tetanus, COVID-19 and shingles.

For many vaccines, people with and without disabilities have similar rates of vaccination. However, some groups did have significantly lower vaccination rates.

Partnering with trusted community leaders is one way to expand vaccine access. For more information about how communities can access tetanus and other vaccines, check out the Vermont Center for Independent Living.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Health officials are strongly recommending people in towns at high risk for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) avoid spending time outdoors as much as possible between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. to avoid mosquitoes that could carry the virus. If going outdoors, taking steps to prevent mosquito bites is essential.

High-risk towns can be found on the Vermont Department of Health website.

The recommendation will be in place until the first hard frost that kills mosquitoes.

Prevent mosquito bites by doing the following:

• Limit the amount of time you spend outdoors at dawn and dusk.
• Use EPA-registered insect repellent labeled as effective against mosquitoes. Apply repellent when you are going to be outdoors, especially at dawn or dusk.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin. 
• Cover baby carriages or outdoor playpens with mosquito netting.
• Fix any holes in your screens and make sure they are tightly attached to doors and windows.
• Get rid of standing water outside your home. 

Translated factsheets and video translations can be found on the Vermont Department of Health's website as well.

Healthy Communities Grant Program for New England

The Healthy Communities Grant Program is EPA New England's main competitive grant program to work directly with communities to reduce environmental risks to protect and improve human health and the quality of life. 

Applications for the 2024 Healthy Communities Grant Program are due November 1, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Entities eligible to receive Healthy Communities funding include state and local governments, public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, K-12 schools or school districts, and grassroots and community-based organizations.

Health Department WhatsApp

What's up, WhatsApp? The Health Department has created a WhatsApp channel for one-way broadcasting important messages with a focus on translations.

We encourage messages shared on our WhatsApp channel be shared out with the communities you work with.

Follow us here: Health Vermont | WhatsApp Channel