Mission

The Snohomish Health District’s mission is to spearhead efforts to protect, promote and advance the collective health of our community. It will continue to do this by focusing on activities that are grounded in a set of foundational public health services, which include: 

• Communicable Diseases & Notifiable Conditions
• Chronic Diseases & Injuries
• Environmental Health
• Maternal, Child & Family Health
• Vital Records
• Ongoing, Critical Public Health Issues
• Access to Medical, Dental & Mental Health Care
• Build a Sustainable Organization

Rucker Building Reopens!

October 27^th was the last day of testing at the Rucker Building. You are now free to go to work in the building without getting a test. Everyone in the building must still wear a mask, unless they are in their personal office. Partial barriers such as cubicles do not count as a private office. Maintain at least 6’ distance from colleagues and customers.   

Division Updates

Administration

Hello Everyone,
 
Next week, November 11^th, will be Veterans Day. It’s a holiday honoring men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Veterans Day, originally celebrated as Armistice Day, was first issued on November 11, 1919, by President Woodrow Wilson a year after the end of World War I. The purpose of Armistice Day was to honor the fallen soldiers of the Great War for their sacrifice and bravery. Today, here at the District, there are several Veterans working among us. On this holiday, I wish everyone a very restful and recharging day off. I’d also welcome each of you to join me in thanking all of our veterans for their service to our country. Take care, stay Safe.
 
Shawn

A Note From Dr. Spitters

Environmental Health

• The Food Team recently completed two interactive statewide trainings with DOH to help standardize local food programs on upcoming food code revision that is scheduled to go into effect in March 2022.
• Land Use staff are currently having some preliminary conversation with Snohomish County about the possibility of us taking over the Savvy Septic program.  Savvy Septic is a financial assistance and outreach program designed to help homeowners with septic systems maintain and make needed repairs.
• Customer Service will be very short staffed the next few days!  The counter will be closed through Monday, but will hopefully open on Tuesday if all goes well.
• Safe Environments staff are currently working to resolve ongoing issues with several nuisance properties. SE staff partner with the Snohomish County Sheriff and County Code Enforcement, a.k.a. Nuisance Property Team, to jointly resolve property issues involving chronic and significant solid and hazardous waste violations, junk vehicles, derelict RVs, illicit sewage discharge, and other violations. Often times eviction of tenants or squatters from the property is necessary as a first step toward cleanup. The eviction moratoriums in place due to COVID-19 has hampered eviction efforts over the past year or so. Those moratoriums have recently been lifted allowing enforcement to move forward at several of our most problem sites.

Human Resources

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Talk to your supervisor!
  • What are you going to do if you can’t get to work or will be late due to winter weather conditions? How will you notify your supervisor of the change?
  • Discuss what you can do to alter your fieldwork in the event of bad/extreme weather.
  • How will you keep your supervisor informed of your location for fieldwork in the event of a winter weather emergency?
• Plan ahead! If you regularly conduct fieldwork, make sure that you carry warm clothes, flashlights, and extra food and water in your car in case you need them. Make sure you check the latest weather report so you can assess if changes need to be made.

Prevention Services

Safety Committee

Personal Safety at the Workplace: If you see something, say something!
Recently, the Safety Committee received two incident reports regarding threatening situations towards staff. Workplace violence is violence or the threat of violence against workers. It can occur at or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide and is one of the leading causes of job-related deaths. Workplace violence is a growing concern for employers and employees nationwide. Some 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year.
Please know that SHD has a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence against or by their employees. Our workplace violence program incorporates the safety manual, employee handbook, and program specific procedures. It is critical that everyone be familiar with our programs and understand that all workplace violence incidents will be investigated and remedied promptly. To mitigate workplace violence, the Safety Committee recommends that everyone review the following.

If you're confronted by a threatening situation:

• Keep a safe distance.
• Notify our security guard immediately and/or police.

• Review safety manual and employee handbook regarding non-acceptable conduct, what to do if you are a witness or are subjected to workplace violence, and how to protect yourself. 
• Know your workplace. SHD has installed video surveillance, extra lighting, and alarm systems to secure the building. Outsiders access is controlled through identification badges, electronic keys, and the presence of a security guard.
• Maintain situational awareness. Use SHD cellular phones for communication, mapping, and pictures.
• Ensure SHD vehicle is maintained and is operational.
• Prepare and post daily work plan with site locations.
• Don’t go into buildings or sites that you feel unsafe. Request partner assistance in potentially dangerous situations or at night.
• Be familiar with program scenarios and how to conduct of home visits, the presence of others in the home during visits, and worker’s right to refuse to provide services in a clearly hazardous situation.
• Learn how to recognize, avoid, or diffuse potentially violent situations by attending personal safety training programs.
• Alert supervisors to any concerns about safety or security and report all incidents using the incident report form.
• Avoid traveling alone into unfamiliar locations or situations whenever possible.
• Carry only minimal money and required identification into community settings.

• Report threats of workplace violence using the incident report form.
• Provide prompt medical evaluation and treatment after the incident.
• Report violent incidents to the local police promptly.
• Alert supervisors to any concerns about safety or security and report all incidents immediately in writing, using the incident report form.
• Inform victims of their legal right to prosecute perpetrators.
• Discuss the circumstances of the incident with staff members. Encourage employees to share information about ways to avoid similar situations in the future.
• Offer stress debriefing sessions and post-traumatic counseling services to help workers recover from a violent incident.
• Investigate all violent incidents and threats, monitor trends in violent incidents by type or circumstance, and institute corrective actions.
• Discuss changes in the program during regular employee meetings.

Health Literacy Corner

We, as public health professionals, have a responsibility to increase awareness of and intentionally incorporate evidence-based health literacy practices into our work.
Did you know that nearly 40% of Americans ages 16 and over have limited health literacy skills? That being said, there are many areas in Snohomish County where populations with low health literacy levels exceed 40%. Health literacy is a problem which typically affects adults of older ages, people of color, individuals experiencing poverty, those with less than a high school or GED level of education, and people who are refugees and/or immigrants. One study, referenced in the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, estimated that limited health literacy costs the healthcare system somewhere between $106 and $236 billion annually.

Together, public health professionals have the power to make a difference. Increased levels of awareness, implementation of training, and incorporation of best practices relating to health literacy are just a few of the ways you can help. Another way to help is by increasing your knowledge about the rates of health literacy nationally and state-wide. Here is a resource which geographically shows health literacy levels: healthliteracymap.unc.edu.

For information about the sources of this information, please contact snoahl@snohd.org.

Comms Corner

#VaxUpSnoCo
Teachers and professionals all over Snohomish County are encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID. Join them by taking a picture of yourself holding up this sign, and post a picture of it on social media with the hashtag #VaxUpSnoCo

Have a request to promote content on social media?
If you have any social media content you would like us to promote on social media, let us know at communications@snohd.org. We have previously promoted opioid and suicide prevention as well as SIDS Awareness Month campaigns. The Communication Team is always eager to help you promote the latest health information.
 
Are you following SHD?
Take a minute to hit like and follow on our social channels! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. This is a great way to keep up on the latest info on all things public health.

Welcome

The following new employee has joined the Snohomish Health District team. Please give them a warm welcome!

Zharia Dennis

Resource Section

Open Enrollment Recording
Passcode: df2z=0f%

Find a Flu Vaccine

News You Can Use

Inslee statement on vaccine approval for 5-to 11-year-olds
Children ages 5 to 11 can now get a Covid-19 vaccine in the US
ACIP Child COVID Vaccine Presentation Slides
The Great American Smokeout is November 18

Upcoming Events and Reminders

Open Enrollment Runs November 1 – 17

Board of Health Meeting 11/9

Turn In Flu Shot to HR for Wellness Committee Challenge 12/1