SHD Essential Newsletter

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
Booster

Booster Shots Available at Ash Way Park & Ride 


Every Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00AM – 4:00PM, our drive-thru site at Ash Way Park & Ride offers all COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters! The address is 16327 Ash Way, Lynnwood, WA 98087. Our busiest times are typically right after opening in the morning.  

For individuals who received a Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series: 
• 65 years and older 
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings 
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions 
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings 


For individuals who received a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommend for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. 

You can sign up here by typing “Ash Way” into the search bar: Find a Vaccination Clinic | Washington 

Division Updates


Administration 

The author Melody Beattie wrote – “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow”. With that in mind, I am grateful for having the privilege of  working with so many dedicated professionals here in the District, it gives me peace to know that we have supported and honored each other’s hard work though a very difficult time in history, and look forward to a day when we can truly pause, reflect, and appreciate all that we have accomplished in such a short time. I wish you all a happy and restful holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

-Shawn


Human Resources 

Your time to make those open enrollment changes ended on Wednesday, November 17th. If there is any follow up needed, please watch for an email or call from Jamie. If you don’t hear from her, then don’t worry, everything is good to go for 2022 changes. 
This was our first year using an electronic system to go through the open enrollment process. Let us know how it went or what we could do better next year to improve the process! Maybe next year we will be back to our in-person benefits fair. Email Human Resources HRQuestions@snohd.org to provide us feedback. 

Don’t forget to email HRQuestions@snohd.org your flu shot documentation which must include your name, date of birth and date of flu shot by December 1st. OR if you choose to not get your flu shot, sign the declination form which was previously sent out, or email HR to request the form. Providing your proof or signing the declination form will enter you into a drawing for a chance to win one of two customizable snack packs, delivered right to your home – sponsored by the Wellness Committee! 

Prevention Services 

There is movement going on in Prevention Services. Our STD services are relocating to the first floor (the suite that was previously home to WIC). In addition to first floor access for the public, this suite offers space more suited for clinical activities that will better serve our clients visiting SHD for STD services. The new digs will also help accommodate a growing team as we are currently bringing on two new DIS to address our increasing STD, HIV, and Syphilis rates. 

Meanwhile, in other cool Prevention Services news, up on the 3rd floor our Healthy Communities Team has been working to nominate cities around Snohomish County for Complete Streets funding from the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). As one of only a handful of nominating agencies, SHD submits nominations to the Department of Health, and then they screen which projects to send on to the TIB for funding awards. Cities must have a Complete Streets ordinance in place (not just policy) to be eligible, and projects submitted improve access to safe walking and biking around our community. All eligible cities were offered a nomination from SHD and cities that accepted and submitted projects included: Arlington, Bothell, Darrington, Edmonds, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Monroe, and Mukilteo. A huge thank you to Keri Moore! 
 

Environmental Health 

The Customer Service Team is excited to have the two vital records kiosks up and running in our lobby. Customers can now order birth certificates for themselves or their child through the kiosk (all other relationships and death certificate must order through counter). The kiosk allows them to pay a slighter lower fee ($25 per certificate + $3.50 kiosk fee) vs counter ($25 per certificate + $13.50 identify verification and record retention fee). 
 
The Land Use Program is continuing to work hard catching up on the workload from a very busy summer. We are also preparing to start our wet season evaluations…`tis the season for rain! 
 
On November 11th, the new FOOD fee schedule was approved and adopted by the BOH. The new fees have been incorporated into the 2,800 permit renewal invoices that will be going out next week to food establishments in Snohomish County. 
 
The Donated Food Safety Outreach Team (DFSOT) have been busy meeting with the WSDA sponsored food banks in Snohomish County as educational outreach. Brenna Hoppe and Alicia Susinger have recently developed a presentation outlining the recent changes in the WA State Food Code, reviewing donated food guidance materials and providing information on how to properly handle food recovery efforts in food establishments. 

On Monday, November 15, the SE Team oversaw the cleanup of one of our county’s most egregious nuisance property sites located in Silvana. A recent purchaser, who was very motivated to address the violations levied against the property, removed 56 tons of trash and debris, 7 RV’s, 3 travel trailers and 6 vehicles. All material removed from the site was properly disposed of through the Snohomish County solid waste system. The Snohomish County Sheriff had previously evicted several squatters and will maintain a patrol of the property to discourage any potential return. The current owner intends to erect access barriers to help in this effort. Aran Enger, who coordinated our efforts with Snohomish County Code Enforcement and the Sheriff’s office, has received kudos from elected officials and many very happy and relieved neighbors. 
Before/After

A Note from Dr. Spitters 

For a good 5-10 minute read on seeing both sides of the vaccine mandate issue, look here. The author, Peter Sandman, is a risk communications specialist affiliated with Rutgers University. 

“For governing well, there is nothing better than moderation. The mark of moderation is freedom from one’s own ideas.”  -Lao Tzu 
activity

Comms Corner


Looking for a personal way to decorate your holiday table? Visit www.snohd.org/activities to download our newest fall activity. Take some family time to create a unique centerpiece. Use one of the completed designs, or color them in yourself! 

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. 

Health Literacy Corner 


The Snohomish County Advancing Health Literacy (AHL) Team wants to hear from you! 

We all know the important role surveys play in public health. They are one of the primary methods of data collection and are a great way to share your experiences, thoughts, and feedback with researchers. We are excited to share that you now have the opportunity to contribute to the AHL Project through participation in our survey! 
At this stage of the project, your AHL Team’s efforts are primarily focused on assessing SHD knowledge about health literacy, so SHD can model health literacy best practices for other organizations in Snohomish County. Per guidance by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the AHL Team intends to discover the health literacy knowledge base and skill level of SHD, which is why we need your help! Your ideas and contributions to the AHL survey will also enable us to see how we can best provide health literacy knowledge-building activities to you. 

We highly value your input and would greatly appreciate your support in our health literacy endeavors. While the survey should take just five minutes or less, your contributions will do wonders for the AHL Project. Please make sure to submit the survey before the holiday, as it will close the day before Thanksgiving. Thank you, in advance, for your support. 

Please join us in our Advancing Health Literacy work by participating in our survey, which can be found here. 
plane

Travel Safe This Thanksgiving  

 
Did you know the day before Thanksgiving is typically the busiest travel day of the year? Make sure to follow CDC’s travel guidance to make sure you prevent yourself from getting COVID or spreading it to your loved ones you might be seeing. You can find the guidance here. 
white house

Public Health Community Appreciation Town Hall 

 
The White House COVID-19 Response Team formally invites all federal, state, and local public health professionals to a virtual Public Health Community Appreciation Town Hall on Monday, November 22, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM EST. The event will include reflections from the White House COVID-19 Response Team, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. You will also hear from state and local health officials on the major investments being made to improve public health infrastructure for the future. 

The formal invitation can be found here. 

A link to join the event on Monday can be found here. 

Welcome


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

Sara Lidstrom 
Sara is a rehire joining the health district as an Epidemiologist II with the Assessment Program. Their first day was last Tuesday, the 16th. Welcome, Sara!

Resource Section 


Find a Flu Vaccine 
Register for Vaccine Booster at Ash Way  
Flood Information Center 
CDC COVID Travel Guide 

News You Can Use 


New COVID vaccine-or-test rules start in Washington; here’s a quick guide 

Upcoming Events and Reminders


Administration Committee Special Meeting: 11/22 
Executive Committee Special Meeting: 11/23 
Thanksgiving Holiday Days Off 11/25: 11/26 
Deadline to Turn In Flu Shot Proof to HR: 12/1 

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Snohomish Health District
3020 Rucker Ave., Everett, Washington

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