Healthy Tulare County Week Activities
National Public Health Week, April 1–7, is a worthy time to acknowledge the efforts of the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency’s (HHSA) Public Health Branch, the Health Advisory Board, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, and other community health partners. As a county, we celebrate Healthy Tulare County Week every year and focus on issues that matter to our community.
There are many types of issues that shape our county health and well-being, and this year, we’re focused on health equity. To that end, the Tulare County Public Health Branch continually seeks to address the causes of poor health and increased disease risk to our community members. Community partners are strong allies in working to make Tulare County a healthier place through continued participation in the Community Health Improvement Plan, focusing on managing and preventing diabetes, improving access to health care, and increasing health literacy.
Efforts such as telemedicine, advocacy for supportive and evidence-based health policy, and HHSA-trained promotores who educate about chronic disease management in their own communities are returning promising results. Equally promising are local partnerships that target negative social determinants through activities such as job training and growing local employment, including collaboration with partners such as the Workforce Investment Board, Community Services Employment Training, Proteus, and others.
It will take all of us working together to advance public health, and the Tulare County Board of Supervisors joins with HHSA to address these issues and shape the health of our county by seeking to improve access for our rural residents. We have had much success with several projects that positively impact health equity:
- Board support for expanding rural health clinics, such Family HealthCare Network and the Sierra View Rural Health Clinic in Strathmore
- Decreasing ambulance response times by assisting with the transition of ambulance services to local providers
- Board support for the transitioning of the Tulare Hospital to Adventist Health
- The Sequoia Gateway Project, bringing Valley Children’s Clinic to Tulare County
It is through our support of efforts undertaken by our public health officials, elected officials, and stakeholders working toward the goal of health equity for all our Tulare County community members that we will continue to show that there are effective ways to address and solve health issues that face Tulare County. Join us during this Public Health Week to celebrate our successes and look to new opportunities.
Kuyler Crocker, District 1
Chairman, Tulare County Board of Supervisors
Join us in celebrating “Healthy Tulare County Week,” April 1–7, 2019, and become part of a growing movement to create the healthiest nation in one generation. We're celebrating the power of prevention, advocating for healthy policies, sharing strategies for successful partnerships, and championing the role of a strong public health system. During Healthy Tulare County Week, be sure to stay tuned to Facebook: www.facebook.com/TulareCountyHHSA.