Public Health Programs in Your Community

Chronic Disease Prevention

Health happens where we live, work, play and worship.

When the place where we live makes it easy for everyone to be physically active, eat well, and live tobacco and substance free fewer people will suffer from injury, cancer, diabetes, stroke and heart disease.   

Chronic disease work in Local Health offices: 

Local Health supports health and well-being to make sure all people in Vermont have the resources they need to reduce their risk of chronic disease, disability, and premature death. 

Local Health staff works with community organizations, municipal and regional planners, schools, health care providers and residents to identify community priorities and offer health and wellness strategies to address them. Examples of this work includes:

• Creating public smoke-free spaces
• Making sidewalks, cross walks, and bike lanes visible, connected and safe
• Establishing farmers markets, community gardens, and transportation options to food resources
• Supporting worksite wellness activities
• Establishing age-friendly community spaces
• Providing oral health resources to schools, health care providers, and community members about oral health. 

If you are part of a community organization interested in working on projects in your neighborhood, contact your Local Health office.

Helpful Links

Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention
Healthy Community Design
Worksite Wellness 

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Emergency Preparedness

All disasters are local. Resilience should be, too.

All communities and individuals can prevent, protect against, respond quickly to, and recover from public health emergencies. 

Emergency Preparedness in Local Health offices: 

Local Health staff are trained and ready to respond to public health emergencies so people in our community can stay healthy and safe. 

We work with local, state, and federal partners to provide training to community partners, maintain and support the regional Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteer activities, support plans for distributing medicines and supplies in emergencies, provide resources for responder health and safety, and strengthen community information, alert, and warning systems.

Helpful Links

Public Health Preparedness
OnCall For Vermont volunteer opportunities

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Family and Child Health

Children thrive when families and health care providers are supported.

Local Health supports the health and well-being of pregnant people, parents, children, and families across the lifespan. We work to make sure families can get the care and services they need. Staff provide education, resources, and support to health care providers and community partners to help families stay healthy and thrive.

Local Health staff: 

• Provide public health information that is specific to pregnant people, infants, child, and youth to health care practices and community members
• Promote and support breast/chestfeeding best practices
• Work with Family Services, medical and dental providers to make sure children who enter foster care have and maintain medical and dental homes.  

Helpful Links

Strong Families Vermont Home Visiting 
Children, Youth & Families

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Healthy Homes

Safe and healthy spaces start at home.

Local Health connects families and other partners to resources that help keep a safe and healthy home environment, free from exposure to lead, radon, carbon dioxide, mold, pests and drinking water contaminants.

Do you have a concern about health or safety issues in your rental housing? You can file a complaint and request an inspection with the Division of Fire Safety.

Local Health staff: 

• Support health care providers to perform lead testing for all children at the ages of 12- and 24-months.
• Educate families who receive WIC about the importance of lead testing and provide referrals to primary care when a child is identified as overdue.
• Educate people at increased risk and the public on approaches to healthy homes and lead poisoning prevention.

Helpful Links

Healthy Homes program page 
Lead Poisoning Prevention Guidance for Health Care Providers

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Immunization

Protect yourself, your family and those around you from serious disease.

Local Health works with health care providers and the community to help protect people in Vermont from vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Immunization Nurses in Local Health offices: 

Immunization nurses work closely with local families to increase access to immunizations and protect community health. We offer immunization clinics at no cost for people under 65 who are uninsured, experiencing significant barriers to access, or are patients of medical practices that cannot receive vaccines through the Vermont Vaccines for Children & Adults program. We also support schools and child care facilities in meeting state immunization requirements.

Call your Local Health office for more information about clinics and available support.

For Health Care Providers

We work with medical practices to help increase the percent of children and adolescents who are vaccinated on time. Local Health staff meet with health care practices throughout Vermont to share 2-year-old and adolescent immunization rates and discuss strategies to increase immunization coverage.  

Helpful Links

Flu, COVID & RSV Vaccines 
General information on immunizations 

For Health Care Providers

Immunization Quality Improvement (IQI)  
Immunization & Health Care Professionals

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Infectious Disease Investigation

Protecting people in Vermont from the spread of infectious diseases.

Local Health teaches and promotes healthy habits, such as washing hands, staying home when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes. 

Local Health staff:

If you are diagnosed with a reportable disease, a member of our staff may contact you to talk about your illness, discuss possible exposures, and help prevent friends, family, and others in your community from getting sick.  

For Health Care Providers

Local Health staff investigate reports of infectious diseases, respond to outbreaks, and work closely with hospitals and health care providers. We help providers understand when and how to report diseases and we stay connected with community partners to support timely and accurate disease reporting.

We support local providers who have patients with active tuberculosis (TB) by providing case management and directly observed therapy.

Helpful Links

Immunizations & Infectious Disease
Respiratory Illnesses 

For Health Care Providers

How to report diseases and laboratory findings
Reportable disease list

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School Health

Heathy students increases academic success.

Local Health works to improve the health of Vermont’s school-aged children. We partner with school nurses, school staff, health care providers and community groups to support students and help them build healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Local Health staff: 

• Connect public health, health care providers and schools.
• Maximize Medicaid enrollment and student access to medical homes.
• Support schools as they invest in resources that improve the health of the school community and help students succeed.
• Share information about vaccination requirements, healthy school environments and school nutrition and physical activity policies.
• Support school nurses in helping students and families access health services.
• Help schools understand and use data to strengthen school health efforts. 

Helpful Links

Healthy at School 
School Health 

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Substance Misuse Prevention

Programs and services that help communities become as healthy and involved as they can be are a key part of alcohol and drug use prevention in Vermont.

A prevention consultant serves each Local Health office. These health professionals are substance use prevention experts who support community-led prevention efforts.

Helpful Links

Community Prevention Programs
How to Get Help
Prescription Drug Disposal 

WIC (Women, Infants and Children)

WIC helps families get the healthy food they need to grow strong and stay well. 

WIC provides food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding/chestfeeding support, and referrals to other resources for pregnant people in Vermont, and parents and caregivers with infants and children under 5. 

Your Local Health Office is your main contact for WIC services, offering WIC activities in their offices or communities. 

Local Health Staff

• Help people join the WIC program and receive its benefits. 
• Offer information and support to make the most of WIC benefits.
• Work in the community to increase participation through outreach, referrals, and retention activities.
• Provide nutrition education opportunities.
• Promote and support breastfeeding/chestfeeding through programs such as Promoting a Family-Friendly Workplace.
   

Find your Local Health Office
Check out local WIC activities

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Water Testing Drop-off Program

Local Health offices participate in the Drinking Water Drop-Off Program where couriers will pick up your samples and bring them to the Lab for free. 

Drinking Water Testing

Check Drop Off Location and Times

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