South Central Public Health District Calls for “Health Heroes” Nominations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2016

South Central Public Health District Calls for “Health Heroes” Nominations

Twin Falls, ID – South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) is accepting nominations for “Health Heroes 2016.” Health Heroes are individuals, groups, and businesses that have made a positive impact on the health of residents of south central Idaho.

The Health Heroes Award was created to recognize the efforts of youth, adults, groups, and businesses in terms of improving the health of residents of south central Idaho.

This year, there are four nomination categories: youth, adult, corporate, and behavioral health. SCPHD added the behavioral health category to bring attention to the importance of understanding and addressing behavioral health issues within our region.

The nomination must include a brief description explaining why the nominee deserves the Health Heroes Award. Examples of qualifying activities include, but are not limited to the following:
• promoting a healthy lifestyle through activities at schools, churches, and places of work
• activities that help reduce suicides
• promoting physical activity
• activities that reduce obesity
• preparing a community for a disaster
• decreasing workplace injuries
• promoting policies that led to healthy outcomes

The nomination form is available online at http://phd5.idaho.gov/2016healthheroes or at one of our five offices. Visit https://phd5.idaho.gov/Offices/Index.htm for a list of office locations

Nominations are due by Monday, November 1, 2016. Health Hero award winners will be honored on November 16, 2016.

Contact:
Jeff Pierson,
208-737-5945 P
PublicInformation@phd5.idaho.gov
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Mission
Prevent Disease
Promote Healthy Lifestyles
Protect and Prepare the public against health threats.

Vision
Healthy and Prepared People in Our Communities.

Values
Accountability - We are accountable for the efficient and effective use of our resources.
Integrity - We demonstrate honesty, consistency, and confidentiality.
Client-Focused - We provide information to the public, to help them make informed choices.
Professionalism - We demonstrate competence, reliability, and respect to the public.
Collaborative -We promote partnerships and alliances with community members and agencies to link public health needs and services.
Health - We promote collaboration and alliances with community partners to link planning efforts for the inclusive public health needs of the community.
Excellence - We seek to improve the quality of our services through ongoing evaluation and feedback.

Public health efforts began in south central Idaho in 1928. All of Twin Falls County was experiencing an "infectious" meningitis epidemic. Hundreds of cases and many deaths resulted in a quarantine of the entire city of Twin Falls.

The county commissioners developed the first area health unit consisting of three public health nurses and a sanitary inspector. Today, South Central Public Health District employs nearly 100 professionally trained nurses, dietitians, an epidemiologist and dental hygienist, health educators, and environmental specialists.

South Central Public Health District is the leader in the multi-county concept of providing public health services. We have offices in Bellevue, Burley, Gooding, Jerome, Rupert, and Twin Falls; and with part-time clinics in Shoshone and Fairfield we serve all eight counties of south central Idaho and are part of a statewide system of seven public health districts.

South Central Public Health District is governed by an eight-member Board of Health with a representative from each of the eight counties. Regular Board meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Exceptions occur depending on other scheduled activities of the Board and administration.

1020 Washington St. N.
Twin Falls, ID 83301

This release was published on openPR.