Healthy People. Healthy Choices. Healthy Lake County.
Teaching Residents to Fight the Bite
The Communicable Disease, Ecological
Services and Communications programs
joined together to launch a grant-funded
public education campaign called “Fight the
Bite.” The campaign’s purpose was to raise
local awareness about ticks carrying Lyme
disease and mosquitoes carrying West Nile
Virus. The campaign, which reached people
countywide through ads on billboards, buses
and gas station pump toppers, was particularly
prompted by the recent increase in Lyme
disease cases in the county.
Helping Mentally Ill Patients Live More Independently
Due to high demand, a drop-in center established to support
individuals with mental illness went from offering weekday
hours to being open seven days a week. The center is part
of the Williams Consent Decree program that is helping
individuals living in state-funded facilities to move into their
own apartments and live more independently under the
supervision of mental health professionals. Approximately 40
to 50 clients use the center on a daily basis to socialize, learn
new skills and touch base with their counselors. In 2013, 19
enrolled in College of Lake County classes, four were employed
in the community, and numerous were involved in volunteer
activities.
Helping Childcare Providers Learn From Each Other
Home childcare providers often spend their days surrounded by children in their homes with minimal adult
interaction or contact. The Childcare Nurse Consultant, who works with more than 800 childcare providers in
Lake County, organized a monthly meeting where these providers can share their knowledge and challenges
and learn from each other, strengthening the capacity of our childcare community.
Using Stronger Rules for Aggressive Dogs
The Lake County Board and Board of Health approved
revisions to Article X, the Animal Care and Control
ordinance. The most significant change was to grant the
authority to investigate and impound dogs that exhibit
animal-aggressive behavior. An animal-aggressive dog is
a dog that, without justification, causes serious physical
injury or death to another owned animal. Animal Care
and Control conducted four investigations in 2013. Three
of the four dogs investigated were determined to be
animal-aggressive.
Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center 2013 Annual Report
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