Community health is a critical practice that focuses on the well-being of individuals within a community or population. It involves understanding the various factors—social, economic, environmental, and behavioral—that influence the health of people and striving to create environments where individuals can achieve optimal health. The goal of community health is not just to treat illness but also to prevent it by addressing the root causes of health disparities, ensuring access to care, promoting healthy lifestyles, and enhancing public health education. Stone County Health Department works collaboratively with local governments, organizations, healthcare providers, and community members to create policies, programs, and interventions that improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities. By focusing on the collective health of a population, community health aims to foster a healthier, more equitable society where every individual has the opportunity to live a long and fulfilling life.
Community Health Assessment
The Community Themes and Strengths Assessment is a vital part of a community health improvement process. Data gathered serves as the foundation for analyzing and identifying community health issues and determining where the community stands in relation to peer communities, state data, and national data. Data collected during this process also serves as a guideline for determining the goals and strategies to include in the Community Health Improvement Plan.
Community Health Improvement Plan
2023 SCCHC Community Health Assessment
2015 Community Health Assessment
One of the primary goals of the Stone County Health Department is to improve the health of county residents. The Stone County Health Department (SCHD) strongly believes that good health begins with prevention. Therefore the SCHD is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Stone County by providing health education to people of all ages and in a variety of settings including schools, community centers, churches, health care facilities, senior centers, businesses, health fairs, day care facilities, and civic organizations. Health education is available free of charge and provides information about relevant health and safety issures through individual consultations and educational presentations. The health educations topics included, but are not limited to:
- H1N1 (Swine Flu)
- Seasonal Flu
- Women’s Health Issues
- Men’s Health Issues
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Cholesterol
- Physical Activity
- Nutrition
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Hand Washing
- Food Safety and Preparation
- Personal Hygiene
- Dental Health
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- Chronic Diseases
- Pandemic Influenza
- MRSA (Methincillin-Resistant Staphyolococcus aures)
- Head Lice
- Growing up for Girls: How the Body Changes
- Child Passenger Safety (Car seats and seat belts
- Vehicle Safety (adolescents to senior adults)
- Tobacco
- Emergency Preparedness
- Summer Safety
To schedule a consultation or presentation contact Monica Spittler, Community Health Specialist
spittm@lpha.mopublic.org
417-357-6134 ~ Fax #417-357-6031
DISCLAIMER The Stone County Health Department web site is for informational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.