Glenn Gilbert
Jefferson County Public Health
360-385-9400
info@jeffersoncountypublichealth.org

Jefferson County Public Health is Celebrating 2023 National Public Health Week Beginning April 3rd

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is celebrating National Public Health Week April 3-9, 2023.  This year, the National Public Health Week theme is: Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health.  This is an opportunity to highlight each person’s unique place in the community and recognize how making cultural connections can support our individual health and quality of life. When we support each other in our community, we are able to create a strong bond and support each other’s health, creating a stronger community and a more protected future of public health. 

Each year for National Public Health Week, JCPH and the Jefferson County Board of Health honor people and organizations who make a significant contribution to maintaining and improving health in Jefferson County.  JCPH asks you to join with the Board of Health in nominating local Public Health Heroes who make our community safer and healthier.  We want to hear their story.  Nominations are open to the public through March 6, 2022.  Please submit a nomination for an individual, agency/business, or group you feel is making a difference in the health of Jefferson County.

JCPH began recognizing Public Health Heroes as a way to celebrate National Public Health Week locally, by honoring people who live or work in Jefferson County, and who promote public health in their daily lives.  The focus of Public Health is improving an entire community’s health through achieving healthier lifestyles and preventing health problems before they arise.  Committed to helping communities become healthy places to live, work and play, Public Health, among other things, provides reliable information that people can use to make healthy choices, protects residents from hazards in the environment, and monitors and controls the spread of communicable diseases through disease investigations and containment tools.

What is a Public Health Hero?  A Public Health Hero is a person or an organization that promotes public health in daily life.  Each day of Public Health Week has a different public health focus, and nominations can relate to any of the public health focus areas, but are open to others as well.  Following are the public health focus areas for Public Health Week 2023:

Community
Violence Prevention
Reproductive and Sexual Health
Mental Health
Rural Health
Accessibility
Food and Nutrition

How to make a nomination:

•    Nomination forms may be picked up at the JCPH office at 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm, or

•    By going to Public Health Hero Award 2023 Application (online submittal) or going to Public Health Hero Award 2023 Application and filling out the online fillable form (PDF) and emailing it to info@jeffersoncountypublichealth.org

How to return the completed nomination form:

•    Drop off or mail completed forms to:  JCPH c/o Public Health Heroes, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA  98368, or

•    Email to info@jeffersoncountypublichealth.org

The deadline for submitting nominations is Monday, March 6, 2023.  Winners will be announced at the March 16, 2023 Jefferson County Board of Health Meeting, held from 2:30 – 4:30 pm. Learn more about National Public Health Week and “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health” at www.nphw.org. For further information, contact Glenn Gilbert at (360) 385-9400 or ggilbert@co.jefferson.wa.us.ggilbert@co.jefferson.wa.us