June 20, 2024
Media Contact: Nancy Bell, Population Health Manager, nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov
West Piedmont Health District Receives National Award for Model Program
MARTINSVILLE, Va.– The West Piedmont Health District (WPHD) has received recognition from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The local program called “Community Health Workers as Data Collectors Provides Equity in Rural Virginia” was selected as a Model Practice.
After a rigorous peer-evaluation, WPHD’s initiative demonstrated an exemplary response to a local public health need. It was also chosen for its ability to reflect the positive impact local health departments have on communities.
The award-winning program outlined the process for collecting data from disenfranchised populations by deploying community health workers to take live surveys in neighborhoods that typically have been underrepresented.
“The West Piedmont Health District is extremely proud to be recognized on a national stage for the tireless work performed by our community health workers, Dr. Kerry Gateley, WPHD director, said. This effort has helped us to reach so many individuals so that we have an even better understanding of the various needs within our communities.”
As an award winner the health district has been invited to attend the NACCHO360 Conference in Detroit, MI to be held in late July. WPHD will also have the opportunity to showcase this project via a three to five-minute video presentation and also during a special live session at the conference. A session called “2024 Award Winning Best Practices from Local Health Departments” will feature the “best of the best” Model Practice winners using a four to-five-minute TED Talk-style format that will include a live question and answer component.
NACCHO serves 3,000 local health departments across the country by providing professional resources and programs to support effective local public health practice and systems.
The West Piedmont Health District covers the counties of Franklin, Henry and Patrick and the City of Martinsville, Virginia. To learn more about community health services offered by the West Piedmont Health District, visit vdh.virginia.gov/west-piedmont/community-health.