Organizational health literacy at work: Community Health Workers, education, and partnership
Last Updated: November 6, 2023 Across RHHD, Community Health Workers—or CHWs—are coming up with creative ways to build health literacy into their education and outreach efforts. CHWs work in RHHD’s resource centers or with groups who have unique health needs. Some multilingual CHWs work in communities where English is not a first or even second language. When these CHWs... Continue reading→
Your personal health literacy starter kit
Last Updated: November 6, 2023 Health and education organizations have an obligation to ensure that their resources are as accessible as possible, no matter your personal health literacy. At the same time, there are some things you can do to flex your own health literacy muscles, whether you’re at a doctor’s office, a clinic, or at home. Practice Ask Me 3 ... Continue reading→
Just the beginning: Wrapping up Health Literacy Month
Last Updated: November 6, 2023 We may have reached November, but RHHD is reflecting on the Health Literacy Month that was. Health literacy isn’t just an October project for us—it guides the work we do all year long. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services talks about health literacy having two components: personal health literacy and organizational health... Continue reading→
The week ahead: No newsletter, just voting!
Last Updated: November 6, 2023 The week ahead: No newsletter, just voting! All RHHD clinics and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of Election Day and Veterans Day. Both days are important for public health workers—and our communities—to observe: Elected officials make critical decisions about how to support and fund... Continue reading→
Consejos del bombero Cody sobre los detectores de humo
Last Updated: November 20, 2023 El horario de verano termina el domingo 5 de noviembre. Mientras cambia la hora en los relojes, la Comisión de Seguridad de Productos del Consumidor (CPSC) de Estados Unidos le recomienda que pruebe sus detectores de humo y reemplace las baterías de los detectores de humo y las alarmas de... Continue reading→
Trick-or-treat-or-traffic: stay safe out there!
Last Updated: October 31, 2023 The scariest thing about Halloween should be your child’s homemade zombie cheerleader costume, not speeding cars. RHHD Policy Director Ruth Morrison offers some tips for getting home with every candy bar intact (except the ones you eat on the way!): If you don’t have to drive, don’t! Reducing the number... Continue reading→
Salmonella alert: Gills Onions recall
Last Updated: October 31, 2023 Don’t let Salmonella slow you down this Halloween; let’s save the green faces for Frankenstein’s Monster and Elphaba. CDC has issued a recall for Gills Onions products in light of Salmonella cases in 22 states, including Virginia. CDC recommends throwing away any of the products included in the recall (you can see the full... Continue reading→
It’s coming from inside the house: Environmental Health and Lead Safe and Healthy Homes at RHHD
Last Updated: October 31, 2023 Ghouls and zombies don’t spook RHHD’s Environmental Health and Lead Safe and Healthy Homes teams. They’re too busy ensuring you have what you need to protect your home from outside invaders—like bats, rodents, or insects—or from dangerous toxins like lead. Here are some of their scariest facts: In their lifetime, female roaches can lay... Continue reading→
Be a virus slayer, spot the signs
Last Updated: October 31, 2023 It’s important to know what kind of monster you’re dealing with so you know how to take it out. A wooden stake for a ghost, or silver bullets for a vampire? Buffy would never. Learn the symptoms of the season’s most common respiratory viruses so you know what steps... Continue reading→
Health Literacy and Trustworthiness: Spotlight on Waymakers Foundation
Last Updated: October 24, 2023 Today, we’re spotlighting Waymakers Foundation, a food bank, community hub, and Health Equity Fund recipient that works predominantly with Hispanic and Latino communities in the greater Richmond area. Waymakers founder Natasha Lemus considers trust one of the keys to the organization’s success, which is something she’s cultivated during her 16 years of living and... Continue reading→
“The backbone of public health:” Celebrating our Disease Intervention Specialists
Last Updated: October 6, 2023 Friday, Oct. 6, is Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) Recognition Day. If you haven’t heard of DIS before, you’re not alone—chances are, they’ve helped you live a healthier life regardless. Disease Intervention Specialists are what CDC calls “the backbone of public health in the United States.” From DIS Supervisor Brad Cox’s perspective, a DIS... Continue reading→