Health and Human Services News

Washington County Environmental Health, Solid Waste & Recycling and OSU Extension Service are hosting a free workshop on Saturday, June 17, 2017 to address two hot topics: food safety and food waste prevention.

After two years of planning, the Hawthorn Walk-in Center for Mental Health and Addictions Care opened today (May 23, 2017). Located at 5240 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, in Hillsboro, this is Washington County’s first mental health urgent care center.

The public is invited to a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 29, from 10-11 a.m., at Washington County’s Veterans Memorial Gateway, located at the corner of NE 34th Avenue and Veterans Drive in Hillsboro.

May is both Mental Health Awareness Month as well as Older Americans Month. In recognition of these two themes, Washington County Mental Health and Disability, Aging and Veteran Services are hosting a special event with Master Storyteller Paul Iarrobino.

This educational series is designed to help unpaid family caregivers take care of themselves while they are caring for a relative or friend with a chronic illness. Participants will learn how to reduce personal stress, communicate their needs effectively in challenging situations, deal with difficult emotions, and make tough caregiving decisions.

The awards ceremony and reception will take place on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures.

As part of National Public Health Week (April 3-9, 2017), Washington County Department of Health and Human Services will honor significant contributions to public health in Washington County with the 15th Annual Public Health Recognition Awards.

Earlier this month when a snowstorm pummeled the region, some Washington County residents may have learned the hard way how important it is to be prepared in case of an emergency. Fortunately, based on data collected by Washington County Public Health last June, most residents were probably at least somewhat prepared.

Exclusion Day is Wednesday, February 15, 2017. Washington County Public Health officials are reminding parents to make sure their children’s immunizations are up to date. Any child without the required vaccinations or an exemption certificate will not be allowed to attend school or child care on or after that day.