Scioto County Health Department

11/06/2025

Bananas aren't just a go-to source of potassium -- they also supply your gut with inulin, a type of fiber that helps good bacteria grow. 🍌 http://ms.spr.ly/6187tH5O5

11/06/2025

❤️ Learn Lifesaving Skills – CPR Training Class ❤️
Be prepared to save a life! Join us for a hands-on CPR training class open to the public. You’ll learn how to recognize an emergency, perform chest compressions, and respond confidently in a cardiac emergency.
📅 Date: November 13th, 2025
🕓 Time: 5:30-8:00pm
📍 Location: OSU Scioto Co. Extension Learning Center 502 S. Court Street Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
💲 Cost: 10.00 per participant
Class is limited to 20 participants
After completion, participants may choose to receive an American Heart Association Certification for an additional $10 paid by cash to the instructor. **OSU cannot accept any payment for the certification**
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn valuable lifesaving skills!

11/05/2025

Register Today for our FREE webinar! Grief Around the Holidays 💝

The holidays can feel overwhelming when you’re grieving. What should be a season of joy may instead bring sadness, loneliness, and painful reminders of who is missing.

You want to find peace, honor your loved one’s memory, and learn ways to navigate the season with support and hope.

Join us for our free webinar, “Grief Around the Holidays,” on November 10th from 6:30–7:30 pm. We’ll share tools, coping strategies, and compassionate guidance to help you through this difficult time.

One participant from last year’s webinar shared, “I thought I was going to feel alone forever but hearing others’ stories and learning how to honor my loved one gave me comfort and strength.”

💙 You don’t have to face the holidays alone. Register today and take a step toward healing.

Register here: https://www.shawneefamilyhealthcenter.com/registration

11/05/2025

On behalf of the Portsmouth City and Scioto County Boards of Health, we are proud to present the 2025–2028 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) for Scioto County and the City of
Portsmouth.
As of July 1, 2025, Scioto County had a population of 71,529 residents, with just over 17,000 living within the City of Portsmouth. Every three years, both the city and county health departments conduct Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) for their respective jurisdictions, as required by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Using data from these Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs), the health departments also incorporated priorities and benchmarks from the Ohio State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) and Healthy People 2030 to ensure alignment with state and national objectives. Facilitated by the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, the departments collaborated
with a diverse group of community partners to develop the 2025–2028 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which focuses on the following priority issues:

1. Substance Use 2. Physical Health 3. Mental Health

Our shared goal is to address these challenges by increasing awareness of community resources, identifying networking opportunities, and reducing duplication of services. To achieve this, we have established priority-specific workgroups composed of partners actively engaged in each area. These workgroups are responsible for implementing action steps and objectives tied to the CHIP’s goals. Workgroup leads will provide quarterly progress updates, supported by measurable data to track outcomes. All updates will be uploaded to and tracked within Clear Impact, with a link to this platform included in this document to promote transparency and accessibility.
The CHIP is a living document that will be updated and revised as necessary to respond to changing community needs and emerging public health trends. In 2025, workgroups met monthly to develop strategies, coordinate actions, and share resources; beginning in January 2026, meetings will shift to a quarterly schedule to focus on evaluating progress, fostering collaboration, and welcoming guest speakers to strengthen partnerships.

11/05/2025

This November, National Diabetes Month, we’re wearing blue to bring awareness to the high prevalence of diabetes in Ohio.

Diabetes and prediabetes each affect over 1 million Ohioans. And it’s estimated that another 2.4 million Ohioans may unknowingly have prediabetes.

There are several types of diabetes, including:

Type 1 diabetes, a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Type 2 diabetes, which happens when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t make enough. This is linked to lifestyle and can be managed through your healthcare provider, diet, and exercise.

Prediabetes, which occurs when you have elevated blood sugar levels but they’re not high enough for an individual to be considered as having Type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes, which is diagnosed during pregnancy. It can put you at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes later in life, so it’s important to incorporate healthy habits into every stage of life.

Small Steps, Big Impact
Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any diet or exercise program. Here are some healthy steps to include in your lifestyle:
Make healthy food choices, including more veggies in your diet.

Get outside for a 30-minute walk every day.

Find ways to manage or reduce stress.

Quit smoking. Call 1-800-QUITNOW for help.

Maintain a healthy weight for your body.
https://odh.ohio.gov/media-center/feature-stories/small-steps-to-prevent-diabetes-110425

11/05/2025

On behalf of the Scioto County Board of Health, the Scioto County Health Department is pleased
to present the 2025 Community Health Assessment to the people of Scioto County. This
assessment represents the collaborative efforts of many local individuals, organizations, and
service agencies throughout our county. Community health and wellness require a team effort,
and we are very grateful for all of our community partners who continue to commit their time,
support, and dedication to our shared goals of improving the health and well-being of our
71,000+ residents.
The information presented in this report builds on previous Community Health Assessments
conducted since 2018. The data will allow stakeholders—health care providers, service
agencies, local government, the business community, and the general public—to gain a view of
our community’s strengths as well as our challenges and prioritize Scioto County’s most
pressing health needs. This information will serve as a basis for the development of our next
three-year Community Health Improvement Plan later this year.
We invite you to explore this report, reflect on its findings, and join us in our mission to improve
the health and well-being of all sectors of our community in Scioto County. Whether you are a
healthcare provider, policymaker, community advocate, or user of healthcare services, your role
is vital. Please join us in this collective effort! Together, we can build a healthier future for everyone.

11/05/2025

11/05/2025

Who is at higher risk for complications from the flu?
Certain health conditions can put you at higher risk for severe illness from the flu. This includes life-threatening complications that require hospitalization. You’re at higher risk for serious illness if you:

Have asthma, COPD or another chronic lung disease.
Have a history of kidney, liver, neurological, heart or blood vessels disease, including stroke.
Have a condition that causes issues with muscle function or makes it difficult to cough, swallow or clear fluids from your airways.
Have diabetes.
Have a weakened immune system (from HIV/AIDS, cancer or immunosuppressive medications).
Have a blood disorder, like sickle cell disease.
Have a BMI greater than 30 (have obesity).
Are under 5 years old or over 65 years old.
Are pregnant.
Are under 19 years old and take aspirin regularly.
Live in a long-term care facility.
Non-Hispanic Black people, non-Hispanic American Indians, Alaska Native people and Hispanic or Latino people have the highest rates of severe illness from the flu compared to non-Hispanic White people and non-Hispanic Asian people.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4335-influenza-flu

SCHD has Flu shots available!
Call 740-355-8358 opt #2 to talk to a public health nurse or walk-ins are welcome 8:30am-4pm Monday - Friday
612 6th St Suite D
Portsmouth OH 45662

11/05/2025

Attention Golden Bears! We have a great opportunity for you to get a free check up! The Phlebotomy students will be performing free screenings for cholesterol, glucose, and more!

November 7 & 14 in HEA 217 from 10 AM to 1 PM. We hope to see you there! 🐻

11/04/2025

We have a goal of feeding 500 families Holiday meals this season. It's big goal but with your help we can do it! If SNAP benefits do not resume the holidays will be extra hard for our Scioto County families. Even with the 25 million the Governor has allocated for the hardest hit families. It's not enough. Scioto County alone spends over 3 million a month on SNAP benefits. Ohio spends over 225 million a month on SNAP. Don't let Scioto County families do without this Christmas Season. Donate via the link or bring in food to 5409 Wi******er Ave. Sciotoville.
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/72WA7PH2SBYZ6

If you need food this holiday season come see us! If you think there might be a barrier to you qualifying come see us anyway. If you need a little extra help with food you won't walk away empty handed. Tuesday 9-2 and Thursday 9-6pm