Staying active within the community, Carter County Health Department is partnering with one state association to help promote the services available at their location.

The Tennessee Public Health Association (THPA) and county health department announced this week that the annual celebration of National Public Health Week will be observed April 2-8 this year. According to information provided by THPA, the week allows individuals and communities across the state to come together to celebrate the work and dedication of health professionals and volunteers, along with highlighting the issues that are important at the local, state and national level.

2018 is a pivotal time for the week, according to THPA, with this year’s theme titled “Healthiest Nation in 2030 Changing Our Future Together” — a call to make the United States the healthiest nation in one generation by 2030.

“The Carter County Health Department is a proud community partner providing a variety of services such as well-child exams, immunizations, birth and death certificates, WIC, family planning and children’s dental care to name a few,” Carter County Director Caroline Hurt said in a statement issued to the Elizabethton Star.

2017-18 has been an extremely busy time for the department with the implementation of various projects and the partnerships with other organizations in the community. The health department proved to be one of the key cogs assisting Grow Carter County in securing a “Healthier Tennessee Community” status by Gov. Bill Haslam.

“Public health is something that is vitally important to our office so we’re excited to participate in this initiative,” Jaime Lawson, Carter County health educator, said Friday. “We encourage the public to come by during the week to learn about the different services we provide.”

Recently, the department partnered with Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition to host a kickball tournament at the East Tennessee Sports Complex in conjunction with Kick Butts Day — a national movement to encourage children to stay away from tobacco products.

With the opioid crisis and other issues affecting the state, along with the county, TPHA Executive Director Kim Harrell said the goal of the week is to promote partnerships and to work together to address the various concerns across the state.

“All Tennesseans deserve to live a long and healthy life. To make our state healthier we must focus on areas including behavioral health, communicable diseases, environmental health, injury and violence prevention, and ensuring the right to health,” Harrell said in a press release. “Let’s start new conversations and be advocates for positive change. If Tennesseans work together where we live, work, and play, we can make sure our state leads the way to a healthier nation in one generation.”

Individuals wanting to learn more about the services provided in the county can contact the health department at (423) 543-2521.