- Chronic Health Conditions and Diseases such as diabetes and heart disease
- Healthy living topics such as physical activity and nutrition
- Reproductive health and safety
- Substance use prevention and harm reduction
- Life stages and population health
- Workplace wellness and safety
Programs and Community Coalitions Facilitated by Health Education:
Safe Sitter Classes/Safe Kids Coalition:
- Safe Sitter: Prepares students ages 11-14 to provide limited babysitting services with the permission of all adults involved. The class is held at the Cleveland County Health Department and lasts for one day with instruction in first aid and CPR included.
Puberty Education and Teen Pregnancy Prevention:
- Puberty Education: School Nursing staff teach a 60-minute puberty education program to all fifth-grade students in Cleveland County Schools.
- Strong Teens Youth Council: The Strong Teens Youth Council is composed of students enrolled in Cleveland County Schools who have completed the Strong Teens Making Proud Choices curriculum and who are interested in serving as peer leaders to reduce adolescent pregnancy in Cleveland County.
- Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition: Serves as the Community Advisory Council for APPP (see below) and educates the community on issues around teen pregnancies and births.
- Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Project (APPP): This grant-funded initiative targets the prevention of teen pregnancies among students in Cleveland County. Funded by the North Carolina Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, the program provides classroom-based instruction using an evidence-based curriculum to 9th grade students. Participation in the program requires parental consent using a passive consent form. Parents may review curriculum materials on-site at the Cleveland County Health Department during business hours in the presence of the APPP Grant Coordinator and one additional health education staff member. Two publications are available through APPP:
- Private Matters for Cleveland County Youth: A resource guide for teens in Cleveland County. This guide is distributed to students enrolled in the school-based classes.
- Parent Survival Guide: A publication for parents and guardians of students entering middle school and is distributed at student orientation events.
Minority Health Council: This program responds to health disparities identified in the Community Health Assessment and/or State of the County Health Reports.
Suicide Prevention:
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): QPR is a suicide prevention program designed to train individuals to save lives from suicide by asking questions, persuading individuals to ask for help, and making referrals to appropriate providers for treatment. The program is available at no cost and is delivered by a certified QPR trainer to small and large groups in the county.
- Too Good for Drugs 7thGrade: Evidence-based substance use prevention program facilitated in 7th grade health classes at each of the four middle schools in the county.
- Catch My Breath: This evidence-based program is designed to address the national epidemic of youth vaping and can be delivered in four sessions at multiple grade levels in school-based settings.
- Student Options and Redirection (SOAR): The SOAR program is an early intervention program targeting youth and parents where treatment for substance abuse is not yet warranted. Students may be referred to the SOAR program by school administrators if a student has violated Cleveland County Schools’ substance abuse policies. Successful completion results in the student’s school suspension being reduced from an automatic ten days according to school policy to only five days if the referral is from the school system. If the referral is from the court system, appropriate court officials are notified of completion. Parent(s) or guardian(s) may also make referrals to the SOAR program if they suspect their child may have substance abuse issues and are interested in early intervention/prevention services.
- Drug Free Communities Initiative: This initiative is a five-year federal grant award focusing on alcohol and drug use issues identified by the community. Activities under this initiative are developed and implemented with guidance from a community coalition (SAPC) and led by a Health Education Specialist.
- Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition: This coalition serves as a community forum to develop and support environmental and policy changes regarding the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (illicit, prescribed, and over-the-counter medications) in Cleveland County. SAPC members engage the community in targeted substance abuse prevention efforts such as billboard and poster contests, youth councils and community forums.
Med-South Lifestyle Program: This is an evidence-based behavior change intervention modifying the Mediterranean diet for populations in the southeastern United States. The program consists of four sessions designed to educate participants to make healthy choices from among four dietary components: (1) nuts, oils, dressings and spreads, (2) vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans, (3) drinks, desserts, snacks, eating out and salt intake, and (4) fish, meat, poultry, dairy and eggs. The program can be delivered to individuals or groups.
Community Resource Guides: These guides list nutrition resources, physical activity opportunities, prescription medication programs, transportation options, and primary care providers, dental providers, and eye care providers. They are published annually by the Health Education unit. Access the current Community Resource Guide here.
Required Documentation: These documents are required for accreditation by the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Board as well as the consolidated agreement between the Cleveland County Health Department and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. All documents are published in print and electronic formats and distributed throughout the county. Electronic versions may be viewed here under the corresponding header.
- Community Health Assessment (CHA): This document is produced every four years with the involvement of key community stakeholders to identify, assess and resolve community health needs, including the social determinants of health. Key partners in this process include the Atrium Health system as well as the Alliance for Health in Cleveland County, Inc.
- Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP): Two CHIPs must be developed and implemented based on health priorities identified in the CHA. One must be short-term (1-3 years) and one must be long-term (5-7 years). Both plans follow the Clear Impact structure using both population and performance accountability measures.
- State of the County Health Report (SOTCH): This document is produced annually in the years when a CHA is not implemented in the county. This document is designed to show a snapshot of progress towards CHIP goals as well as current key demographics in the county. The document also highlights emerging health issues which demand attention from key stakeholders.