Health Education Programs
The Health Education Section is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating education programs targeting a variety of audiences. Each staff member is responsible for delivering services in one or more of the following areas: HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, communicable disease, substance abuse prevention, sexual assault prevention, conflict resolution/anger management, life skills, fetal alcohol syndrome, parenting, dog bite prevention and responsible pet ownership.
The following information provides an overview of current projects in the Health Education Section. All services are provided free of charge. For additional information or to request a presentation, please contact the staff members listed under each topic area, or Teresa Branson, Public Health Program Supervisor, at 616-632-7121.
Communicable Disease
Reducing the Risk
Life Skills
Dog Bite Prevention
Responsible Pet Ownership/Dog Fighting, Animal Abuse and
Neglect
Project Safe Dates: A Dating & Sexual Violence Prevention
Program
Coaching Boys Into Men
HIV Provider Education Project
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Seasonal Influenza
Communicable Disease
Presentations on HIV, STDs (sexual transmitted diseases) and a variety of communicable diseases, including hepatitis and tuberculosis, are provided to youth, parents, teachers and other audiences. Topics covered include prevention, testing, transmission and signs and symptoms of infection. Presentations are age-appropriate and can be tailored to meet the needs of specific populations.
Michelle Johnson (616) 632-7284 | Michelle.Johnson@kentcountymi.gov
Amy Endres Bercher
(616) 632-7123 | Amy.Bercher@kentcountymi.gov
Aaron Toffoli (616) 632-7295 | Aaron.Toffoli@kentcountymi.gov
Reducing the Risk
Reducing the Risk (RTR) is a 16-session research-based curriculum designed to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. The curriculum, targeted to youth between the ages of 14 and 18, focuses on delaying or reducing the frequency of intercourse and increasing the use of contraception and condoms. RTR is intended to supplement pre-existing health and sexual education curricula. Topics covered include:- An overview of STDs, HIV, abstinence and birth control methods
- How to obtain and use contraception
- Risks and consequences of sexual activity
- Decision making, negotiation and refusal skills
- Tactics to prevent & delay sexual activity
- Strategies to strengthen parent-child communication
Tracy Malinowski (616) 632-7271 | Tracy.Malinowski@kentcountymi.gov
Life Skills - (Middle School)
This 17-session curriculum improves students' social and decision-making skills to reduce the likelihood they will use alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and other drugs. The curriculum is targeted to youth in 6th through 8th grades and provides information on a variety of drugs, effective communication skills, decision-making, goal setting, coping with anxiety and other topics. The program includes a number of activities and exercises to maintain participants' interest and actively engage them in the presentation. Life Skills is offered to any community group (school, church, after school program, etc.) in Kent County and youth will be taught by a health educator from the Kent County Health Department at your organization. Each session is approximately 1 hour in length and the program is free of charge.
Tracy Malinowski (616) 632-7271 |
Tracy.Malinowski@kentcountymi.gov
Aaron Toffoli (616) 632-7295 |
Aaron.Toffoli@kentcountymi.gov
Rachel Van Horn (616) 632-7273 | Rachel.Vanhorn@kentcountymi.gov
Life Skills - (Elementary School)
This 12-session curriculum focuses on improving students' drug resistance skills, personal self-management skills and general social skills to reduce the likelihood they will use or abuse substances. Topics include: alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, effective communication, conflict resolution and how to deal with peer pressure. The program includes a number of activities and exercises to maintain participants' interest and actively engage them in the presentation. Life Skills is offered to any community group (school, church, after school program, etc.) in Kent County and youth will be taught by a health educator from the Kent County Health Department at your organization. Each session is 45-60 minutes in length and the program is free of charge.
Rachel Van Horn (616) 632-7273 | Rachel.Vanhorn@kentcountymi.gov
Sharon Schmidt (616) 632-7125 | Sharon.Schmidt@kentcountymi.gov
Dog Bite Prevention
Dog Bite Prevention presentations are provided to a variety of audiences, including children, neighborhood groups, dog owners and parents, and presented in classrooms, churches and community centers. Presentations are 30 minutes to one hour in length and provide information on factors that may make a dog more likely to bite and effective bite prevention techniques for familiar and unfamiliar dogs. Each child receives a dog bite prevention coloring/activity book and has an opportunity to practice the techniques learned.
Rachel Van Horn (616) 632-7273 | Rachel.Vanhorn@kentcountymi.gov
Responsible Pet Ownership/Dog Fighting, Animal Abuse and Neglect
One hour presentations provide information on how to properly care for pets. Topics covered include: the importance of a well-balanced diet, adequate housing and bedding, the advantages of spaying/neutering, proper veterinary care, grooming, adequate exercise and play time, proper training and obedience, socialization, and a review of State of Michigan and Kent County laws regarding pets including dog fighting, animal abuse, neglect, leash and license laws. Presentations are targeted to youth in grades 5-12. However, presentations can be tailored to other groups upon request.
Rachel Van Horn (616) 632-7273 | Rachel.Vanhorn@kentcountymi.gov
Project Safe Dates: A Dating & Sexual Violence Prevention Program
The goal of Project Safe Dates is to reduce the risk that teens will become either victims or perpetrators of dating or sexual violence. The curriculum includes eight 50 minute sessions. Topics include: defining caring relationships, defining dating abuse, preventing sexual assault and harassment, myth and facts about dating and sexual violence, why people abuse, how to help a friend, and media literacy. Safe Dates is suitable for youth age 12-18 and can be adapted for use with teens with developmental disabilities. Teacher and parent trainings are also available.
Amy Endres Bercher
(616) 632-7123 |
Amy.Bercher@kentcountymi.gov
Coaching Boys Into Men
This program engages youth group leaders and coaches to help shape the attitudes and behaviors of young people. Program materials and staff training are available to your school or youth group for free and can help you address the issues of integrity, respect , and non-violence in relationships. Coaching Boys Into Men consists of eleven 10-15 minute discussions with youth that can easily be incorporated into existing youth programs and activities. Most of the lessons are just as appropriate for girls too!
Aaron Toffoli (616) 632-7295 | Aaron.Toffoli@kentcountymi.gov
HIV Provider Education Project
Trainings are provided to health care providers (physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) and health profession students (medical students, residents, physician assistant students and undergraduate/graduate nursing students) to increase the number of health care providers who can competently discuss patients’ sexual health and provide risk assessment, risk reduction, HIV counseling, testing and referral services to persons at risk of HIV infection. The trainings range in duration from 90 minutes to one full day, depending on the target audience. Topics covered include: the importance of conducting a sexual history, the link between STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and HIV/AIDS, how to conduct risk assessments, and the challenge of personalizing risk for clients.
Michelle Johnson (616) 632-7284 | Michelle.Johnson@kentcountymi.gov
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
An eight-session parenting curriculum is provided for parents of children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and women at risk of having a child with FAS. The curriculum is especially beneficial for women enrolled in substance abuse treatment programs. Information is provided on the cause and prevalence of FAS, symptoms and primary disabilities of FAS, effective intervention and discipline strategies and how to advocate for children with FAS.
Amy Endres Bercher (616) 632-7123 | Amy.Bercher@kentcountymi.gov
Seasonal Influenza
Presentations on seasonal influenza are provided to schools, businesses, service organizations, and church, senior and neighborhood groups. Topics addressed include: influenza overview, reducing your risk of becoming infected, hand washing, cough etiquette, influenza vaccination, and caring for yourself and others when sick. Also get tips on what supplies you should have stored in the event you cannot get to the store due to illness. Presentations can be tailored to meet the needs of specific audiences.
Sharon Schmidt (616) 632-7125 | Sharon.Schmidt@kentcountymi.gov
