Childhood Lead Prevention Program
The NVHD Health Educator collects and monitors daily reports of elevated blood lead levels in children up to the age of 6 provided by DPH or local pediatricians. The Health Educator and sanitarians work closely together to initiate investigations to determine how and why the child is being lead poisoned. Our certified lead inspector risk assessors perform home visits and conduct sampling to identify the source of a child’s lead exposure. Once the source of lead is identified, we work with parents and property owners to make sure lead hazards are controlled. NVHD provides a lot of education around lead poisoning prevention throughout the community and to pediatrician’s offices. We enforce the CT Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Regulations.
Lead poisoning is 100% preventable! For more lead information and ways to prevent lead poisoning, click here.
Matter of Balance – Fall Prevention Program
Many older adults experience a fear of falling. People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater. A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls is a nationally recognized program was developed at Boston University and is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults (60 or older, community-dwelling, and able to problem solve). The class is taught in-person over 8 weeks in two-hour sessions and is led by two trained facilitators for a small group of 8-12 participants. NVHD offers this program several times throughout the year at various senior centers.
LiveWell Programs
LiveWell with Diabetes
We have trained coaches to offer the LiveWell with Diabetes program to help residents manage their Diabetes. In the class you will learn how to manage symptoms so you can get the most out of life. You will learn to set your own goals and make a step-by-step plan to improve your health and your life. You will learn from trained leaders who understand because they have health conditions themselves or care for someone with a health condition.
LiveWell with Chronic Pain
- Find better ways of dealing with pain and fatigue
- Discover easy exercises to help improve or maintain strength and energy
- Learn the appropriate use of medications
- Improve nutrition
- Talk effectively with family, friends and health professionals
- Understand new treatment choices
- Feel better about life
- Increase confidence in ability to manage health
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention
QPR, standing for “Question, Persuade, and Refer”, is a suicide prevention training that recognizes three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Mental Health First Aid helps people assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course taught by two trained facilitators, individuals learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help. MHFA teaches about recovery and resiliency for topics including but not limited to depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, and substance use disorders.
Asthma Awareness