Shawnee Mission Thanks Public Health Partners

Shawnee Mission Thanks Public Health Partners
Shawnee Mission School District

The Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) joins individuals across the country by thanking everyone who works in public health for the essential role they play in our communities. This week marks National Public Health Week.

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) in particular works closely with our district and many organizations to improve health and wellbeing throughout the year.

“We are especially grateful now to our community health partners as we work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 together.  The JCDHE has served as an incredible source of education, information, and guidance for our school district and the community,” Shelby Rebeck, director of health services for the Shawnee Mission School District said.

“They present factual information in a calm manner,” she noted. “They answer questions in a timely manner and are accessible to their community.”

JCDHE has also partnered with Johnson County school nurses to provide a COVID-19 hotline to answer community questions about the disease. They can be reached from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday at 913-715-2819.

Here are some additional examples of the ways JCDHE supports our SMSD community:

·      JCDHE has hosted a Community Health Assessment/Improvement Program (CHAP/CHIP) for  many years. The SMSD has been a participant along with many other community organizations. 

·      JCDHE hosts collaborative quarterly meetings with Johnson County Nursing Directors, helping them work together to support the health needs of the entire community with county wide health initiatives.

·      JCDHE provides direction and support for disease surveillance and reporting. 

·      JCDHE has provided immunization clinics for our students. They offer a wide variety of health and wellbeing programs for students and their families. 

·      They have partnered with the SMSD for our Bike/Walk to School Programs and have continued to be an advocate for decreasing tobacco and vaping in our community.