Polk County Public Health

 Email: Randi Phillips, Supervisor

Vision:    Healthy people living in healthy communities achieved through prevention and early intervention.

Polk County Health Assessment Report

Public Health Alerts and Notices
Click  to view Public Health Alerts and Notices.

 
Babies First
Home visits to assist high-risk families and their babies with minor health issues, developmental screenings, and referrals to community services. Nurses provide support, encouragement, and role modeling and work with families to provide education on parenting. For children ages 0 - 4 years old.

CaCoon (Coordinated Care Planning)
Home visitation program for families with children through the age of 20 who have complex physical conditions which result in special medical, educational, vocational, and social needs. The goal is to train parents to become their own case managers and to utilize community resources with the support of a nurse.

Communicable Disease/TB/STD
Physicians and laboratories in Polk County report any communicable diseases to the Polk County Health Department for investigation. All reported communicable diseases are then investigated by our Nurse Epidemiologist. Follow-up is provided to reduce the transmission of these diseases. The CD nurse also works to provide education on disease identification and prevention.

The TB program provides TB testing for both adults and children. Clients with positive tests are referred for additional testing and treatment. The Community Health Nurse provides follow up care in the absence of another provider.

The Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) program provides diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections for both men and women. Please call 503.623.8175 to schedule an appointment or for additional information.

 Food Illness Report
We are here to help determine the probable offending food by investigating promptly the foods you have eaten the last three days. Occasionally, it is not the food but instead the water or chemical poisoning. We ask that you call our office as soon as possible so we can prevent the further spread of illness or contamination. You may report a suspected illness by submitting an online Food Illness Report. You may also contact the Environmental Health office at 503.623.9237 or by email.

Tobacco Prevention
Polk County’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) strives to reduce tobacco-related illness and death. Since its inception, TPEP has been a comprehensive program, addressing the issues of tobacco use by working to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, counter pro-tobacco influence, help people quit and eliminate health disparities.  For more information, please visit Oregon's Tobacco Prevention and Education Program.
 

Family Planning/Women's Health
These services are provided by a Community Health Nurse on a walk-in basis during Tuesday -- Friday clinics. The service provides education and assistance in pregnancy planning or prevention for men and women. Oregon Health Plan is accepted for these services. Family planning hours are from 8:30 a.m. -- 11:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. -- 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Appointments with a Nurse Practitioner are required for all services provided by this program. This service provides women's health checks, as well as diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections for women and their partners. Low cost or free services may be availabe on a sliding scale.

Ryan White/HIV Prevention/Counseling and Testing Services
The Ryan White program is an HIV case management program for people with HIV/AIDS who, because of the disease, need assistance in accessing various community services and/or coping with their illness. The HIV program provides public education on reducing the risk for HIV infection. HIV counseling and testing services are provided on an anonymous or confidential basis. HIV counseling and tested is offered by appointment. Please call 503.623.8175 to schedule an appointment or for additional information.

Immunizations
This service provides the following vaccines: DTap, Tdap, Td (Tetanus containing vaccines), IPV (polio), Hepatitis A & B, HIB, HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), Influenza, Meningococcal, MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella), Rotavirus, Varicella (Chicken Pox), and Pneumoccocal (pneumonia). TB tests are available for children and adults. Appointments are necessary. Please call 503.623.8175 to schedule an appointment. A fee for services, based on your insurance plan, will be charged.

 
WIC (Women, Infants & Children)
Provides families with nutritional education and counseling, nutritious supplemental foods and health screenings. Referral for additional services can be provided to high risk clients. WIC eligibility requirements: pregnant or breastfeeding women, infants and children (under five years of age), whose income is at or below 185% of the Federal poverty level.

Vital Statistics
All records of births and deaths occuring in Polk County are filed with the County Registrar's office. Certified copies of birth or death certificates may be obtained if the event occured in Polk County within the previous 6 months.

Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Provides community education, planning and engagement with key partners to plan, organize and respond to Public Health-related emergencies such as pandemic flu. Assists with the coordination of disease control measures in the event of emergencies caused by natural or man-made disasters.