Health Corner
Welcome to the Township of Sparta’s Health Corner, a place for sharing public health issues and services available to our residents. Our Sparta community is an active and healthy one, and there is always new information available to inform and educate. Please share this resource with your friends and family. Stay healthy!
The Township website is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services. This website provides general information for educational purposes only utilizing official government sources.
Don’t Let a Tick Make Your Child Sick!
Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters | CDC
Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives.
Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum). If you’re 45 to 75 years old, get screened for colorectal cancer regularly. If you’re younger than 45 and think you may be at high risk of getting colorectal cancer, or if you’re older than 75, talk to your doctor about screening.
Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important..
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Sussex County
Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Health
Office of Public Health Nursing and Environmental Office
Clinics, Outreach Events, Public Education and Upcoming Events, DOH Activities
March, 2023
Child Health Conference
Next Clinic Date: May 23
Complete physical exams, screenings, and age-appropriate immunizations for children ages 0-5 years old that are without health insurance. A clinic was held on January 24 and (3) three children were seen. Clinics are located at the Public Health Nursing Office, 201 Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg, NJ. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling 973-579-0570. Clinic dates are posted on the website.
Health Check Clinic
Next Clinic Date: May 23
This clinic offers vaccines for adults and school-aged children. There is no fee for vaccines if uninsured or underinsured. A clinic was held on January 24 and (3) three patients were seen. Clinics are located at the Public Health Nursing Office, 201 Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg. Appointments are required. Please call 973-579-0570 ext. 1275 to schedule an appointment. Clinic dates for 2023 are posted on the website.
Men’s Health Screening.
Next Clinic Date: May 2023
Under the direction of the NJCEED Program, a clinic is held twice a year. Prostate and colorectal testing is done along with a free PSA blood draw. Health education will include prostate health, smoking cessation and colorectal cancer information. Participants are encouraged to bring back their colorectal test kit sent to them prior to their appointment. This clinic is free to all NJCEED participants and those men who are uninsured or under-insured. Appointments are required. Please call 973-579-0570 ext. 1246 to schedule an appointment
Complete Metabolic Profile (CMP)
Next Clinic Date: May 2023
A blood screening was offered on December 17th, 11 patients were screened. Including lipid profile tests, glucose, liver function tests, kidney function tests, complete blood counts and more. Fee for the clinic is $50. Appointments are required. Please call 973-579-0570 ext. 1275 to schedule an appointment.
COVID-19 Vaccination April Clinics
- April 26, 2023 – Sussex County Public Health Nursing-3:00 pm-5:00pm 201 Wheatsworth Rd, Hamburg, NJ 07419
Upcoming PHN Activities
- April 27th- Family Expo- 127 Mill St, Newton, NJ 07860 – 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- April 29th- Healthy Kids Day YMCA – 10:00 am -1:00 pm
COVID-19 Testing kits:
The Sussex County Division of Health continues to offer information on the SC website on how to obtain at home testing kits. All residential households are now eligible for an additional order of free at-home COVID-19 test kits through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Please note the following:
- •Each order now includes eight (8) rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- •Your order of eight (8) tests will come in two (2) separate packages, with four (4) tests per package; each package will have its own tracking number.
- •Packages will ship free through USPS.
County School Immunization Audits
Public Health Nursing staff audits the student immunization records for compliance with NJ State regulations in all Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, High School and Childcare Centers in Sussex County. This is done on an annual basis as required by the NJDOH.
Sussex Warren Chronic Disease Coalition (SWCDC)
The SWCDC continues to partner with Atlantic health System, Sparta Cancer Center, Newton Infusion Center and Sussex County Division of Senior Services to promote health to Cancer Survivors in Sussex County.
Our Childhood Health Risk Workgroup continues its mission of obesity prevention in school aged children by partnering with schools and providing a Resource Directory for schools to assist in providing programs to increase knowledge in school administration, teaches, students and parents in healthy nutrition and physical activities for families.
On 3/31/23 the workgroup is presenting a program, “Teachers in the Garden’ in cooperation with Sussex County Community College, NJ Department of Agriculture and Kathy Cafasso, Program Director of the Sussex County Fairgrounds Agricultural Learning Center. Teachers from Pre K to 5th grade will be introduced to information that will guide them in implementing nutrition education into their classroom curriculum.
For the month of April we are promoting nutrition and physical activity at all of our outreaches.
Partnering with SC NJCEED and identifying opportunities for in-person outreach in the next 3 months. Areas of health disparities have been identified and are targeted. Information about Cancer Prevention and Early Detection is promoted at each event. The SWCDC utilizes opportunities to work with community partners to promote all programs that provide health education.
Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and the Community Health Improvement plan (CHIP) are completed and have been sent to the state of New Jersey. They are located on the Healthy NJ 2030 site: https://www.nj.gov/health/healthynj/2030/community-plans/
They are also located on the North Jersey Health Collaborative (NJHC) website: https://www.njhealthmatters.org/tiles/index/display?alias=sussexabout we are now entering the implementation phase of the CHIP. With funding from the NJACCHO grant SCHD will collaborate through the NJHC with our community partners to continue our work to improve health in Sussex County. Data from all partners will be collected and analyzed to track the progress of our interventions.
The next Sussex County Health Collaborative meeting will be held in April.
Lead Program
The Office of Public Health Nursing continues investigating childhood elevated blood lead levels. The nurse case manager conducts home visits and coordinates care for those children with elevated levels. The nurse case manager offers outreach and education with various partnerships within the county. Education and outreach for pediatricians and clinics continues with the goal of increased screening of those populations most at risk. There are currently five cases open and under investigation.
March outreach events include Saint Francis Church on 3/2/23, Sussex County Technical School on 3/29/23 for Game of Life. Upcoming April outreach events including POP-UP produce Market in Franklin on 4/3/23, Weiss Market on 4/10/23, Project Self-sufficiency family health expo on 4/27/23, Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA and sensory fair at Sussex County Main Library on 4/29/23.
Trainings Conferences include Lead Interagency Task Force on 3/9/23
and NJAAP webinar on Toxic Heavy Metal Content of Infant and Toddler Foods on 3/22/23. CDRSS for childhood lead/ NJAC 8:51 refresher on 4/25/23.
COVID-19
The Sussex County Health Department continues to address the ever-evolving Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) under the New Jersey State Department of Health. Daily positive cases are entered into the CDRSS and CommCare systems for case investigations and follow up contact tracing.
The dedicated staff works continuously, to provide necessary guidelines and answer any questions regarding isolation and quarantine recommendations.
Special Child Health Services:
Case Managers continue to assist families with the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF). Case Managers work with Family Resource Specialists from the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) to assist families with educational needs and resources. Special Child Health Services works with Autism NJ to provide resources to families.
Accomplishments/Meetings:
- Case Managers have contacted families of all referrals
- Opening of Grant for 2023/24
- CICRF application Case Manager sheet completed.
Upcoming:
- Wallkill Valley Coalition Meeting 4/5/23
- PSS Home Visitation and Early Childhood 4/19/23
- U/C Meeting 4/21/23
- PSS Health Fair 4/27/23
- Autism Information and Service Fair 4/29/23
- YMCA Healthy Kids Fair 4/29/23
New Year, New Travel Resolutions!
Is healthy travel on your New Year’s resolutions list? Make sure you're prepared for your trip!
Check out CDC’s Destination Pages for the latest information on safe and healthy travel to your destination. No matter where you’re going, you can find what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination.
Learn More Here
Need Travel Vaccines? Plan Ahead.
International travel increases your chances of getting and spreading diseases that are rare or not found in the United States. You may need travel vaccines to help you stay healthy on your trip.
Before you travel abroad, it’s important to visit a healthcare professional or a travel health specialist at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Some vaccines require multiple doses, so it’s best to see a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
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Traveler Genomic Surveillance Program Expansion
Travelers’ Health is excited to announce the expansion of the Traveler Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program to two additional international airports, Los Angeles and Seattle. This expansion is helping CDC continue to detect new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 among international air travelers. In total, the TGS program currently has sites in seven major U.S. international airports:
• Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Newark Liberty International Airport
• San Francisco International Airport
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
• Washington Dulles International Airport
The next time you travel through one of these airports, stop by the TGS booth, volunteer to participate, and receive a free COVID-19 at-home test kit for your time contributing to public health.