Harrison County Health Department highlights car seat program

It was Election Day but for May 5, it also meant an opportunity for the Harrison County Health Department to set up their car seat program for anyone who wished to have their car seats inspected.

Community Health Worker Dawn West and Community Outreach Coordinator Cylene Wood manned the tent with car seats set up to demonstrate securing them properly. Wood said they began at 10 a.m. near the entrance to the building for anyone interested.

Health Director Katie Norris said the car seat program began just a few years ago through the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes under the Ohio Department of Health. Two staff members became certified car seat technicians and it seemed to propel the program further when five more members also became certified.

They can check to see if current seats are properly installed or even install new seats. They can also help families receive a free car or booster seat.

“The partnership with Ohio Buckles Buckeyes has been extremely rewarding for our department. We enjoy keeping the smallest passengers safe on the roads by ensuring they are in properly sized and installed seats,” Norris said. “Our team does a great job with educating parents and guardians on car and booster seat safety. We hope to continue offering seats to people in need.”

Norris said the public can contact the health department at 740-942-2616 if they need a new car seat or need one checked.

Norris also talked about the Community Health Assessment, which she said is the foundation for their Community Health Improvement Plan.

“By collecting data directly from our residents, we get a clear picture of the unique health challenges people are facing right now—from access to fresh food and mental health support to chronic disease prevention,” Norris explained. “We aren’t just guessing what the community needs; we are letting the residents of Harrison County tell us exactly where our focus should be for the next three years.”

She described the collecting of data as the department’s roadmap allowing them to secure grant funding and “design programs that actually solve local problems.”

She also said it was a requirement for obtaining national accreditation showing that the health department is meeting the highest standards of service.

“We want to meet people where they are, which is why we are launching the survey on Facebook while still providing paper copies for anyone who prefers them,” Norris said.

She said they are now offering gift cards in return for people giving their time to take the survey.

“Ultimately this survey is how we turn the public’s voice into a plan for a stronger, more resilient Harrison County,” Norris said.

The survey can be found at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/l8f9wbh. Or, people can call the health department and request a paper copy to be mailed to them.