The Ashland County Health Department is hosting a ServSafe Course July 15 and July 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 1211 Claremont Avenue, Ashland, Ohio. Pre-registration is required by June 20, 2025. Click HERE for registration information.
The ServSafe Manager Course, presented by 1st Choice Food Safety Training LLC, meets the requirements of the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code Manager Certification per code 3717-1-02.4(A)(2). Those who complete this two-day course and pass the exam will receive a ServSafe Manager Certificate and a Manager Certification in Food Protection from the Ohio Department of Health.
Ashland County Health Department (ACHD) has been awarded national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Established in 2007, PHAB is the non-profit organization that administers the national accreditation program, which aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.
“We are so pleased to be recognized by PHAB for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” said Vickie Taylor, BS, MDiv, MA, ACHD’s Health Commissioner. “We hope this announcement will reassure our community, partners, funders and our elected officials that the services we provide are as responsive as possible and are meeting the foundational needs of our community.”
The national accreditation program, which receives support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sets standards against which the nation’s governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. Standards emphasize Foundational Capabilities and are aligned with the 10 Essential Public Health Services. More than 80 percent of the U.S. population now reap the benefits of being served by a health department that has undergone PHAB’s rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets a set of quality standards and measures.
“National accreditation through PHAB has benefits that extend far beyond the health department itself,” said PHAB President and CEO Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP. ” The accreditation process helps health departments identify key areas for improvement, ensuring they provide the highest level of service to their communities. With this accomplishment, communities served by accredited health departments can trust that their department is strong, capable, and committed to protecting and promoting public health.”
Often called the “backbone” of the public health system, public health departments are on the front lines of communities’ efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. Across the nation, health departments provide services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water, clean air, and life-saving immunizations; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.
Ashland County Health Department (ACHD), in collaboration with the Health and Wellness Target Action Group (TAG), conducted a Colorectal Cancer Screening survey during the summer of 2024 to identify local needs and concerns of the Ashland County community regarding colorectal cancer screening. The assessment results are available HERE.
“Ashland County’s 2023-2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) identified colorectal cancer incidence rates as an area of concern,” explained Jenna Gerwig, BSN, RN, the director of Nursing at ACHD. “Colorectal cancer screening is an important tool for early detection, diagnosis and treatment, yet studies show colorectal cancer screening rates are lower in rural areas in the United States. We wondered if low screening rates could be contributing to our high colorectal cancer incidence rates in Ashland County.”
Data from the National Cancer Institute measurement period of 2016-2020 reflects the following deaths/100,000 population for colorectal cancer: 23.3 Ashland County; 14.5 for Ohio; and 13.3 for the United States. The Healthy People Target is 8.9 deaths/100,000.
“As we work to identify why Ashland County has higher colorectal cancer incidence rates, we have applied for grant funding to purchase at-home colorectal cancer screening kits,” Gerwig reported. “We’re also working with local healthcare providers to coordinate the collection and follow-up associated with the distribution of an at-home screening kit.”
ACHD and the Health and Wellness TAG are coordinating a panel discussion for the community to address colorectal cancer incidence rates and emphasize the importance of screenings.
“We realize there’s a stigma surrounding the preparation involved for a colonoscopy, but like most cancer screenings, the procedure can save lives,” Gerwig said. The American Cancer Society recommends individuals at average risk of colorectal cancer begin regular screening starting at age 45.
Participating partners of the Ashland County Health and Wellness TAG include: Alzheimer’s Association; Appleseed Community mental Health Center; Ashland Christian Health Center; Ashland County Cancer Association; Ashland County Council on Aging; Ashland County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Ashland Health & Mental Wellness Center; Ashland MobileMed; The Ashland Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center; Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland; OhioHealth; United Way of Ashland County; Third Street Family Health Services; University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center.
Every U.S. household is eligible for 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Order through ASPR COVID-19 Testing or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Orders will ship free, so you will never be asked for a credit card or bank account number. You only need to give a name and shipping address. An email address is optional if you would like to track your order through the U.S. Postal Service. Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer! No one will call, text, or email you from the federal government to ask for your information to “help” you order free kits. Do not respond, but report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Ashland County residents can also pick up a limited supply of free COVID-19 rapid test kits at our office on 1211 Claremont Avenue, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Many of these kits have had their expiration dates extended beyond what may be printed on the packaging. Instructions on how to verify extended expiration can be found here At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests
Ashland’s Health Commissioner, Vickie Taylor, was a guest speaker on Keeping Ashland Healthy in September 2024. She joined experts from Mental Health and Recovery of Ashland County and the Ashland County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ACCADA) to discuss overdose awareness in Ashland County. Additionally, the episode features information on how to secure NARCAN or a NaloxBox. For more information, contact the Ashland County Health Department at 419-282-4231 or ACCADA at 419-289-7675.
Ashland County’s 2023-2025 Community Health Improvement Plan identified colorectal cancer incidence rates as an area of concern. Data from the National Cancer Institute Measurement period of 2016-2020 reflects the following deaths/100,000 population: 23.3 for Ashland County; 14.5 for Ohio; and 13.3 for the United States. The Healthy People 2030 Target is 8.9 deaths/100,000. Ashland County’s health and human service agencies are trying to identify why this number is high. Studies show colorectal cancer screening rates are lower in rural areas in the USA.
Click here to read a research paper that explores why colorectal cancer screening rates are lower in rural areas.
