Lincoln County Community Health Council (LCCHC) Releases 2022 Health and Wellness Guide
As the world continues to navigate one of the most challenging health crises of our generation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we deal with the loss of more than 750,000 Americans (at the time of publication) to the coronavirus and the impact on their families and communities, the Lincoln County Community Health Council (LCCHC) is focusing on health equity and is committed to a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being for everyone.
In 2021 LCCHC continued providing suicide prevention training virtually using the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) curriculum as well as resumed teaching the Signs of Suicide (SOS) curriculum in the schools. LCCHC also organized suicide prevention "glow walks" in Ruidoso and Mescalero, passed suicide prevention literature and gun locks at the annual Labor Day Gun Show, and continued billboard sponsorship offering help, hope, and resource information to those in our community who are struggling with anxiety and depression. LCCHC continued its partnership with the Road Runner Food Bank to provide food for those who are food insecure through a mobile food pantry. LCCHC continues to support the RISE (Reach, Intervene, Support and Engage) program at the Lincoln County Detention Center through drug and alcohol education as well as through an indigent mental health/substance use program for those who need the services but cannot afford them. LCCHC continues participating in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-Build a Culture of Health project aiming to help train all first responders in Lincoln County and Mescalero to be Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained, to help people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Additionally, the LCCHC hosted its 9th Annual Stepping into a Better You health fair this year providing cholesterol and diabetes health screenings, mammograms and vaccines, vision screenings as well as a Region IX Education Cooperative 5K Remembrance Memorial walk/run. This followed another successful Health Challenge which included participation in the Annual Aspen Fest Parade as well as the Grow Your Own Food Project which encouraged families to grow their own fruits and vegetables by teaching them all aspects of gardening.
LCCHC also participated in vaping education by distributing informational pamphlets as well as footballs with a message at Ruidoso and Capitan football games. LCCHC sponsored the Ruidoso High School Varsity Girls Soccer team during their annual "Pink" game and provided information and resources for breast cancer awareness and screening. A big "THANK YOU" to LCCHC members and community partners.
The year 2022 promises to be even more exciting with projects in the works including a county-wide comprehensive health assessment, affordable housing, and transportation as well as continued projects through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Build a Culture of Health and CDC/Kellogg Vaccine Equity and Community Rebuilding grants.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Lincoln County Community Health Council (LCCHC), wish to volunteer and make a difference in your community, or want additional information, please contact us at www.lincolncountyhealthcouncil.org
