Vancouver, WA – Clark County Public Health is one of 19 local health departments nationwide that received a Model Practice Award today from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). Applications for the annual competition were peer-reviewed by public health professionals from other communities in search of exemplary programs to replicate elsewhere.

Locally, staff was recognized for helping prevent opioid overdoses, now the leading cause of accidental death in Washington. Implemented in April 2014, Public Health’s Overdose Prevention Program trains staff and volunteers at the Harm Reduction Center in the Maplewood neighborhood to administer and distribute naloxone to persons at risk of experiencing or witnessing an opioid overdose. Naloxone reverses the effects of an overdose. As of June 30, Public Health had educated 583 people, distributed 1,459 naloxone kits, and documented 293 overdose reversals.

“A good measure of community health is the health of its most vulnerable citizens,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Public Health director and health officer. “In addition to reducing opioid-related deaths, our staff is increasing community awareness about an issue that in some ways affects us all. This award recognizes staff’s hard work and creativity.”

The model practice programs are now part of NACCHO’s online, searchable database of successful practices in areas as varied as immunization, maternal and child health, infectious diseases and emergency preparedness.

NACCHO represents 2,800 public health departments nationwide. For more information and to view other award winners, visit www.naccho.org. For more about Clark County Public Health, visit www.clark.wa.gov/public-health.

CONTACT
Adiba Ali
Public Health
(360) 397-8489
adiba.ali@clark.wa.gov