Indiana has 95 local health departments across the state focused on improving Hoosier health and safety.
Here are a few ways public health is working to meet the needs of their communities:
Indiana North
Lake County
Mobile Integrated Health Program
Lake County Health Department (LCHD) partnered with the St. John Fire Department to implement a mobile integrated health program. Because of this strong partnership, the mobile integrated health (MIH) program provides an array of innovative programs and services. For example, the MIH program offers CPR courses and Stop the Bleed courses. They also provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for families in need. Along with installing the detectors, a MIH team member educates families on how to properly maintain the device. Other programs offered include Safe Sitter, Safe Grandparents and the safe sleep program. Safe sleep program participants receive a pack-n-play, car seat, car seat installation and car seat safety education.
In addition to courses and equipment, the MIH program includes home visits. When patients are discharged from the hospital, a paramedic provides the patient with education about their medications, conducts a home safety assessment to identify fall risks and facilitates communication between the patient and primary care providers. Each visit concludes with a check-in to ensure that follow-up appointments are scheduled and the patient has arranged transportation to get to appointments.
The mobile integrated health model helps provide wraparound services to patients and increase access to preventive health services.
Indiana Central
Howard County
Food is Medicine
In October, Howard County Health Department (HCHD) launched their Food is Medicine program to support individuals at risk for or living with type 2 diabetes. The twelve-week initiative provides fresh produce, diabetes-friendly pantry staples and nutrition education to participants. Because of HFI funding, HCHD partnered with Purdue Extension to offer this program to the community.
The current cohort of the program has fifteen participants. Classes are located at HCHD because it is on a public transportation line. HCHD partners with Coordinated Assistance Ministries (CAM) to provide additional transportation services as needed.
Each week, a class facilitator conducts a cooking demonstration to show participants how to prepare diabetes-friendly meals. The Dining with Diabetes curriculum and Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP) curriculum are used. Both programs are evidence-based. Participants are given a binder that contains course materials, recipes and other resources.
At the midpoint session on Nov. 4, four participants reported having lost weight, one participant reported lower blood sugar readings and multiple participants reported increased confidence in speaking with healthcare providers about their health.
Indiana South
Spencer County
Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Initiatives
Spencer County’s Tobacco and Vaping Prevention and Cessation program is a subset of the Spencer County Health Coalition. The coalition serves all school systems, employers, providers, nonprofits, youth and adults in Spencer County.ealth Heal
The coalition provides key tobacco and vaping prevention education to middle and high school students. They offer the CATCH My Breath youth vaping prevention program and the INDEPTH (Intervention for Nicotine Dependence: Education, Prevention, Tobacco and Health) program. INDEPTH is an alternative to suspension and citation for students. Rather than a punitive approach, INDEPTH helps schools and communities address teen vaping in a supportive way. The coalition also provides outreach to parents and guardians through back-to-school events, health fairs and parent nights.
Recently, the coalition created new tobacco-free and vape-free policies at the Santa Claus Parks, Santa Claus Community Center and the Spencer County Youth and Community Center. By creating smoke-free and vape-free areas in the community, the risk of exposure to secondhand smoke will decrease.
Another important initiative the coalition spearheads is the Tobacco-Free families program. They partnered with Head Start to provide the “Breathe: Healthy Steps to Living Tobacco Free” program to provide families with tobacco prevention and cessation resources.
Because of the coalition’s success, Spencer County’s Tobacco and Vaping Prevention and Cessation program supports Perry, Warrick, Dubois and Gibson counties with tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives. In 2025, the coalition plans to participate in the Mental Health Matters Awareness Walk and the Spencer County Community Wellness Forum. To stay up-to-date on the coalition’s activities, view their Facebook here.
