Welcome to your monthly update for everything Clay County Public Health Center. As your nationally-accredited local health department, our vision is to empower all people in Clay County to lead healthier lives.
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A lot has happened in the world of public health over the last few months. Here on the local level, our operations and policies are not always immediately impacted by federal changes. However, information shared online and in person can quickly reach community members and cause confusion or distrust.
Our team here at Clay County Public Health is committed to providing quality care and education at all times. We strive to remain evidence-based and be a consistent and trusted resource for our community. If any changes to our operations and offerings do occur, we aim to communicate clearly in a timely and thorough manner.
As part of this communication and transparency, we wanted to share some of the things we've been up to over the last month or more.
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Amidst major changes to federal vaccine recommendations for children over the past couple of months, our immunizations team members have spent hours navigating the complex processes of vaccine science and policymaking, combing through confusion, and interpreting what these changes might mean for us locally. At this time, vaccine availability at our clinic remains the same. However, we will provide updates if/when there are any updates, especially when it comes to insurance coverage, our school clinics, and back-to-school season. You should also note:
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The WIC program lost 160 participants last fall, which may have occurred because of confusion about SNAP and WIC funding at that time. While it is disheartening to know that so many community members are no longer accessing the food and nutrition support they are eligible for, enrollment numbers in the new year look promising. Many are eligible but don't realize it - encourage someone you know to explore this option.
- One state contract was not renewed due to funding cuts. The program previously allowed CCPHC to provide services for the partners of people who tested positive for syphilis and HIV. This included partner notification, follow-up, and linking them to testing and treatment options. We will continue to look for other funding opportunities to provide personalized care and education to community members.
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Health center staff will engage in strategic planning in 2026, with various assessments and brainstorming workshops taking place throughout the year. At January's Board of Health meeting, the trustees engaged with EverStrive Solutions to provide their insight on what the organization's priorities should be. The goal is to create realistic and responsive goals for 2027-2030, with the plan completed by July and progress tracked on a quarterly basis starting in 2027.
- In January, the board voted to approve a new parental leave policy for health center employees, both full and part time. Upon the birth, adoption, or placement of a child in their home, CCPHC employees may be eligible to receive up to 320 hours of paid leave to allow time for bonding.
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Environmental health wrapped up the year by working with all food establishments to get their 2026 permits. Also, preliminary data suggest that violations across all areas were down in 2025, indicating successful communication and working relationships between public health and businesses.
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Over 900 families received food from our two mobile food pantry events in December. Thank you to everyone that continues to trust us as a valuable resource during times of need and to the partners that made the events possible.
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The health center will apply for reaccreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) in 2027. Our Continuous Improvement Coordinator is mobilizing staff now to meet the standards and be prepared to submit our work.
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The most exciting announcement from January is this: Clay County Public Health was awarded Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) recognition from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)! PPHR recognizes our ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies through the submission of vast documentation.
Candidates' submissions undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. The standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices.
PPHR's criteria elements are organized into 3 goals, including:
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All-hazards preparedness planning,
- Workforce capacity development,
- Quality improvement through exercises and responses and a comprehensive exercise plan.
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Within the 313 measures submitted by CCPHC, 301 were marked as Fully Met, with only 12 being Partially Met and zero being Not Met. Not only does this assure our community that we are well prepared for public health emergencies but it also counts towards a large portion of our future reaccreditation measures.
Thank you to our Emergency Response Coordinator Wennekota Tarama, plus other program staff that submitted documentation, for their hard work to achieve this recognition for CCPHC. Tarama will attend the 2026 Preparedness Summit in Baltimore this April to accept the award on behalf of Clay County Public Health.
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American Heart Month 2026 |
In the Northland, 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure[Source]. Diagnosing and managing blood pressure early can improve everyday well-being and prevent life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and strokes.
Stay Active
Exercising regularly is one of the most effective tools for strengthening the heart muscle, keeping your weight under control and warding off the artery damage, says Johns Hopkins Medicine. They recommend aerobic exercises and resistance training for improving heart health.
Reduce Stress
Too much stress over time can take a real toll on your health, leading to issues like high blood pressure and higher cholesterol. Mayo Clinic offers some practical tips for reducing stress like journaling, volunteering, avoiding smoking and caffeine, and more.
Eat Healthier
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, certain foods can manage or lower your risk of heart disease. Consider these tips for preparing heart-healthy meals.
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Choose unsaturated fats, including olive and canola oil, when cooking. Many heart-healthy oils also work great in homemade salad dressings.
- Include sources of omega-3 fatty acids throughout the week, such as fatty fish, walnuts and certain types of eggs.
- Make whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans and lentils a key part of your meals to help you meet your fiber needs.
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Limit sources of saturated fat, including fats such as tallow, lard and butter.
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Free dental screenings and fluoride varnish are offered at Clay County schools by registered dental hygienists.
Parents/guardians should return the consent form by clinic day in order for your student to participate.
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Lillian-Schumacher Elementary - Feb. 2-3
- Missouri City and Excelsior Springs Talented Tots - Feb. 4
- Treehouse Preschool - Feb. 4-5
- Saint James Catholic School - Feb. 9
- Southview & Hawthorne Elementary Schools - Feb. 17
- Dogwood & Kearney Elementary Schools - Feb. 19
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Fox Hill Elementary & Maple Park Middle School - Feb. 26
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Don't see your child's school listed?
More dates are posted on our website (button above).
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- Public Health Nurse/Immunization Clinic - Full Time
- Public Health Nurse/STI Clinic - Part Time
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800 Haines Drive, Liberty, MO 64068
clayhealth.com | 816-595-4200
Through service, partnership, and leadership we deliver the essential public health services of prevention, promotion, and protection to improve the health and well-being of all communities in Clay County.
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800 Haines Drive | Liberty, MO 64068 US
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