PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Public Health is accepting nominations for Public Health Heroes now through April 18.
Each year for National Public Health Week — April 4-10 this year with the theme of Public Health Is Where You Are — public health departments and county boards of health honor people and organizations making significant contributions to maintaining and improving health in Jefferson County.
Members of the public can nominate individuals, agencies, businesses or groups that are making a difference.
Winners will be announced at the April 21 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health, held online from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A Public Health Hero is a person or an organization that promotes public health in daily life, according to a press release.
Each day of Public Health Week has a different public health focus. Nominations can relate to any of these areas, while they’re open to others as well.
Organizers aim to choose at least one award for each area of focus, but there may be more or fewer than that.
These are the public health focus areas for Public Health Week 2022:
• Racism: A Public Health Crisis;
• Public Health Workforce: Essential to our Future;
• Community: Collaboration and Resilience;
• World Health Day: Health is a Human Right;
• Accessibility: Close the Health Equity Gap;
• Climate Change: Taking Action for Equity;
• Mental Wellness: Redefining the Meaning of Health.
Nomination forms may be picked up between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the county public health office at 615 Sheridan St. in Port Townsend’s QFC shopping center.
This Friday only, the office will be closed while the health department staff participates in a daylong retreat. Voice messages can be left at the department’s main number, 360-385-9400, and will be returned first thing Monday morning, said Apple Martine, director of Jefferson County Public Health.
Nominations also can be made online at jeffersoncountypublichealth.org.
To return the completed nomination form, drop it off or mail it to JCPH c/o Public Health Heroes, 615 Sheridan St., Port Townsend, WA 98368, or email it to info@ jeffersoncountypublichealth.org.
For more about National Public Health Week and the “Public Health Is Where You Are” theme, see www.nphw.org.
