Welcome
Welcome to the Berrien County Health Department website!
Berrien County residents are touched every day in many ways by our services. Every time we eat in a restaurant, need help for health care, or get our children vaccinated for school,the Health Department is involved to make us safer and healthier.
The Berrien County Health Department offers a variety of clinics to the public. Hearing and vision screening for children, HIV/AIDS prevention and testing, immunizations, TB control, flu/pneumonia clinics, nursing which provides home visits, school consultation, and chronic and communicable disease control. Please check out our site for clinic information, schedules and contact information, or call us at 269-926-7121.
The Berrien County Health Department can receive tax deductible contributions for any of its programs. For more information Contact Us.
Holiday Closings:
Health Department offices will be closed Friday July 3, 2009 for the Fourth of July.
Hot Topics
Community Alliance Against Substance Abuse
Do you have what it takes to help our community fight against substance abuse? Get involved! Join CAASA and help others just like you make a difference in the youth of our county. Read more about it here.
Hearing and Vision Screening
It is required that all children have their hearing and vision checked before entering Kindergarten. The Berrien County Health Department offers free screening for kids entering Kindergarten in the fall. Screenings have already begun and will continue all summer. Check out the schedule and pick a time and place that works for you. To read more about hearing and vision testing, check out our health library.
 Tobacco Free Michigan
Nearly a month ago, the House voted on HB 4377 which would make Michigan workplaces smoke free but exempted casinos, cigar bars, and tobacco shops. Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford) had reportedly told his caucus members that he would allow a vote on a clean bill without exemptions. What has happened since? Follow MI smoke free bills at http://tobaccofreemichigan.blogspot.com. Read our news article "Smoking Regulation" to learn whats new in Berrien County .
FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products
The FDA tobacco legislation, once fully implemented, will establish a range of new marketing restrictions and other measures that will apply nationwide to complement state tobacco prevention efforts and will provide assistance to states to implement their laws restricting sales to youth. Read more about this important new law.
 Sandra Hayes, RNC, MSN
Receives 2009 Friend of Public Health Award!
On May 6, 2009 at the meeting of the Board of Health, Sandra Hayes, RNC, MSN was announced as the 2009 Friend of Public Health. For a list of their accomplishments see Friend of Public Health. The Berrien County Health Department would like to thank Sandy for all the wonderful work she does for our community in the area of infant mortality prevention and FIMR Medical Record Case Abstraction. Ms. Hayes is the Clinical Nurse Specialist for Women and Children Services at Lakeland HealthCare. Learn more about the Friend of Public Health Award.
SWINE FLU - Now H1N1
The Berrien County Health Department is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Michigan Department of Community Health to bring you the most up to date information on the Swine Flu. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. Please see the CDC for more information click here or check the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
REMEMBER: Wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and if you are sick, please stay home.
Berrien County Health Department
2008 Annual Report
The 2008 Annual Report from the Berrien County Health Department has been completed and is available to the public by clicking here. The focus of the Annual Report, and the highlight for much of our work in 2008, was Assuring Health Equity. We continue to work towards our mission of preventing disease, prolonging life and protecting the health of the community.
New Health News Link
The Berrien County Health Department has added a new link to weekly audio and video programs featuring the latest research findings and informational stories on current health care topics. Check it out!
Spring Cleaning?
Safely dispose of household hazardous waste, electronics, pesticides and tires through the Berrien County Reource Recovery Office. What is acepted? Where and when are the collections? Click here for more information.
Vaccine Safety Realities
- Vaccines are the single-most powerful, cost-effective public health intervention ever developed.
- Vaccines have significantly reduced and, in some cases, eliminated serious infectious disease.
- The consequences of a decline in immunization rates could be devastating to the health of our nation’s children.
For additional information see:
www.cdc.gov/nip Center for Disease Control
www.immunize.org Immunization Action Coalition
www.vaccinesafety.edu Institute for Vaccine Safety
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staph Infection)
MRSA is one type of bacterial staph infection.
For additional information click here: www.cdc.gov/mrsa
Berrien County Clean Indoor Air Regulation
On June 1, 2007, the Berrien County Clean Indoor Air Regulation went into effect, significantly decreasing the amount of second hand smoke present in Berrien County businesses and public places. For more information click here. |
