Whitley County Health Department receives award for community work

The Whitley County Health Department (WCHD) was recently awarded for their outreach and work within the community.

Several members of the health department’s staff attended the Kentucky Public Health Association’s (KPHA) annual conference last month in Bowling Green, which acts as an educational and networking opportunity for public health professionals. 

While at the conference, WCHD staff gave a presentation called “Dead People Don’t Recover” regarding the health department’s efforts to help curb overdoses. As part of those efforts, the health department has been among the few public health agencies championing newer harm reduction techniques by providing the community with easy access to drug deactivation kits, as well as Naloxone—or Narcan—through leave behind kits and Naloxboxes. 

During the conference a number of awards were also given out highlighting the work of individual entities. The WCHD was among those who were honored, receiving the Comissioner’s Award for Outstanding Community Engagement and Partnerships.

That award was given based on two community engagement events the health department recently held: the child abuse awareness event held last month and the bullying forum held in March.