Programs & Services
Our programs and services are offered by a wide variety of skilled and caring health professionals, including dental hygienists, speech-language pathologists, geneticists, nurse practitioners, public health nutritionists, dietitians, inspectors, public health nurses and health promoters — over 120 staff in nine different offices.
We remain committed to working with all our communities to promote and protect health throughout the health unit area by "providing a variety of relevant, responsive and effective programs that will improve and protect our health." (Porcupine Health Unit Mission Statement, 2004)
Chronic Disease Prevention
Members of the Health Unit's Population Health Team work to help you reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases. We have programs and services to help you eat and drink better, be active, have a healthy weight, and be tobacco-free. We work with you, the media, and partners in schools, workplaces, and our communities to provide the knowledge, skills, healthy places, and policies to make a lifestyle that gives you health today and tomorrow.
CPNP: Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program
If you are pregnant and young, alone, isolated, smoke or have little money, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program provides nutrition counselling, support and follow-up. For those in need, we can provide vouchers for milk, food and vitamins.
Epidemiology
Our Public Health Epidemiologist studies trends and statistics about health to make sure that the health unit's programs and services meet the public health needs of the people in our communities.
Food Safety
Our Public Health Inspectors provides information, support and training to food handlers throughout our communities. They investigate complaints and suspected cases of food poisoning. They also inspect and report on restaurants and cafeterias, and kitchens in nursing homes and day cares. From time to time, inspectors also assist the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in food recalls.
Genetics
If you have concerns about "family" or genetic conditions, our genetics nurses and geneticists can help diagnose and counsel you.
Growing Healthy Families Programs
Whatever stage of parenting you're in, the Growing Healthy Families Program has information and support for you. They can help you plan for having a healthy pregnancy. After your baby is born, they can help with early postpartum support, and advice that works for parenting of infants, children and teens.
Over the years, we've seen thousands of families through a variety of programs, including: prenatal classes; breastfeeding information and support; telephone and home visits for new parents; Healthy Babies, Healthy Children home visits and a variety of parenting programs.
Health Inspection
Our Public Health Inspectors investigate and oversee a number of areas to protect the public's safety. They help ensure that the water you drink is safe by inspecting small drinking water systems, monitoring and responding to water-testing reports and water quality complaints from the public.
Inspectors make sure septic systems are installed safely and investigate environmental health hazards, conduct mosquito monitoring and rabies investigations and education; and they inspect summer camps, public swimming pools, spas, and specified beaches. To make sure proper practices are in place, they conduct inspections of tattoo parlours, nursing homes, and daycares. They are available around the clock through a 24/7 emergency on-call service.
Immunization
It's said that immunization is one of the greatest public health successes of all time, helping reduce and, in some cases, eliminate the risks of polio, smallpox, tuberculosis and other diseases to everyone. Probably best known for the annual flu shot clinics, our immunization nurses also conduct school clinics and keep school and daycare immunization records. They also play a key role in making sure vaccines are stored and handled safely and that publicly funded vaccines get to doctors, hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities.
Infection Prevention and Control
Our Public Health Nurses and Inspectors investigate and respond to all reportable infectious diseases in the community, including outbreaks in institutions, childcare centres, and schools. They help ensure policies and procedures to keep health care facilities safe.
Injury Prevention
Most research indicates that injuries are predictable and preventable. Our Population Health Team nurses work to help increase awareness of how injuries can be prevented by providing education and events like Bike Rodeos to schools and throughout our communities.
Nutrition
Our Public Health Dietitians provide Fanfare information for healthy eating and healthy living to the community, schools, and workplaces through media, resources, consultation, workshops, events and displays. You can join us for a supermarket tour, cooking demonstration or menu planning workshop. We work with community groups to help make healthy foods available to everyone.
Oral Health Programs
Recognizing that good oral health is important in our overall health, the Public Health Dental team — consisting of hygienists and educators — provide a range of services. They screen primary school students for dental decay, and provide free preventive oral health services in daycares and schools. They also ensure that there is funding for those in need through a government-supported program.
If you think you or someone you know may qualify for our free dental services, call your local Health Unit office.
Preschool Speech and Language Program
The Health Unit's Speech- Language Pathologists and Speech-Language Assistants help identify and then provide assistance to preschool children with speech and language difficulties.
Children can be referred by doctors, other agencies or even by the parents themselves; so call us or visit our website if you have any concerns.
Sexual Health
The Nurses and Nurse Practitioners in our sexual health clinics provide free, non-judgmental and confidential sexual health services that include the testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV), birth control and contraception counselling (including free condoms, birth control pills at a reduced price and emergency contraception), pregnancy testing, and physician or nurse practitioner sexual health assessment and follow-up.
They also play an important role in education and counselling to promote positive attitudes and practices regarding sexual orientation, relationships, decision-making, and personal responsibility.
Tobacco & Substance Misuse
Our Population Health Team offers a variety of educational programs about the health risks of tobacco, and the misuse of drugs and alcohol. They offer several tobacco-specific programs, including ones to help smokers quit. Whether you are thinking about quitting, are trying to quit for the first time, have tried to quit before, or are trying to quit now, we can help you strengthen your willpower and improve your chances of success.
Our tobacco program also works to educate people about the dangers of second-hand smoke and delivers programs to encourage youth to never start smoking. Our Health Inspection team is responsible for the proactive enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.
Travel Health
The Travel Health Program at the Health Unit helps you keep healthy when you leave the country, by providing information and other services through our Travel Health Clinic.
Last reviewed: January 6, 2010