Happy Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day to our RD and WIC Supervisor, Hallie Hopkins! Hallie’s dedication to improving the health of women, infants, and children has made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of families in our community. Thank you, Hallie! Learn more about WIC and the MCHD team here. Contact Hallie at hallie.hopkins@malheurhealth.org or call our office at 541-889-7279.
On December 30, 2023 the FDA announced a formula recall. Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition voluntarily recalls select batches of Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder because of possible health risk.
Consumers who purchased Nutramigen should check the bottom of the can to identify whether the batch number is affected. Product with the batch codes listed above should be disposed of, or contact us for a total refund. Please contact us at 866-534-9986 or by email at consumer.relations@rb.com and we will help verify if this product was impacted. If you have any concerns, contact your health care provider. For more information, please visit us at www.enfamil.com.
Learn more: FDA article.
Plan to join Malheur County Health Department staff for lunch each month for an informal gathering to get to know each other and hear from program staff. All are welcome! Lunch is provided for free. Copy the dates of the learning labs to your calendar from our Events Calendar.
Please share the flyer and Facebook event. Thank you for your support!
The first lunch is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17th at noon. You can enter the health department at the side door (old WIC side of building) or at the main entrance.
If you would like to have any program staff scheduled to present and connect with your group, please contact Kyle Sorensen at kyle.sorenesen@malheurco.org or call 541-889-7279. Presentations available in English and Spanish for all programs.
August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) and all of August is National Breastfeeding Month!
World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign that aims to inform, anchor, engage, and galvanize action on breastfeeding and related issues since 1992. This year, WBW focuses on breastfeeding and employment/work. Breastfeeding is one of the best investments in children’s and women’s health and survival. Breastfeeding could prevent 823,000 annual deaths in children younger than 5 years and 20,000 annual maternal deaths from breast cancer. However, workplace limitations remain the most common reason for women to never breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended.
The sunshine is out, summer meals are kicking off and farmers markets are in full swing! Every weekday this summer, a national program will provide free lunches for kids (ages 1 to 18). No ID or sign-up is needed. The free breakfasts and lunches will be available in 800 locations throughout Oregon, and in all other states where you might travel this summer.
A few local summer meal sites:
Summer Meals Map – Find all the Summer Meal locations nationwide on the Summer Meals Map. These summer meal programs are open to all families without paperwork or signing up – kids can just drop in. Many programs offer fun activities so kids can stay active. Check out the many meal sites in your area!
Also, don’t forget to use your WIC Farmers’ Market Vouchers and shop at Farmers Markets Matching SNAP. Many Oregon farmers markets are offering a SNAP match. The Ontario Saturday Market accepts the WIC FM Vouchers and offers a SNAP match. Visit the Ontario Saturday Market in Moore Park every Saturday, from June to September, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
We are honored to share a series of outreach videos from the Malheur County Health Department. We hope seeing our team in action and hearing about what we do will reach more people. We want everyone in Malheur County to know we are here for you. We have something to offer all ages and want to be more active as a resource in our community. Thank you for watching, subscribing, and sharing!
Thank you to the amazing team at Stoltz Group for all the work on our plans, video, and photography.
Follow Stoltz at:
Join us Tuesday and Wednesday, July 11th and 12th for the WIC Farmers’ Market outside the Malheur County Health Department office, 1108 SW 4th St. in Ontario. Women and children who are enrolled in the WIC program may each be eligible to receive $28 of WIC Farm Direct checks to purchase produce at participating farms and farm stands.
During the WIC Farmers’ Market event at the health department, Red Barn Produce will have fruits and veggies for sale to the public and for Farm Direct Nutrition Program recipients to spend their checks, including WIC Farm Direct and Senior Farm Direct participants.
Women who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding and children under 5 may be eligible for WIC. Information about the program will be available at the Farmers’ Market and by calling us anytime at 541-889-7279.
Share the Farmers’ Market Facebook event and the flyers in English and Spanish. Thank you!
June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month! We want everyone to know: no matter who you are, you are welcome here.
This year, there are many events celebrating Pride month in Malheur County and Eastern Oregon. See the One Community All Spirits Stronger Together event flyer here and the EOCIL Pride program here. Follow our Events Calendar and contact us if you would like to add your community event.
Public health supports Pride month and is active in LGBTQIA+ advocacy because creating an inclusive healthcare environment doesn’t just take care of the LGBTQIA+ patient population, it takes care of all of us. We all benefit when the people around us are healthier. (LGBTQIA+ is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more.) People who are LGBTQIA+ have a variety of health needs and often experience health disparities, placing them at risk for negative health outcomes. Health disparities typically result from a lack of access to adequate healthcare. In public health, we care for everyone in our county, especially our most vulnerable.
The Malheur County Health Department (MCHD) provides compassionate, high quality care for all people in Malheur County, including LGBTQIA+ individuals of all ages. We want to address the disparities and improve health outcomes for all.
We are proud to offer many services, including:
We are a community of all sexual orientations and gender identities and have a variety of health needs. MCHD serves all people regardless of ability to pay, with a few low-cost exceptions. No one will be denied services based on immigration status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, nationality, or religious affiliation. We also accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurance. If you do not have insurance, we have staff who can help you sign up for the Oregon Health Plan or determine your eligibility for other assistance programs.
We provide confidential care at low or no cost for a variety of important services that are available to all in our county. Whether it’s testing for sexually transmitted infections, accessing birth control, or getting WIC services, we are here for you. We have a safe space and are grateful for the chance to serve you.
People who are LGBTQIA+ are members of every community, including ours. They are diverse, come from all walks of life, and include people of all races and ethnicities, all ages, all socioeconomic statuses, and from all parts of the country. The perspectives and needs of LGBTQIA+ people should be routinely considered in public health efforts to improve the overall health of every person and eliminate health disparities.
According to the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, when compared to their heterosexual peers, LGBTQIA+ students are more likely to have been bullied at school, seriously considered suicide, felt sad or hopeless, used illicit drugs, been forced to have sex, and misused prescription opioids.
Find excellent resources for LGBTQIA+ Youth, Educators, and Family LGBTQ+ Youth Resources and more general resources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health from the CDC. For healthcare providers, the American Academy of Family Physicians provides a highly-recommended LGBTQ Health Toolkit.
Save the date for Tuesday-Wednesday, July 11th and 12th, for the WIC Farmers Market at the Malheur County Health Department. Red Barn Produce will have fruits and vegetables for sale to the public and for Farm Direct Nutrition Program recipients to spend their checks, including WIC Farm Direct and Senior Farm Direct participants. If you are current on WIC, you may be eligible to receive $28 worth of WIC Farm Direct checks to use at the Farmers Market or at local farm stands during the season.
To learn more about WIC, see the Spotlight on Malheur County WIC Program. If you are pregnant or have a child under the age of five, call us at 541-889-7279 to find out if you’re eligible and sign up for services.
Share the Farmers’ Market event on Facebook here and the graphics in English and Spanish below. Remember to mark your calendar for July 11-12, 2023!
We are pleased to support an event coming up for families with preschool-aged children in Malheur County. The Eastern Oregon Early Learning and Care Network will be hosting Pathway to Preschool at the Four Rivers Cultural Center on Friday, May 19th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Malheur County Health Department will have a booth with free vaccines and information on WIC and home visiting programs. There will be activities for children, a food truck, and many opportunities to learn about local preschool programs. Each family that attends will receive two tickets to the FRCC Dinosaur Exhibit.
Mark your calendars and please share the flyers in English and Spanish. We hope to see you there!
Malheur County Health Department 