Douglas County rises in health rankings to 17th in Kansas

(Lawrence) – Douglas County improved six spots to No. 17 in Kansas, according to the County Health Rankings report released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The county retur...

SCRIPT program to help pregnant mothers quit smoking

Lawrence, Kansas – Smoking during pregnancy can cause several complications for the health of both the mother and child. However, a new evidence-based program will help Douglas County expectant mothers quit smoking and offer healthier futures for them and...

Partnership to provide free health app to Douglas County residents

LAWRENCE — Douglas County, in partnership with the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department and Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will provide for free the MyStrength app to Douglas County residents.

MyStrength offers individuals supp...

Lawrence youth to celebrate anti-tobacco Kick Butts Day

(Lawrence) – Several Lawrence kids and teens will spend part of their spring break this week drawing attention to the harmful effects of tobacco use and picking up cigarette butts in downtown Lawrence.

“It’s important for our ...

Health Department seeks nominations for Health Champion awards

During National Public Health Week, April 1-7, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department will recognize Douglas County residents who model, encourage and promote health in the community.

As part of the week’s celebration, Director Dan Partridge encoura...

DCCF event to focus on food security and personal health

As one key issue area of the current Douglas County Community Health Plan, conveners in the community are working to create conditions for everyone in Douglas County to achieve food security and have access to a healthy built environment.

When community is...

Health Department sends condolences to family of Dr. Doug Dechairo

The Lawrence Douglas County Health Department offers condolences to the family of Dr. Douglas Dechairo, who passed away on May 26 after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of lung cancer.

Dr. Dechairo, as director of Watkins Health Service at the U...

Follow health and safety tips during storm cleanup

For those beginning to clean up debris on your property from Tuesday’s tornado, here are some health and safety tips to follow:

· Dress appropriately. Wear thick soled shoes, long pants and work gloves.

· Before you begin any debris clean up on your propert...

Community Forum to Focus on Vaping Among Youth

Electronic cigarettes, otherwise known as e-cigarettes or vapes, have become extremely popular among young people in recent years. The National Youth Tobacco Survey showed an alarming 78% increase in vaping from just 11% in 2017 to 20.8% in 2018.

It&rs...

WIC nutritionist to retire after 22 years at Health Department

For more than two decades, Dietitian Linda Rippetoe has been an encouraging voice for Douglas County families who are likely experiencing stressful circumstances.

“People who are going through hard times and they are trying to raise a family,&...

Growing Concern About Measles

Measles has garnered significant public attention recently as the CDC has identified nine outbreaks — defined as three or more cases —thus far in 2019 in jurisdictions in New York, Michigan, New Jersey, California, Georgia and Maryland. The CDC has linked...

Lawrence teen organizes walk to bring awareness to suicide prevention

Lawrence High School junior Jordan Ott recalls feeling many things in the wake of his brother Isaiah’s suicide in 2013.

Jordan, now 17, recalls he was a little bit young to realize exactly what was happening, but it’s a sense of loss th...

Health Department urges residents to be aware of bats

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has received an increase in the number of calls regarding bats. Additionally, the Kansas Departments of Health and Environment and Wildlife, Parks and Tourism have, too.

“Contact with bats is a concer...