29-03-2025
Central Valley Health District brings programs to the community
Mar. 29—Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 "Moving the Community Forward" special section of The Jamestown Sun.
JAMESTOWN — Central Valley Health District has been working to be more visible in the community, said Kara Falk, executive director, with its programs, presentations and nursing services.
"For us, looking at moving the community forward, public health is community," she said. "Our definition is community to prevent and promote and protect the wellness of it."
"In our maternal health department, we did a lot of work this year with the James River Valley Breastfeeding Coalition in working to make breastfeeding more accessible and attainable out in the community," said Shannon Klatt, director of health promotion.
They hosted breastfeeding stations at community events including the A-Maze-N Clown Pumpkin Patch, Stutsman County Fair and Jamestown Speedway races, she said.
CVHD also hosted the North Dakota Biennial Breastfeeding Conference for the first time, Klatt said, which brought in more than 100 breastfeeding professionals from across the state to learn from nationwide experts.
The health district hosted five car seat checkup events in communities, Klatt said.
Klatt and Jill Wald, a car seat tech, also provided car seat safety education to child welfare workers to ensure they're doing safe practice when they're in the field.
Falk noted CVHD distributes car seats for free or reduced rates as well.
"We were able to get a grant and we partnered with three different classrooms through Stutsman County and Logan County that provided garden boxes in classrooms to try to help students grow vegetables to provide more nutritious means and education, understanding of the nutrition and value of something like a garden," Falk said.
CVHD also hosted events on substance misuse and prevention, she said.
"We hosted a Mental Health Night at Jamestown High School for the girls and boys basketball games and provided resources regarding mental health awareness," she said.
CVHD hosted award-winning speaker Michael DeLeon, Falk said.
"He spoke to over 1200 local students about prevention and youth empowerment," she said. "He came to the high school and then he also presented for the entire community at the high school too."
Falk said CVHD partnered with Jamestown High School for the event and several rural schools bused students to the event.
CVHD's annual Kids Safety Day event for preschoolers was held at the Jamestown Civic Center. Health and safety partners were invited to host booths with education and provide resources for families and kids, Klatt said. A few hundred people turned out, Klatt said, for "a very fun-filled day."
CVHD participated in the Community Block Party that brings University of Jamestown students to downtown, promoting health services it provides on campus for students, Falk said. Klatt said they began providing services there last year. Two days a week, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., they've offered wellness exams, strep tests, immunizations and mental health screenings, bringing care to students who might not have access off campus, Klatt said.
Other events they participated in include the Buffalo Days Parade, Running of the Pink, Pound for Pink and Baskets, Bags and Bubbly, city of Jamestown staff wellness fair, the Winter Ag and Construction Expo and the Downtown Arts Market, sponsoring one of the markets, Falk said.
The health unit's Mobile Health Clinic provided sports physicals in rural communities and immunizations and blood pressure checks on Mobile Mondays, Falk said.
CVHD also brings flu shot clinics to businesses and schools, Klatt said. She said businesses may not be aware that CVHD can bring the service to them.
"We go to them during respiratory season and we can provide that so your staff don't have to leave work to go and get a flu or COVID shot come that season," Klatt said. "We made it to 38 businesses this year."
Kim Lee, director of nursing, said flu shots and COVID shots are also provided at CVHD and in the mobile health unit. She said they also provided cholesterol screenings on site to employees at several businesses.
CVHD's emergency preparedness and response helped assist Anne Carlsen Center with its relocation of residents to its new campus, Falk said. The move included 35 children and all of Anne Carlsen Center's equipment.
The agency used evacuation planning from the state for the process.
"They used our expert here in our office to help make that be a flawless transition," Klatt said.
CVHD collaborated to get the Buffalo City Memory Cafe, a monthly support group for those with dementia and their caregivers, Falk said.
The Memory Cafe was recently formed in Jamestown by the James River Senior Center and Aging Services Division of the North Dakota Department of Human Services.
"They talk about issues ranging from medication management to looking ahead to legal implications for advanced dementia stages," Falk said.
CVHD is helping line up speakers and seeking donations for the group, Falk said.
"It's a small group so far but we're hoping to get more aware of it," Lee said.
The Memory Cafe meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the James River Senior Center, 419 5th St. NE.
Falk said CVHD has given a few presentations to the community and wants to get more programs for the community. Falk spoke to the Regional EMS Conference on communicable diseases and hand hygiene.
Klatt said CVHD promoted Parents Lead, a state program which focuses on conversation starters. She said it provides opportunities for parents to have conversations with their children about anything from preventing substance use to bullying and cyberawareness issues.
"... research shows that just sitting down and talking to your kids is a protective factor and it's the most substantial thing when it comes to prevention with youth," Klatt said. "They do a really good job highlighting things that you can do to take care of your kids."
CVHD has an online platform called Credible Mind that provides people with resources, Klatt said. It's free to the community and is available at and on social media.
"You can go on there and basically search anything that you may be struggling with or experiencing and that provides you with resources and podcasts and links to services ... so it's a really good resource to have at your fingertips," Klatt said.
This year, Falk said CVHD would like to get Jamestown a Cardiac Ready Community status.
"There is criteria through American Health Association for getting people CPR ready," she said. That would include getting AEDs through the community, she said, and mapping the AEDs in the community.
