The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), with support from the Climate and Health Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has awarded three local health departments to supplement ongoing climate change and health adaptation initiatives at the local level. The following are the grantees:
Franklin County Public Health, OH ($25,000)
Franklin County is a third-time NACCHO Climate and Health Adaptation Program grantee. With the 2024 grant funding, the county developed a set of local indicators for climate and health surveillance and a website for monitoring these indicators and providing climate change information to the public. This free online tool will help the community understand their specific climate-based health risks. The tool complies data on local environmental and social factors that can affect population health.
For more information on Franklin County’s work, visit www.naccho.org/blog/articles/indicators-for-local-climate-and-health-surveillance.
Tennessee Public Health Foundation ($25,000)
Tennessee Public Health Foundation (TPHF) is a second-time NACCHO Climate and Health Adaptation Program grantee. With this year’s grant funding, the organization conducted two tabletop exercises to help counties in Tennessee prepare for extreme heat events. These exercises were tailored to address the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. In addition, these tabletop exercises were conducted in rural counties and were adapted to fit the specific needs of these communities.
For more information on TPHF’s grant work, visit www.naccho.org/blog/articles/never-underestimate-the-power-of-community.
Archuleta County Public Health Department, CO ($25,000)
Archuleta County is a first-time NACCHO Climate and Health Adaptation Program grantee, awarded under a grant dedicated specifically to rural communities. Archuleta County’s population is at risk of exposure to wildfire smoke. To help keep residents informed and healthy, the county engaged in an educational campaign during Air Quality Awareness Week. Using a combination of radio and newspaper advertisements, the county shared information about how to identify local air quality levels according to a five-color scale, and explained the health benefits or risks associated with each level. In addition, five local businesses hung flags that corresponded with the air quality level each day of that week, switching out the colors as needed based on daily guidance from the county. Their Forest Service Office has requested to keep the flags for continued use. This initiative received a lot of positive feedback from the community. The Archuleta County health department team is hoping to use the momentum and community engagement on this project to help inform more climate change projects across the county.
For more information on this work, visit www.naccho.org/blog/articles/rural-air-quality-work-community-buy-in.
For more success stories from former climate and health grantees, visit our interactive story map at www.naccho.org/climate-change.
