Preventative Health and Education
Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services (DVHHS) provides a number of programs that focus on preventative health issues.
Disease Prevention and Control - When an infectious or non-infectious disease strikes in Cottonwood and/or Jackson County, DVHHS provides investigation and follow-up as directed by Minnesota Department of Health. Our effort would include coordination of resources, contact investigations, immunization of persons at risk, and education. Examples of outbreaks include - Hepatitis, Meningitis, Tuberculosis, STDs, Chickenpox, Measles or Mumps. Click here for more information.
Immunizations - Immunizations are important to the health and well-being of everyone, you are never too old to get immunized! DVHHS is able to offer free or low cost childhood immunizations to children 0-18 through the MNVFC (Minnesota Vaccine for Children) program. If child has NO insurance, has Medical Assistance (Blue Plus, UCARE), or insurance does not cover the cost of vaccinations, we can help! We may also be able to help persons 19 and older if they are uninsured or insurance does not cover cost of vaccines. Flu shots/mist are available on a yearly basis through DVHHS to anyone 6 months of age and older. Click here for more information.
Please call either of the DVHHS Public Health offices to schedule an appointment to get immunizations up to date.
SHIP - Statewide Health Improvement Program - the motto of SHIP is 'Working to Make the Healthy Choice Easy". The community where we live affects whether we can get physical activity safely, healthy foods conveniently, and smoke-free air as the norm. SHIP works to prevent disease before it starts by helping create healthier communities that support individuals seeking to make healthy choices in their daily lives. SHIP works with communities, schools, workplaces and health care to create sustainable, systemic changes that develops widespread, lasting results. Instead of focusing on individual behavior change that may be hard to maintain over time, SHIP makes sustainable changes that support individual choices about health. Click here for more information.