By Lillie M. Hall, MPH, MHS, CHES
Upstate Community System Director

This is National Health Education Week (NHEW), when we celebrate the work of health education specialists and their key role in promoting prevention, wellness and disease management.

Since 1995, NHEW — sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) — has been celebrated during the third full week of October. The annual celebration focuses national attention on a major public health issue and enhances consumers’ understanding of the role of health education in promoting the public’s health. This year’s NHEW pays tribute to Partnerships to Build Community Health.

Celebrating health education specialists

We at DHEC honor the work of health education specialists and acknowledge and appreciate partnerships that help to build community health.

We are fortunate to have great health education specialists, better known as community system directors and their community teams, who work tirelessly at the individual, group, institutional, community and system levels to improve health knowledge, attitudes and skills in an effort to change or encourage behaviors that result in optimal health status.

DHEC’s community system directors — shown below from left to right — are Lillie M. Hall (Upstate), Suzette McClellan (Pee Dee), Suzanne Sanders (Midlands) and Felicia Veasey (Lowcountry).

               

Building partnerships is pivotal

DHEC cannot promote and protect the health of the public and the environment alone. That’s where our community system directors and their teams come in: They are charged with developing or enhancing and maintaining sustainable partnerships that help us comply with our mission.

It takes years to build trust and develop rapport in communities across the state. But when great collaborations exist, ongoing and meaningful work takes places to promote healthier eating, active living and the removal of risk factors for chronic and communicable disease.  Please take a moment to visit the websites of a few of our great community partners across the state to learn of their positive contributions to the public’s health.

Upstate Community Health Partnerships

• LiveWell Greenville 
• Road to Better Health
• Spartanburg Way to Wellville
• Eat Smart Move More Anderson County
• Step Up, Laurens County
• Eat Smart Move More Cherokee County

Pee Dee Community Partnerships

• Rembert Area Community Coalition
• Chesterfield County Coordinating Council
• Tidelands Community Care Network
• Clarendon School District 2 
• Dillon Family Medicine
• Helping Hands Free Medical Clinic
• United Way of Sumter

Midlands Community Partnerships

• Eat Smart Move More Barnwell
• York County All on Board
• Tobacco Free York County
• Eat Smart Move More Lexington County
• Upper Midlands Rural Health Network
• Eat Smart Move More York County
• Fairfield Community Coordinating Council
• Rise Above It
• Lexington One Community Coalition
• Eat Smart Move More Chester County
• Chester County Tobacco Free Coalition

Low Country Community Partnerships

• Beaufort Memorial: Healthy Kids Campaign
• Eat Smart Move More Charleston Tri-County
• Eat Smart Move More Colleton
• Eat Smart Move More Lowcountry
• MUSC Boeing Center for Children’s Wellness
• MUSC Center for Health Disparities Research
• SC Let’s Go
• Smoke Free Lowcountry Coalition

Please take time to thank your community team member for leading your region’s efforts toward healthier communities.