Health Promotion & Education

About Health Promotion and Education

The Health Promotion and Education division provides health and wellness education to the community. Below are the some of the programs we offer.

Adolescent health

Contact us

Confidentially call us at 573.874.7249opens phone dialer or send us an email at Health@CoMo.gov

Our services

Many low-cost or free services can be provided confidentially without a parent’s signature or consent.

Real teen resources

  • Learn about services related to bullying, alcohol, drug and tobacco prevention and treatment and after-school tutoring and more.

Health on Wheels

The Health on Wheels outreach van allows us to be even more active in bringing our services to the community across the City of Columbia and Boone County.

The van will be used to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for Columbia/Boone County residents by meeting our community members where they are, in terms of both location and where they are in regards to their health. Health on Wheels provides preventative health services, and increases access to testing and vaccination services.

Services provided include: free health assessments, health education on healthy behaviors, blood pressure checks, information and referrals to community resources and COVID-19 test kits.

Health on Wheels van schedule:

December 2023 Announcements

Location Date Time Notes

Welcome Inn

1612 N. Providence Rd.

Columbia, MO

Tuesday, Dec. 12 3 – 6 p.m.

 

Southern Boone/Ashland Public Library

109 N. Main St.

Columbia, MO

Wednesday, Dec. 13 2 – 6 p.m.

 

Daniel Boone Regional Library

100 W. Broadway

Columbia, MO

Thursday, Dec. 14 2 – 7 p.m.

 

Columbia Senior Center of Boone County

1121 Business Loop 70 E.

Columbia, MO

Monday, Dec. 18 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 

Southern Boone/Ashland Public Library

109 N. Main St.

Columbia, MO

Wednesday, Dec. 27 2 – 6 p.m.

 

 

This program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $35,569,951 with 100 percent funding by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.  

Live Well By Faith

Live Well by Faith was developed in response to results found through the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services (PHHS)  Community Health Assessmentopens pdf file (CHA). CHA data indicated that black residents in Columbia experience diabetes and hypertension at significantly higher rates than white residents. Data further indicated that rates of death due to both diseases were two to three times higher for the black population. This mirrors national trends that reveal black people have lower life expectancies, are less likely to have health insurance, make fewer primary care visits, have lower birth weights and higher infant mortality rates compared with white people. PHHS created a workgroup to study these disparities and implement practices to mitigate the incidence and effects of these diseases. The workgroup was comprised of stakeholders from throughout the community, including healthcare, not-for-profit, faith, government and education. 

Live Well by Faith demonstrates how a community can collaborate with a nontraditional partner to address heretofore unaddressed chronic healthcare needs within a specific demographic. This kind of collaboration results in better health outcomes and a healthier community at large by empowering community members to improve their own health outcomes.

Events

News

Program spotlights

Mental health

Take 5 Program

Take 5 is a mindfulness and yoga-based program for youth ages 2-18 and their parents. Developed by Sheila Palmquist, founder and director of the Lincoln Yoga Center, participants can improve mental health and physical activity by learning methods to control focus and aggression. Learn more about Take 5

Be a Take 5 Partner

Partner with us to implement the program! If interested, please contact Monica Stokes at Monica.Stokes@CoMo.gov.  For more information, please view the Take 5 Program website

Videos

Save A Life: Naloxone Education

Save A Life is a series of free-to-the-public events that feature education and conversation around how members in the community can help to prevent opioid overdose deaths through the use of Naloxone, also known as NARCAN®.

Save A Life training includes recognizing signs of an opioid overdose, as well as explanation of how to use and access Naloxone (a drug that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose). 

Save A Life events are held in partnership with the Boone County Overdose Response Coalition.

Scheduled Save A Life events:

Location Date Time Notes

Friendship Place

110 N. Rollins St.
Centralia, MO 65240

 

Thursday, March 21 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Our staff will also be available from 6:30-7 p.m. for informal training for those who couldn’t attend the 5:30 p.m. presentation.

 

Other Opioid education and Naloxone distribution event events:

Location Date Time Notes
None scheduled at this time      

Teen Outreach Program (TOP)

Information for students

Teen Outreach Program (TOP) is a national evidence-based youth development program that seeks to equip students with the skills they need to be successful.

Are you interested in joining TOP?

Sign up for email updates to learn more

What will you do in TOP?

Joining TOP is a great opportunity to make new friends, gain leadership skills and help your community. We will meet weekly to discuss values, goals and relationships. Oh, and did we mention snacks? Throughout the year we’ll also help our community by volunteering with various projects and organizations. There’s something for everyone at TOP!

Is TOP in your school?

Currently, TOP is in-person in three Boone County schools including:

  • Jefferson Middle School
  • Battle High School
  • Rock Bridge High School

TOP also offers a virtual meeting option at the following schools:

  • Douglass High School
  • Hickman High School
  • Harrisburg Middle School
  • Harrisburg High School
  • Sturgeon Middle School
  • Sturgeon High School

Information for Parents

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services partners with the Youth Community Coalition to implement the program locally. TOP is funded by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Boone County Children Services Fund.

The program focuses on several topics:

  • Values
  • Relationships
  • Communication/assertiveness
  • Influence
  • Goal-setting
  • Decision-making
  • Human development and sexuality
  • Community service learning

Boone County has nine TOP Clubs located at the following schools for the 2021-2022 school year.

Middle School

  • Harrisburg Middle School
  • Jefferson Middle School
  • Sturgeon Middle School

High School

  • Battle High School
  • Douglass High School
  • Harrisburg High School
  • Hickman High School
  • Rock Bridge High School
  • Sturgeon High School

Each club meets weekly for group discussions, activities, and team building. They also work together to complete 20 hours of service learning. As students are learning life skills, they are able to immediately put them into practice through service to the community.

The TOP curriculum has been tested nationally to be effective and has experienced the following results:

  • Evidence-Based Outcomes (1)
    • 52% lower risk of school suspension
    • 60% lower risk of course failure
    • 53% lower risk of pregnancy
  • Observed Outcomes
    • 60% lower risk of school dropout (2)

Sources:

  1. Philliber Research, 2001. “Who Benefits Most From A BroadlyTargeted Prevention Program”
  2. Joe Allen, “Escaping the Endless Adolescent” 2009.

Learn more about TOP.

Is your student interested in joining TOP? Sign up for email updates to learn more.

Tobacco

Additional resources

The National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy

“SEX, ETC.” – a website by teens for teens

Advocates for Youth – champions efforts to help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health

WomensHealth.gov and GirlsHealth.gov – U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

The Emergency Contraception Website (EC)