Each spring, we join public health agencies across the country in celebrating National Public Health Week.
Ready. Set. Action! is this year’s theme, and it comes at a good time. Our first Bluebox vending machine is now open in Lee’s Summit, our nurses are busy bringing immunizations to local schools, and we’re preparing for this summer’s largest sporting event in recent history.
Throughout the week, we’re sharing messages and actions on our social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, X). Read on for a summary of this year’s messages with links to relevant programs and resources.
911 Three Digits. Lifesaving Impact.
At JCPH, we are committed to empowering you to act if you witness a drug overdose. You can save someone’s life!
Watch our recent video to learn how to administer naloxone, the simple nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose. Calling 911 is the first step. Worried about involving the authorities? Under Missouri’s Good Samaritan law, the person who seeks medical assistance AND the person experiencing the medial emergency are protected from minor drug and alcohol violations.
Don’t run, call 911. Find a naloxone access point near you at: www.jcph.org/opioids.
Vaccines protect every generation.
We can thank vaccines for public health success stories like the elimination of smallpox, polio, and measles in the U.S. — although in recent years, measles has seen a resurgence as childhood vaccination rates have fallen.
Making sure young people receive required vaccines not only protects them from contracting potentially life-threatening illness, but also helps ensure they can continue going to school, playing sports, and participating in social activities—the stuff that makes being a kid so vibrant.
We take pride in our partnerships with Eastern Jackson County schools to bring required vaccines directly to students each year. Parents can save time while students conveniently receive their vaccines at school, with minimal disruption to their course work.
Learn more about our spring partnerships with schools at www.jcph.org/spring-2026.
Data drives lifesaving decisions.
Bluebox is now open in downtown Lee’s Summit’s public parking garage. According to data collected in our opioid dashboard, this area (zip code 64063) is among the highest rates of opioid overdose fatalities—and more than two times higher than other zip codes in Lee’s Summit.
By providing 24/7 access to naloxone where people need it most, we can lower overdose rates and save lives. In addition to quantitative data, our staff visited community events and focus groups to gather input on which neighborhood would be most impactful.
The road to Bluebox was driven by data and supported by the Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation and the City of Lee’s Summit.
Learn more about Bluebox at: www.jcph.org/bluebox.
Healthy environments. Healthier lives.
Healthy environments don’t just happen. From clean air and water to shared parks and sidewalks, we shape our neighborhoods with action and policies.
At JCPH, we regularly publish policy briefs for community leaders on topics like this. In the past few years, we’ve shared:
- How cities are successfully using proactive rental inspections to help protect the health and safety of renters
- How a proposed landfill might impact the health of nearby residents
- How to increase walkability in a community to improve mental and physical health
With support from JCPH, the InCoLab network recently published its Healthy Housing Action Plan. Since 2023, the Housing and Economic Stability Lab has explored both evidence-based and emerging policies as a key strategy for ensuring access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing in eastern Jackson County.
Public health works—when we support it.
We wrap up National Public Health Week with a call for support. Whether you are a community leader, a student, a parent or a caregiver, your actions make public health work in Jackson County.
Leaders
- Subscribe to JCPH’s quarterly newsletter or media list.
- Participate by reading JCPH policy briefs or joining the InCoLab network.
- Reach out to explore hosting a Bluebox vending machine or naloxone porch box.
- Partner with JCPH on your next resource fair or community event.
Parents
- Visit JCPH for your family’s back-to-school needs, including birth certificates, immunizations, and physicals.
- Sign up your teens for Sex (Ed) Matters classes and spring immunization clinics at their school.
- Share JCPH with your friends, family, and neighbors.
Students
- Learn about public health careers with an internship at JCPH.
- Check out a public health book recommended by our staff.
- Participate by carrying naloxone, testing regularly for STIs, and receiving recommended immunizations, like the annual flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine.
- Share JCPH social media posts to your network.
Public health works—when we support it. All of us can practice making science-based decisions, talking about public health in our communities, and sharing high-quality information online.
Thank you for celebrating National Public Health Week with us! We hope you’ll continue to connect with our team both online and at our location in Lee’s Summit. Together we are turning our vision of a community where all people can live their healthiest lives into reality.
