Our Mission

The mission of the MTW Health Education Department is to
provide health education and promotion to residents of Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington counties.

Healthy Communities

The North Carolina Division of Public Health (DPH) uses Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grant funding to administer the Healthy Communities Program through the Chronic Disease and Injury (CDI) Section. The aim of this program is to reduce the burden of chronic disease and injury in North Carolina.

This funding enables county and district health departments to implement community-based interventions that address poor nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco use, violence and unintentional injury.

All strategies implemented through the Healthy Communities Program provide opportunities for everyone in North Carolina to achieve their optimal level of health regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, geographic location, education status, disability status or sexual orientation.

Harm Reduction

MTW is dedicated to providing evidence-based harm reduction services to decrease the number of fatal overdoses and rates of HIV/AIDs/Hepatitis C/STIs in our communities. We’ve built partnerships with local leaders to create a supportive environment for harm reduction.

Naloxone (also commonly referred to as Narcan) training is available to community members and groups upon request. MTW also offers free naloxone in the form of: intramuscular and nasal spray.

For more information, contact Yerlin Villegas at (252) 793-1607 or follow us on Facebook.

Tobacco Cessation, Education, and Policy Change

Tobacco education and cessation help is offered through MTW District Health Department. MTW is dedicated to promoting a tobacco-free lifestyle and reducing the number of teen and adult tobacco users, including e-cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco products. MTW is also working towards increasing tobacco-free policies across government campuses and public parks. Two programs can be offered in schools. CATCH My Breath is an evidence-based vaping prevention program offered in 5th-12th grades. INDEPTH is an Alternative to Suspension program offered through the American Lung Association. This program can be provided for students who are caught vaping in schools.

Tobacco Cessation Counseling is now being offered in Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington counties. For more information, please contact Tyzie Morning at (252) 793-1638.

Community Gardens

Community gardens are located at the Washington County and Martin County health department locations. These gardens are maintained by staff and accesible to residents that want to harvest fresh, locally grown vegetables when available.

Classroom, Group, and Community Education

Health educators are available to schools, church groups, and community groups to educate on a variety of topics. If your group is interested in having a presentation of any of the following topics, please contact Miranda Keel at (252) 793-1663.

Topics:

  • Opioid overdose prevention (with free Narcan training)
  • Substance misuse prevention (alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs)
  • Smoke-free/tobacco-free policies
  • Suicide prevention/Gun safety
  • COVID-19
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)*
  • Breastfeeding
  • Diabetes prevention/nutrition
  • Hygiene/handwashing
  • Wellness

*NOTE: Requires parental consent.

2nd Judicial District Opioid Coalition

The 2nd Judicial District Opioid Coalition is a regional effort to reduce overdoses (fatal and non-fatal), decrease stigma involving substance misuse and promote evidence-based harm reduction strategies. Stakeholders and partners involved in this coalition are from Hyde, Beaufort, Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington counties. The group meets bi-monthly to work on the strategic action plan to meet these goals. For more information, please contact Miranda Keel at (252) 793-1663 or follow us on Facebook.

Minority Diabetes Prevention Program

The North Carolina Minority Diabetes Prevention Program (NC MDPP) is a statewide collaborative effort between local health departments, local health care providers, and community organizations across North Carolina to keep people with prediabetes from developing type 2 diabetes and other health problems, such as stroke and heart disease. Each region works with multi-county collaboratives that engage, screen, and deliver the CDC 12-month lifestyle classes to its minority and at-risk communities.
The Minority Diabetes Prevention Program through MTW District Health encompasses all of the following Region 9 counties: Martin, Tyrrell, Washington, Hyde, Dare, Edgecombe, Bertie, Northampton, Hertford, Gates, Chowan, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden, Currituck. For more information, please contact Samantha Combs at (252)-793-1768 or follow us on Facebook.

Suicide Prevention

To prevent suicide and suicide attempts in our local community, this program implements approved strategies including furthering the development of a local Gun Safety Team, implementing strategies to promote safe gun storage such as purchasing and distributing gun locks, creating a public awareness campaign, providing Counseling on Access to Lethal Means trainings, and hosting gatekeeper training sessions for community members. For more information, please contact Nicoria Williams at (252)-793-1605.

Asthma Program

Asthma is a major chronic disease impacting many children across the United States. Nationally, the current prevalence of asthma in children under 18 years of age was 5.8% in 2020. School nurses in North Carolina continued to report asthma as the most common chronic health condition among students. There were over 66,000 students known to school nurses during the 2021-2022 school year.

The MTW Asthma Program uses home-based interventions with an environmental focus for children and adolescents with asthma to improve asthma symptoms and reduce the number of school days missed due to asthma. For more information, please contact Brie Cowand at (252)-793-1604.

Reducing Infant Mortality in Communities

Through this program, the health department implements evidence-based strategies that have been proven effective in improving birth outcomes through addressing pregnancy intendedness, preterm birth, and/or infant mortality. MTW offers Breastfeeding Support Services and Infant Safe Sleep Services. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant and herself. It is recommended to exclusively breastfeed during the first six months of life. Our breastfeeding peer counselor provides breastfeeding support and education services to the community. Our coordinator, Nicoria Williams, provides current safe sleep education to pregnant women and their family members/support person. A safe sleep space for the baby may be provided after receiving education. For more information on this program, please contact Nicoria Williams at 252-793-1605.