S.C. Department of Public Health

For our #FeatureFriday this week, we are excited to highlight the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)! WIC promotes healthy birth outcomes and early child development by providing food packages, health screenings and referrals, breastfeeding promotion and support, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to five years of age who are found to be at nutritional risk. A key focus of the program is to remove barriers and provide services where people live, work and play.  In May, WIC met its highest participation milestone in seven years, servicing over 100,540 participants that month. Much of their success is thanks to the team's aptitude in maximizing technology to improve service delivery, including: -A new online application for WIC, enabling families to create a secure account to upload and update required prescreen documentation, including medical and health data and income eligibility documentation, prior to scheduling their WIC appointment.  -The WIC mobile app. Using the app, participants can scan Unit Price Codes while shopping to see if the item is WIC-approved, review remaining benefits, find locations to shop, locate clinics, view details of upcoming appointments and access additional WIC resources.  -E-Solution for the Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (FMNP): In 2023, the FMNP transitioned from paper vouchers to a mobile app and shopper card. These mobile-friendly solutions make it easier for eligible WIC participants to buy fresh, South Carolina grown fruits, vegetables and herbs to provide healthy food options for their families.  Interested in learning more about WIC? Visit the webpage here: https://bit.ly/4ff4WvW 

DPH is #hiring nutritionists and nutrition educators in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program across the state. To view open positions, learn more and apply, visit https://lnkd.in/gMiyKGP9  #SCCareers #jobs #publichealth 

DPH’s core values (Embracing Service, Inspiring Innovation, Promoting Teamwork, Pursuing Excellence and Advancing Equity) define our culture and how we accomplish our work in our teams and in the communities we serve.

We are experiencing a surge in the volume of in-person requests for vital records at 2600 Bull Street which is also affecting our air conditioner’s ability to adequately cool the area. We are working to improve the air conditioning output now to help keep our customers and staff cool. We are also working on temporary solutions like using fans to improve circulation and getting more staff to assist customers to speed up our wait times. Customers can help reduce their wait time by bringing exact payment (i.e., cash, check, money order) (https://lnkd.in/eUTMufaW) and completed forms (https://lnkd.in/eTiy2jjY). If a person does not have an immediate need for a vital record, other options are available including online (https://lnkd.in/ei8c6MFu), by phone 1-877-284-1008, by mail or by drop-off. You can learn more about these options online at https://lnkd.in/eHrVYdJy

As part of our #FeatureFriday series to reintroduce ourselves to you as the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), we are highlighting our EMS For Children (SC EMSC) program. Founded 30 years ago and housed under the Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Section, SC EMSC focuses on the special treatment needs of pediatric patients in the state’s EMS and hospital systems. Here are just a few of the recent important outreach projects that SC EMSC has facilitated: -Staff visited Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital to present the facility with their Comprehensive Level Peds Ready recognition, the highest level of this recognition. MUSC Children’s Hospital is now one of six Peds Ready Emergency Departments in South Carolina, with three additional departments recently surveyed: Lexington Medical Center, Prisma Health Baptist Easley, and MUSC Chester. Learn more about Peds Ready EDs here: https://lnkd.in/eE9g2VKF - Sable Land, SC EMSC Program Coordinator, delivered Infant TransWarmer Mattresses to 10 EMS agencies in SC. These are gel-filled, thermostable, disposable mattresses that provide up to two hours of warming when cold stress is a concern during the transport of infants. The EMS for Children program utilized funds from the supplies part of the budget to purchase 50 TransWarmers and give 5 to the 10 agencies. - EMS for Children Day is held each year on May 22 during EMS Week. Sable Land presented to a second-grade class at Seven Oaks Elementary School to educate the students on EMS and staying safe in an emergency. Fairfield County County EMS, one of South Carolina’s PedsReady agencies, held a Touch the Truck event with one of their ambulances for students at the school. The students wrote thank you notes and colored pictures to show their gratitude for EMS workers. -SC EMSC is also administering the Pediatric Trauma Across the Continuum of Care (PTACC) course to inpatient nurses in the Midlands and Pee Dee region. SC EMSC has held two courses and educated about 30 nurses and trained three instructors. They will continue to move this initiative to other regions of the state.  To learn more about the SC EMSC program, please visit https://lnkd.in/eQnKqKdR.

DPH is #hiring a Healthcare Quality Inspector/Investigator in Richland County, located within the Bureau of Community Care. This position is responsible for conducting inspections/surveys/investigations of healthcare facilities, service providers, and/or applicants and ensuring that the activities and services are in compliance with standards. Note: this position may require extensive travel and/or overnight stays. #jobs #SCCareers #publichealth To learn more and apply, visit: https://lnkd.in/e5aKpFrr 

Join our team! The Injury and Substance Abuse Section at DPH is hiring a Program Coordinator for our BOLD Program. The Program Coordinator will work with on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia prevention and education efforts across the state.

🚀 🌟 We're hiring for a variety of #Internships in Columbia, South Carolina. Gain hands on experience while making an impact on South Carolina's youngest learners and their families! Apply today or share this post with your network. #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Internship View our available internships here➡➡ https://lnkd.in/eGuaWHhQ

We're recognizing #NationalTattooDay by showcasing the important role DPH Healthcare Quality (HQ) inspectors play in regulating safe operations in our state’s tattoo facilities. HQ is responsible for making sure tattoo facilities adhere to the Regulation 61-111, Standards for Licensing Tattoo Facilities. Tattoo facilities receive inspections biannually, but before they are scheduled for routine inspections, they must pass an initial inspection to open their doors. In the recent initial inspection of JB Tattoo Arts Studio in Goose Creek, HQ inspector Ryan Blocker completed a walkthrough of the facility as well as a thorough inspection of the artist and owner’s certifications. A few of the crucial items that inspectors look at are sterilization protocol, functioning utilities and booth setup. The paperwork needed to open a tattoo facility includes consent forms for clients, facility policies and procedures and four training certifications including an apprenticeship. “On initial inspections, I always discuss the importance of reading and learning the regulation for long-term success,” Ryan said. “I take the time to educate them on the small things that are easily missed in the regulation because we don’t want to cite them, but we need them to operate safely.” Ryan has worked in HQ for two years as an inspector. He now serves as a training inspector and embraces the educational side of inspection as much as the regulatory side. “Inspecting tattoo facilities is a really unique experience,” Ryan said. “Working with artists and helping them maintain compliance so that they can continue their art is rewarding.” JB Tattoo Arts Studio received SC Department of Public Health approval to open on July 11, 2024. The artist and owner, originally from Brazil, has been tattooing for over nine years and expressed his gratitude for DPH’s service. There are currently 168 licensed tattoo facilities in South Carolina. To learn more about how DPH regulates tattoo facilities and other helpful information, visit https://lnkd.in/e5STbqMG #tattooday #EmployeeRecognition

Almost 100 social workers from across South Carolina came together on June 12 for this year’s Lucia Murchison Public Health Social Work Conference, named for South Carolina's first Public Health Social Worker. Organizers held the conference at the Orangeburg County Conference Center, a new location for this year. This spacious venue gave social workers from a diverse group of organizations the opportunity to learn, build on their skills and network. This year’s planning committee built a well-rounded agenda around the theme of “Social Work: This is Our Lane.” This year’s presentations focused on ethical considerations for social work leaders, engaging people and community organizing in Public Health, understanding and combatting human trafficking in South Carolina and reducing stress and implementing self-care. Attendees earned five social work continuing education hours at this free event, which reached registration capacity in just over 24 hours after it was announced. Other new additions to the conference this year were two local organizations that set up exhibitor tables. Hope Health of Orangeburg and the Family Health Center of Orangeburg shared information on the vital services they offer in the community.