Health Promotion and Education Services

Health Promotion and Education Services provide prevention strategies in worksites, schools, and community settings. Our professional Community Health Educators encourage and promote healthy lifestyles by providing education, training, consultation, and support for healthy behaviors. Health Educators also coordinate programs and provide technical assistance in implementing community health standards and policies.

We are dedicated to prevention and the belief in educating and encouraging residents to learn more about their own health to maintain healthy and productive lifestyles. Examples include serving on local committees and coalitions that address smoke-free environments, promoting the development of walkways and trails, and advocating for healthier food options in schools and the community.

Our purpose is to promote change in policies and the environment that will encourage local citizens to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Policy and environmental changes mainly focus on ways to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and encourage smoking prevention and cessation.

Some examples of how our Health Promotion / Health Education Programs have been at work in Surry County:

                        Youth Tobacco Use Prevention                            Community Health Assessment

                        College Tobacco Use Prevention                          Health-Related Education Classes

                        School Health Education and Programs                Smoke Free Restaurant Campaign

                        Healthy Living Classes for Seniors                       Grant Writing to secure additional funds for programs and staff

                        Healthy Surry Partnership/Healthy Carolinians      Substance Abuse Prevention

                        Health Fairs                                                       Work with community groups to enable them to address health-                                                                                           related concerns

                        SAFE Kids                                                      

Our Health Promotion / Health Education Team consists of:
(To reach one of the staff via email, simply click on the desired name)

Celena E. Watson, MPH, CHES                                  Health Promotion Supervisor

Rebecca Weavil Thompson, BS, CHES, RHEd             Healthy Carolinians Coordinator

Donna Parks, BS, RHEd                                             Tobacco Free Coordinator

Keisha Jordan, BS                                                     School Health Educator

Other Health Educators on staff:

(Currently Vacant)                                                      Smart Start Consultant