The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Monday kicked off a week-long series of events to celebrate this year’s Public Health Week, joining public health departments across the nation as they emphasize how important it is that all residents have the opportunities and resources they need for optimal health and well-being.

“These events represent crucial public health interventions for many residents including those with substance use disorders, those living in communities where violence is prevalent or where air quality is poor, and those who are at most risk for suffering serious consequences from disease,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd.

“From April 1 through the 5, we join health departments around the nation to recognize the importance of preventing disease and injury and promoting well-being,” she said.

Public Health’s first event was launching of the first of several stakeholder input sessions as part of the planned implementation of countywide CORE (Connecting to Opportunities for Recovery and Engagement) Centers, to address substance use disorders. The new CORE Centers will serve as hubs to connect residents to substance use prevention and treatment resources.

On Friday, April 5, LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas along with Public Health and community partners will unveil the Office of Violence Prevention at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Public Health in Willowbrook.

The OVP will launch the county’s multidisciplinary effort to reduce violence and address trauma through local place-based strategies and system changes. The OVP will coordinate efforts, strengthen partnerships, and leverage expertise and resources to move LA County closer to preventing violence and building peace.

Other events scheduled for the week include an employee health expo to provide county employees with tools to support wellness, a flag program for students, parents and educators to learn about air quality and mitigating exposure to harmful toxins, an emergency and mental health awareness training event, a tuberculosis screening and treatment event, and a West Nile virus awareness event for adults over 50.

Highlights of the 2019 National Public Health Week in Los Angeles County include the following:

Monday, April 1:
* CORE Center Listening Session at the Wellness Center, LAC +USC Medical Center, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 1200 N. State St., Los Angeles 90033.

Tuesday, April 2:
* LA County Employee Health and Wellness Expo. at Los Angeles Grand Park, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 200 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles 90012.

Wednesday, April 3:
* Launching of the Air Quality Flag Program at Wilmington Park Elementary School, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., 1140 Mahar Ave., Wilmington 90744.

Thursday, April 4:
* Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment at Pathways to Home, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., 3804 Broadway Plaza, Los Angeles 90037.
* Emergency Preparedness and Mental Health Awareness Event at Santa Monica City College, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405.

Friday, April 5, 2018
* Breakfast and Bingo: West Nile Virus Awareness at Joslyn Adult Center, 8:30 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m., 1301 West Olive Ave., Burbank, 91506.
* Launch of the Office of Violence Prevention at MLK Center for Public Health, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 11833 S. Wilmington Ave., Los Angeles 90059.

For more information on Public Health Week and the LA County events, visit http://ph.lacounty.gov/phweek/.