Jackson County Public Health - MO

11/19/2025

Our vital records services are closed for the remainder of the afternoon today (Wednesday, November 19). You may continue to order birth and death certificates online, but pickup will not be available until tomorrow (Thursday, November 20).

Thank you for your patience!

Copies of your vital records such as birth and death certificates can be obtained at the Jackson County Health Department.

11/19/2025

The most awkward part of s*x ed is starting the conversation. We've got you covered!

Our free program S*x (Ed) Matters teaches an evidence-based curriculum that gives teens the information, skills, and confidence they need to reduce their risk of STIs, HIV, and pregnancy. Plus, we cover what healthy relationships look like, including consent and setting boundaries. Our instructors introduce these topics with your child and equip you to continue talking at home.

Registration is now FULL for our January 2nd class, but you may sign up for the waitlist. Spots are still OPEN for our March 16th class. Learn more and register at the link below.

👉 https://bit.ly/3OwAmT4

*xedmatters *xeducation *xedmattersmissouri *xed

11/14/2025

Please see this update on measles in Missouri from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

We offer MMR vaccines here at JCPH. Learn more and make your appointment: https://jcph.org/measles/

11/14/2025

Each week this fall, we’re taking a tour through public health history, decade by decade. Next stop? The 1940s.

During World War II, the absence of pediatricians who were sent off to war meant that many children lost access to health care.

In response, our team and community found new ways of working together. In March 1942, the Jackson County Health Department joined forces with the Church Women United of Independence to open the Independence Well Baby Clinic.

Together, they provided free medical services and immunizations from infancy through kindergarten. The Well Baby Clinic went on to support local families for the next 50 years, giving multiple generations a positive start to life.

Today, we work with many organizations throughout Eastern Jackson County to bring our services directly to community members. Then and now, partnerships are key to achieving public health goals.

This story is part of our recent 100th anniversary book. You can continue reading more stories at www.jcph.org/100-years.

11/14/2025

This month, we talked to our Clinical Outreach Coordinator Estela Fernandez about the importance of getting your flu shot and testing for the flu + COVID-19 before holiday gatherings. In this video, she shows us how to take an at-home test. Visit JCPH.org/flu-shots for more. 💛

11/13/2025

Si le preocupa cómo va a hacer la compra este mes, estamos aquí para ayudarle. Nuestro próximo evento de distribución de alimentos, en colaboración con Harvesters - La Red de Alimentos Comunitarios es el próximo miércoles 19 de noviembre a las 10:00 am, y ofreceremos gratis productos frescos y artículos no perecederos por orden de llegada. Además, podemos ayudarle con el transporte a este evento (o a cualquiera de nuestros servicios), ¡solo traiga sus bolsas reutilizables para ayudar al medio ambiente!

¿Busca lugares de distribución más cercanos? ¿Necesita ayuda urgente? ¡Hay más opciones disponibles! Visite JCPH.org/food para obtener más detalles.

Struggling to afford necessities? Visit a connectHERE kiosk to use our Social Needs Screening Tool and connect to resources that can help.

11/12/2025

We're sharing this update on SNAP in Missouri from our partners at Harvesters! You can check your current balance by calling the toll-free number listed on the back of your EBT card, visiting ebtedge.com or using the ebtEDGE mobile app.

Finally, some relief for Missouri SNAP recipients! Because it was only partially funded, people can check their current balance by calling the toll-free number listed on the back of their EBT card, visiting ebtedge.com or using the ebtEDGE mobile app.

Please continue utilizing our network of pantries to ensure you have enough food for your family — we know the need is still high.

11/12/2025

If you’re worried about making groceries stretch this month, we're here to help. Our next food distribution event in partnership with Harvesters - The Community Food Network is Wednesday, November 19th at 10am, offering free produce and pantry items on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring your reusable grocery bags to make this event earth-friendly!

Looking for distribution sites closer to you? Need assistance sooner? There are more options available for you! Plus, we can help with transportation to this event (or to any of our clinical services).

Visit JCPH.org/food for details.

Struggling to afford necessities? Visit a connectHERE kiosk to use our Social Needs Screening Tool and connect to resources that can help.

11/12/2025

RECALL UPDATE: ByHeart is expanding its voluntary recall to include all batches of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and Anywhere Pack™ nationwide. Please check your cabinet or pantry for these products and dispose of them immediately. ➡ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/byheart-broadens-voluntary-recall-while-investigation-continues

RECALL UPDATE: All ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products have been recalled. This includes all unexpired lots of formula cans and single-serve “anywhere” sticks. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-infant-botulism-infant-formula-november-2025

11/10/2025

RECALL: ByHeart has chosen to voluntarily recall two batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, following notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a broader ongoing investigation into a recent outbreak of infant botulism. ➡ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/response-broader-fda-investigation-byheart-initiates-voluntary-recall-two-batches-infant-formula?fbclid=IwY2xjawN_CjRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFBR3QzR0x0QVB0Vmprbkx5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpYIt7P9jhA0c4CafrC0_IXLA7IsXGXMOTZtGP_yA0OnxPWcC1fko5EcKbZw_aem_-V45TXOzxEBI21lTzZENkA

In response to a broader FDA Investigation, ByHeart initiates a voluntary recall of two batches of infant formula. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/response-broader-fda-investigation-byheart-initiates-voluntary-recall-two-batches-infant-formula

11/10/2025

Get your flu shot with JCPH! You can also visit us for free flu and COVID-19 test kits. We are open from 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday. Make your appointment online today! ➡ https://jcph.org/

Cold weather is here, and so is flu and COVID season 🦠
Jackson County Public Health - MO has resources available to help keep you protected this winter.
Visit jcph.org to schedule your appointment today! 💉

11/07/2025

Today, we associate the month of August with back-to-school checkups and vaccine appointments. But back in the 1930s, that idea was brand new!

In this decade, the Jackson County Health Department began focusing on children’s health. At the time, contagious diseases like diphtheria and smallpox were a major threat. Fewer than half of children entering first grade in the county had ever received a physical exam.

Health Director Dr. Joseph T. Brennan made it his mission to change that—urging parents to make preventive care a priority. “A child has a right to begin school in the best possible physical condition,” he told The Kansas City Times in 1934.

Regular checkups for children soon became a cornerstone of local public health, setting the stage for modern school health programs. This shift reflected a growing belief that prevention—through exams, vaccines, and early care—could shape a healthier future for the whole community.

A century later, the same principles continue to guide public health: when we invest in prevention and education, we give every child a better chance to learn, grow, and thrive.

Continue reading in our 100th anniversary book: https://bit.ly/4eBFPn9



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📷 Photographs curtesy of our partners at Jackson County Missouri Historical Society and the Kansas City Public Library.