P.O.R.T. (Post Overdose Response Team) is made up of representatives from community emergency services and RCHD, monitors drug use and suspected overdoses in our community and meets weekly to discuss what is going on in the community. The team. Using OD Maps (OD tracking software) has seen a recent spike in the number of suspected overdoses in Ross County. Since April 1, 2021, there have been 32 suspected overdoses in Ross County, which is trending upward compared to April 2020 which had a total of 51 suspected overdoses. Because of this, we are urging community members to check in with their friends and family, carry naloxone (Narcan), and call 911 right away if you suspect an overdose.
RCHD has free Naloxone available – request a kit here: surveymonkey.com/r/requestakit.
Ross County has treatment and recovery resources available for those who are impacted by substance use disorder. Please call Ross County Peer Support at 740-702-7222 for more information or access resources online at http://rosscountyhealth.org/sudresources/.
Environmental Health Division
Our Environmental Health Division (EH Division) is responsible for licensing and inspection of local food services and retail food establishments, public pools and spas, campgrounds, and body art facilities. The EH Division also permits sewage treatment systems and wells for homes in Ross County not serviced by public sewer and water utilities. EH Division responds to public health nuisance complaints, disease outbreak investigations regarding food illness, waterborne illnesses, or environmental issues. The EH Division conducts mosquito surveillance and control activities. You can reach the EH Division by calling 740-775-1158.
WIC Program
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children that provides nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care to income eligible pregnant women, breastfeeding women, women who have had a baby in the past 6 months, infants and children up to 5 years of age. Nutritious foods such as cereal, eggs, milk, whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables and iron-fortified formulas to non-breastfed infants are provided. Participants redeem WIC food vouchers at authorized retail grocery stores and pharmacies. For more information, see our WIC Program page.
Public Health Nursing
Public health nursing involves a wide variety of services and activities, all aimed at promoting health and preventing disease and disease outbreaks. Our public health nurses also offer a wide variety of important immunizations to children, as well as a limited number of vaccines to adults as wells as the seasonal influenza vaccine. Vaccines can be received through the Nurse-of-the-Day Clinic or at our seasonal offsite vaccination clinics. Please visit our Community Health page for details about public health nursing services.
Vital Statistics
The Vital Statistics office at the Ross County Health District is mandated to record and keep on file all births and deaths that take place in Ross County – including Chillicothe. Vital Statistics issues certified copies of birth and death records, as well as burial permits. The cost of certified birth and death records is $30 and burial permits are $3. These may be requested in person or in writing.