New River Health District programs aim to meet community members where they are
With fewer than 100 employees, the NRHD serves residents in Floyd, Giles, Pulaski, and Montgomery counties, and the City of Radford. Bissell has worked with the health department for more than 10 years.
New River Health District (NRHD) Director Noelle Bissell said one of the biggest challenges the health department faces is the public being unaware of just how many services and programs are at their disposal.
With fewer than 100 employees, the NRHD serves residents in Floyd, Giles, Pulaski, and Montgomery counties, and the City of Radford. Bissell has worked with the health department for more than 10 years.
Noelle Ruesch, population health community coordinator, said there are about eight NRHD employees who spend most of their time in Floyd, but many others travel between offices to provide services throughout the region, she noted.
“We don't have the budget or the staff to have full-time staff in all of our smaller localities offering these services,” Ruesch said.
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Among the services offered by NRHD, restaurant inspections are one of its most well-known responsibilities. The Environmental Health team checks restaurants to ensure food is handled safely and that businesses follow required health and safety protocols.
Bissell said that the goal is not to make life difficult for restaurant owners but to help them operate safely and successfully. “We don't want to take restaurant permits," she said. "We want them to be successful, so we work with them (to address problems).”
The Environmental Health team also handles well and septic permitting for establishing new properties or renovating existing ones. Ruesch noted, “One part of that work involves ensuring the distance between a well and a septic system meets permit requirements.” Proper placement helps prevent contamination of drinking water and protects public health.
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Additionally, NRHD serves as a safety net provider, helping people who are uninsured or underinsured access services. About 7.25% of Floyd County residents are uninsured (up from 7.19% in 2023-2024), and the patient-to-clinician ratio in Floyd County is more than 3,000 to one. (Source: see "Coverage")
“For eligible services, a sliding-scale fee system based on income can make care more affordable, and in many cases services may be provided free of charge," Bissell said. "The goal is to ensure that cost does not prevent people from receiving needed public health services.”
Ruesch and Bissell both noted that the health department does not provide primary care for chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, lung disease or asthma.
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Vaccinations are another service that Ruesch and Bissell feel is commonly associated with NRHD, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bissell said that rebuilding public trust in vaccinations has been an important part of the department's work since the pandemic. She also emphasized that people who have questions about vaccines should feel comfortable asking them.
“It's a good thing to ask questions,” Bissell said. “While some families may feel overwhelmed by the recommended childhood vaccination schedule, the health department works with them to discuss concerns and can help develop a delayed vaccination schedule. The goal is to provide information and support rather than make families feel judged for having questions.”
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Some of the health department's lesser-known programs focus on much-needed assistance for maternal and child health and support for young families.
The NRHD's WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program provides supplemental nutrition assistance for eligible women and children up to age five. Bissell said, “Although WIC and SNAP both help families obtain food, they are separate programs. SNAP is administered through the Department of Social Services, while WIC is handled by the health department.”
The Baby Care program provides home visits during pregnancy and through a child's second birthday. Staff nurses visit new mothers and babies to help monitor growth, take measurements and provide information that can make caring for a newborn less overwhelming. Ruesch noted that topics may include safe sleep practices, feeding and breastfeeding, along with other basic baby-care information for new mothers.
Three employees serve the district through the NRHD's Resource Mothers program, which is specifically designed for mothers up to age 26. The program includes home visits, but it also places an emphasis on helping mothers set goals and plan for their futures. “Those kinds of things to help you kind of stay on track as you are also caring for a baby,” Ruesch emphasized.
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Yet another program provided by NRHD is called Rise Above. It is a harm-reduction program for community members affected by substance use. Although the program does not regularly visit Floyd as often as it does some surrounding areas, it maintains partnerships with local organizations and others working in recovery.
Bissell explained that reaching people who use substances requires the Department slowly building trust and “meeting them where they are at."
She said recovery is a process that can involve several stages. Someone may initially be using substances without fully recognizing the negative effects, but over time, that person may begin to recognize the impact, consider making a change, plan to seek help, and eventually begin treatment. Long-term recovery involves continued effort, and people may move back and forth between stages.
For people interested in medication options for substance-use disorders, the program works to connect them with resources for medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
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Learn more about the services mentioned above and more offerings from NRHD by visiting www.nrvroadtowellness.com or by calling the Floyd Office at (540) 745-2142.
Office hours in Floyd are held at 123 Parkview Rd. NE from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays.
