Rutherford County Health Department

08/13/2026

📱 Parents & Caregivers — This is an important conversation worth having.

Growing up in a digital world brings challenges that many parents and caregivers are learning to navigate right alongside their children. An upcoming community event, The Third Talk®: An Early-Age Digital Risk Prevention Conversation, is designed to help families have those difficult conversations a little more easily.

Featuring John Van Arnam, Founder of The Third Talk®, the presentation will discuss challenges young people may encounter online and how families can talk about them without shame, blame, or colorful language. The event is intended for rising 6th graders and up, and parents and their children are strongly encouraged to attend together.

📅 Tuesday, September 15, 2026
⏰ 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 East McDowell Middle School
676 State Street, Marion, NC 28752

Helping young people safely navigate the online world starts with open, age-appropriate conversations. We’re happy to help spread the word about this opportunity for McDowell County families!

The event is sponsored by the McDowell County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.

💙 Please share to help us get the word out to local families!

08/11/2026

🛡️ Protect What Matters Most: Keep Your Family Up to Date on Vaccinations

As children head back to school and families settle into a new school year, now is the perfect time to make sure everyone is up to date on their recommended immunizations.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging parents to talk with their child's healthcare provider about recommended vaccines. Vaccines remain one of the safest and most effective ways to protect children from serious diseases and help keep our schools and communities healthy.

The Foothills Health District offers immunizations for children, teens, and adults, including vaccines required for school attendance and recommended routine immunizations.

📍 Serving Rutherford & McDowell Counties

📞 Rutherford County: 828-287-6100

📞 McDowell County: 828-652-6811

Together, we can help protect what matters most—our families and our community. 💙💚

STATEMENT — Following the Aug. 10, 2026, Executive Order on childhood vaccines, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reaffirms the…

08/03/2026

🌟 We're Hiring! Join the Foothills Health District Team! 🌟

Are you passionate about helping families build healthy futures through nutrition education and support? We're looking for a Nutritionist I to join our WIC team serving Rutherford and McDowell counties!

In this role, you'll provide nutrition education and counseling, support pregnant women, infants, and children, and make a lasting impact on the health of our community. If you're looking for a rewarding career where your work truly makes a difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.

Come be part of a team dedicated to building healthier communities—one family at a time! 💙💚

07/24/2026

Hoping everyone is having a wonderful and safe summer!

The Foothills Health District will be closed, Monday, July 27th. We look forward to serving your healthcare needs on Tuesday, July 28th.

¡Esperamos que todos estén disfrutando de un verano maravilloso y seguro!

El Distrito de Salud Foothills estará cerrado el lunes 27 de julio.
Esperamos poder atender sus necesidades de atención médica nuevamente el martes 28 de julio.

07/14/2026

🌿 What is Cyclosporiasis? 🌿

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora. People become infected by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the parasite. Fresh produce—such as cilantro, basil, berries, lettuce, and other leafy greens—has been linked to outbreaks in the past.

🤒 Symptoms may include:
• Watery diarrhea (sometimes lasting for weeks)
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Stomach cramps and bloating
• Nausea
• Fatigue

Symptoms usually begin about 1 week after exposure and can come and go if left untreated.

🧼 How can you protect yourself?
✅ Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food.
✅ Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking them.
✅ Refrigerate perishable foods promptly.
✅ If you're experiencing diarrhea, avoid preparing food for others until you've recovered.

💙 If you have diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, especially after eating fresh produce or traveling, contact your healthcare provider. Cyclosporiasis is treatable with prescription medication.

For more information, call the Foothills Health District.

07/01/2026

We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful time celebrating the 4th! We will be closed Friday, July 3rd, and Monday, July 6th. We look forward to serving your healthcare needs on Tuesday, July 7th.

¡Esperamos que todos tengan una celebración del 4 de julio segura y maravillosa!
Estaremos cerrados el viernes 3 de julio y el lunes 6 de julio. Esperamos poder atender sus necesidades de atención médica el martes 7 de julio.

06/23/2026

🌱 Conectando a nuestra comunidad con alimentos, recursos y apoyo.

Tener acceso a alimentos saludables puede ser un desafío, pero saber dónde comenzar no debería serlo. La Guía de Acceso a Alimentos del Condado de Rutherford fue creada para ayudar a los residentes a encontrar fácilmente despensas de alimentos, comidas calientes, programas de nutrición, opciones de transporte y otros recursos comunitarios, todo en un solo lugar.

Check out this design designed by Megan Rollins.

06/23/2026

🌱 Connecting our community to food, resources, and support.

Accessing healthy food can be challenging, but knowing where to start shouldn’t be. The Rutherford County Food Access Guide was created to help residents easily find local food pantries, hot meals, nutrition programs, transportation options, and additional community resources all in one place.

Check out this design designed by Megan Rollins.