Deschutes County Health Services

06/02/2026

Please stop by tomorrow if you're able! This is a fun, free community event for families with young children. We really hope to see you there!

Join Deschutes County Health Services and WIC for a free Family Health Fair on Wednesday, June 3 from 2-4 p.m. at 2577 NE Courtney Drive in Bend.

Families with young children can enjoy family-friendly activities, connect with local health resources, receive dental screenings and access a mobile food pantry. Eligible WIC families can also receive Farmers’ Market vouchers.

We hope to see you there!

05/28/2026

Congratulations to Monica Desmond of Deschutes County Health Services for being recognized as a 2026 Sources Showcase Adult Advisor Award winner during the May 20 statewide celebration of youth su***de prevention efforts.

The annual Sources Showcase honors students, educators, advisors and community teams across Oregon working to create belonging, connection and stronger support systems for young people.

Monica was recognized alongside many others across the state doing important work to promote hope, connection and help-seeking in schools and communities.

The Sources Showcase is supported by the Oregon Health Authority as part of the Big River Programs to prevent youth su***de.

We’re grateful for Monica’s work and proud to see Deschutes County represented among so many people making a difference for Oregon youth.

05/26/2026

Join Deschutes County Health Services and WIC for a free Family Health Fair on Wednesday, June 3 from 2-4 p.m. at 2577 NE Courtney Drive in Bend.

Families with young children can enjoy family-friendly activities, connect with local health resources, receive dental screenings and access a mobile food pantry. Eligible WIC families can also receive Farmers’ Market vouchers.

We hope to see you there!

05/21/2026

988 connects people to crisis counselors. 911 connects people to emergency responders. In a crisis, it can be hard to know what to do. Understanding 988 vs. 911 can help you take the next step.

For more information, please visit this link: https://bit.ly/4tK8M65

05/21/2026

Stop the Bleed Day is dedicated to encouraging everyone to learn simple skills that can save lives in an emergency. Life-threatening bleeding can happen anywhere, and you could make the difference by learning how to apply proper pressure, pack a wound, and apply a tourniquet.



The Deschutes County Medical Reserve Corps can teach Stop the Bleed classes anywhere in Deschutes County. Request a class by following the link below to learn life-saving skills.

https://www.deschutescounty.gov/1589/Hands-Only-CPR-Stop-the-Bleed-Training

05/21/2026

Deschutes County Public Health urges residents to take precautions after a dog in Sisters came into contact with a bat that tested positive for rabies.

Rabies is a serious viral disease that can spread to people and pets through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Post-exposure vaccination is effective, but prevention is the best way to protect your family and pets.

Take these steps to reduce the risk:

• Avoid contact with bats, whether they are healthy, sick, alive or dead.
• Keep children and pets away from bats.
• Do not feed or handle stray animals or wildlife.
• Make sure your pets’ rabies vaccinations are up to date.

Oregon law requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats:

• First vaccination: between 3 and 6 months old
• First booster: one year later
• Booster shots after that: every three years
• Unvaccinated pets that may have been exposed must be euthanized or kept in strict quarantine for four months.

Bats play an important role in our ecosystem. Not all bats carry rabies, but bats are the animal most often reported with rabies in the United States. To stay safe, people should avoid contact with them.

If you see a bat that is active during the day, inside a building, or on the ground and unable to fly, keep children and pets away and contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 541-388-6363 or a local wildlife control operator.

If a person or pet has contact with a bat, or if someone is bitten by an animal, report it right away to Deschutes County Animal Control at 541-693-6911 or Deschutes County Environmental Health at 541-317-3114.

For more information about rabies, visit the Oregon Health Authority website: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/diseasesconditions/diseasesaz/rabies/pages/bats.aspx

05/18/2026

Recognizing the warning signs of su***de can help save a life. If you’re worried about someone, trust your instincts, start the conversation, and let them know they are not alone. Support is available, and reaching out can make a real difference.

05/12/2026

If you or someone you love is going through a mental health crisis, help is here.

The Crisis Stabilization Center is open to all Deschutes County residents, regardless of ability to pay, and offers a welcoming place to walk in and get support. You can find the Stabilization Center at 63311 NE Jamison St. in Bend.

Learn more at deschutescounty.gov/crisis

05/11/2026

On April 30, members of the Deschutes County Public Health STI/HIV Team, Trevor Hostetler, Charlotte Jones and Vinny Cancelliere, received the HIV/STD/TB LPHA Community Service Award at the Oregon Epidemiologists’ Meeting in Sunriver.

The team was recognized for its work responding to a challenging cluster of cases over the past year, helping connect vulnerable community members with testing, treatment and follow-up care under difficult conditions. Their efforts reflect the dedication and compassion at the heart of public health service.

Through strong partnerships across the community, the team helped bring rapid testing, education and prevention services to nearly 600 people last year, while the Public Health safety net clinic served more than 400 clients. The team has also worked with local providers to expand access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services in Deschutes County.

We’re grateful for Trevor, Charlotte and Vinny, and proud to recognize their extraordinary service and commitment to our community.

05/11/2026

Deschutes County Public Health wants you to have all the information to keep you and your community safe during times of vaccine preventable disease outbreak. As we see cases of measles in Oregon, here is information from the immunization team at your local health department to keep you informed.

deschutescounty.gov/publichealth