Special populations are those groups that would not be able to respond the way we’d like them to in the times of a health emergency, because the communication mechanisms we are accustomed to using may not be effective to reach these individuals. Special Populations encompass a large portion of our county’s population. They may include people who are: non English-speaking, medically fragile, children, elderly, suffering from a mental illness or disability, or those with income constraints.
It is the responsibility of the Polk County Health Department to provide education to the community about various health-related issues. We are committed to developing plans for defining, reaching, and locating special populations.
If you are a member of a special population or know someone who is, and you have questions regarding planning for disaster/health emergencies, feel free to contact the Polk County Health Department’s Special Populations Coordinator, Lori Parsons, at (515) 286-3681.
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