Blog Archives
Coronavirus Testing over the New Year’s Holiday Weekend
While the Williamson County Health Department will be suspended over the holiday weekend – closed on Friday, December 31 and Monday, January 3, Rutherford County Health Department (RCHD) will keep the La Vergne testing site operational Friday, December 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, January 1 and Sunday, January 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday, January from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This Rutherford County Health Department location is at the La Vergne City’s Multi-Purpose building parking lot at 5093 Murfreesboro Road.
5093 Murfreesboro Road, La Verne
CH Consulting Solutions manages testing operations at this drive-thru test site with support from RCHD.
CH Consulting Solutions is a Nashville-based emergency medicine provider offering oral swab testing. All testing will be conducted and managed by CH Consulting Solutions.
In researching COVID-19 testing in Metro Nashville over the New Year’s Weekend, we found the Health Department testing sites to be closed on Friday, December 31, 2021, but open on Monday, January 3, 2022:
Metro Nashville
Williamson County Health Department Moving COVID-19 Vaccine Operations to Franklin Clinic
Beginning Monday, August 2nd, the Williamson County Health Department will permanently
move COVID-19 vaccine operations from 1405-A Brookwood Avenue to the Franklin Clinic
located at 1324 W. Main Street. Vaccinations will be available Monday – Friday from 1:00 pm
to 3:00 pm for appointments and walk-ins.
For further information about hours of operations, please visit
http://www.williamsonready.org/341/Health-Department-Vaccine-Distribution
Tennesseans age 12 and up are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals seeking a
COVID-19 vaccine may schedule an appointment at vaccinate.tn.gov or search
vaccinefinder.org to find a local vaccine provider in Williamson or surrounding counties.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the
health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at
http://www.tn.gov/health.
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Connect with TDH on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @TNDeptofHealth
Williamson County Health Department Moving Vaccine Distribution Out of the Williamson County Agricultural Center
Beginning Thursday, July 1st, the Williamson County Health Department will move vaccine operations from the Williamson County Agricultural Center to 1405-A Brookwood Avenue. The new vaccine site is located behind the health department’s Franklin Clinic and adjacent to the county’s administrative complex. Vaccinations will be available from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm for appointments and walk-ins.
For further information about hours of operations, please visit http://www.williamsonready.org/341/Health-Department-Vaccine-Distribution
Tennesseans age 12 and up are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals seeking a COVID-19 vaccine may schedule an appointment at vaccinate.tn.gov or search vaccinefinder.org to find a local vaccine provider in Williamson or surrounding counties.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.
More than 1,300+ organizations, brands, government agencies and cultural leaders join together for first-ever Mental Health Action Day
Largest cross-sector effort to shift from mental health awareness to mental health action organized in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing trauma of systemic racism
Learn more at www.MentalHealthActionDay.org
Franklin, TN – Today the Williamson County Public Library System and more than 1,300 organizations, brands, government agencies and cultural leaders will participate in the inaugural Mental Health Action Day to drive the conversation from mental health awareness to mental health action. Convened by MTV Entertainment Group, Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement, aimed at motivating people to take action to get mental health support — whether for themselves, their loved ones or for everyone by advocating for systemic changes for mental health access and equity.
Mental Health Action Day comes at a critical time. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll on the mental health and well-being of people of color, young people and LGBTQ+ communities. Studies have found:
- Four in 10 adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, compared to 1 in 10 before the pandemic.
- Fifty-six percent of young adults ages 18-24 reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression during the pandemic.
- 48% of Black people reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic versus 42% of all Adults and 40.9% of white people.
Communities of Color, who have experienced disparate impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing trauma of systemic racism from police brutality to anti-Asian violence, are also facing greater mental health challenges than ever before, but continue to face challenges accessing mental health care.
The cross-sector collaboration calling attention to the great need for support and action to address mental health in the same way in which we treat physical health needs is ground breaking. From media and tech companies to nonprofits, consumer brands, government agencies and cultural leaders, the actions today are only the beginning. Coalition partners will host a series of activations ranging from public events featuring experts and activists to employee engagement activities, all with the goal of encouraging and empowering people to take an initial action, whether for themselves or others, to support their mental health needs.
“A year into the pandemic, as mental health struggles have skyrocketed, we brought together more than 1,300 partners to not only meet the moment but also drive a movement of action on a public health crisis that affects every one of us,” said Erika Soto-Lamb, Vice President of Social Impact Strategy at MTV Entertainment Group. “From storytelling to creating content, together we can shatter stigma and normalize the act of getting help for those who need it.”
“We recognize that the past year has been a struggle for everyone. Our hope is that this initiative will be the start of an ongoing change to move all of us in our community to to care for ourselves and each other. Our facilities provide resources such as books and online databases that can help with education and research into these issues. Plus the local resources like Find Hope Franklin provide a starting point for where else to go locally for assistance,” said Jeffie Nicholson, Adult Services Manager at the Main Library Branch.
A full list of partners as of May 20, 2021 is available here. Join one of the online events today:
- At 10 am PST | 1 pm EST, Headspace will host a live global meditation here on TikTok.
- At 1 pm EST, VS PINK and The Jed Foundation will host ‘Make Your Move Fest’ to encourage young adults to take action to support their mental health, including a fireside chat with high-profile Gen-Z artists and advocates speaking about emotional health challenges and opportunities and how they are coping and supporting each other.
- At 4 pm PST | 7 pm EST, The Mental Health Coalition will host mental health advocates Jeremy Fall and Yung Pueblo who will talk about finding the path to your superpower and share their own mental health journeys. The chat will be moderated by Keo Motsepe and Dr. Luana Marques President, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) will join to share her professional mental health wisdom. Tune in and follow @mentalhealthcoalition to watch this special 121 Series.
- ALL DAY: Sound Mind Live, in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will host the 2021 Sound Mind Mental Health Music Festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds featuring All Time Low, Fitz & The Tantrums, Lovelytheband and more.
- ALL DAY: The Atlantic is holding a free, day-long event, In Pursuit of Happiness, to explore the human hold on happiness and ways to build a more meaningful life. The event features Arthur C. Brooks, Deepak Chopra, Angela Duckworth, spiritual leader T.D. Jakes, and a performance by the global company of Dear Evan Hanse
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About Mental Health Action Day
Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement of brands, organizations, government agencies, and cultural leaders to drive culture from mental health awareness to mental health action. The first Mental Health Action Day will take place on May 20, 2021 with a mission to encourage and empower people to take their first actions on mental health — whether for themselves, for their loved ones or for their communities, because mental health is health. Learn more at MentalHealthIsHealth.us
Williamson County Staff Recognized for Service in the COVID-19 Call Center
The Williamson County COVID-19 Public Information Line was established on March 31st, 2020 to answer questions regarding COVID-19 in Williamson County. Since the call center went live, staff have answered over 22,809 calls regarding COVID-19.
“We determined very early on in the pandemic that establishing some form of information management system would be an important way that the County could serve the needs of the community. There was a lot of information being disseminated regarding COVID-19, and we wanted to provide a single point that the community could contact to receive the latest information,” says Todd Horton, Williamson County Emergency Management Director.
Before the line was created, County leaders determined that personnel from various County departments would need to help staff the center to process the amount of calls that were to come in. Over 50 staff members have voluntarily served in the center since March, 2020 from the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department, Williamson County Health Department, Williamson County Sewage Disposal, Williamson County Juvenile Court, Williamson County Mayors Office, UT Institute of Agriculture, Williamson County Animal Center, Williamson County Public Library System, Williamson County Planning and Zoning, Williamson County Television and Williamson County Emergency Management. The call center was also supported by staff from the City of Franklin.
“As the information surrounding the pandemic changed over the course of the year, so did the questions the community had,” says Hannah Bleam, External Affairs Officer for Williamson County Emergency Management, “The call center staffing levels and information provided had to change regularly in order to get the information needed out to the community. We could not be more grateful for the selfless team members that took the time to answer every question they could during such a confusing time.”
Due to the low call volume, the Williamson County COVID-19 Public Information Line will be closing permanently at the end of business day on April 30th. Starting on May 3rd, all inquiries regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccinations should be directed to the Williamson County Health Department at (615) 794-1542, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
For more information, visit www.williamsonready.org/Coronavirus
Williamson County COVID-19 Public Information Line Closing
For more information, visit www.williamsonready.org/Coronavirus
Williamson County Emergency Management Agency
304 Beasley Dr. Franklin, TN 37064
Changes to Williamson County COVID-19 Testing Hours and Location
Changes to Williamson County COVID-19 Testing Hours and Location
The Williamson County Health Department will be changing the hours and location of COVID-19 testing beginning Monday, March 22, 2021. Testing will no longer be available at the Williamson County Agricultural Center.
Health Department administered PCR COVID-19 testing will be offered by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Franklin Clinic located at 1324 W Main St, Franklin from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
For an appointment, please call (615) 794-1542.
Everlywell self-test kits will also be distributed at the Franklin Clinic on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and available upon request at the Fairview Clinic.
Vaccine appointments are not affected by this change and will continue to take place at the Williamson County Agricultural Center.
ADVISORY: Public Information Line Changes on Monday, March 15, 2021
The Williamson County Vaccine Information Line hours are changing starting on Monday, March 15th to 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The phone line (615-595-4880) can assist with signing up for the County Vaccine Availability Alert System, signing up on the state vaccine registration portal, and with appointment scheduling/cancelations.
For more information, visit our website at www.williamsonready.org or follow us on social media @WCTNEMA.
High-risk Tennesseans Eligible for Vaccination March 8
Tennessee is moving to the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination plan Monday, March 8.
Phase 1C includes anyone 16 or older with a high-risk medical condition, including high blood pressure, obesity and pregnancy. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, this opens vaccine eligibility up to more than a million Tennesseans. Phase 1C also includes caregivers of children with high-risk medical conditions.
Tennesseans may find vaccination providers in their area by visiting VaccineFinder.org.
Williamson County residents can access vaccine registration at the Williamson County Office of Public Safety.
Williamson County vaccine info line at (615) 595-4880,
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
The TN Department of Health has partnered with the following clinics to vaccinate their patients.
Tennessee to Begin COVID-19 Vaccination for Phase 1b and 65+ Tennesseans
According to the Tennessee Department of Health (THD) and Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP:
Tennessee has administered more than one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine so far, and we’ve made substantial progress in protecting our senior citizens who are over age 70 through vaccination. While we remain focused on our seniors, who are the highest-risk population, we’re able to expand vaccine eligibility to these additional groups as our supply continues to grow each week.
Tennessee will begin registering Tennesseans aged 65 and older and those in Phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for vaccinations on Feb. 22. Phase 1b includes staff members of kindergarten through 12th grade schools and child care facilities, and operations personnel of first responder agencies.
Tennesseans can access the system at covid19.tn.gov to determine their phase and to schedule an appointment in their county. Williamson County users are able to enter their demographic information and will then able to choose a date and time for their vaccination appointment, if they are determined to be among the currently eligible, higher-risk groups. Tennesseans who have already registered for a COVID-19 vaccination do not need to re-enter their information in the new system.
Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan prioritizes those most at risk of illness and death from COVID-19. Tennessee will continue to move through phases of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan as vaccine supplies increase.
TDH has launched a new online scheduling tool that allows users to book their appointment for COVID-19 vaccination at participating health department sites when they are eligible to do so.
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