Words on Wellness Newsletter – March 2026

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
March 9, 2026 7:12 pm

Attached you will find your edition of the March 2026 Words on Wellness newsletter. This month’s topics include:Loving LentilsRecipe for Lentil TacosWhat is a Food Desert, and Why Does it Matter?Strong and Steady: Exercise to Help You Avoid Falls For more information and upcoming health and human sciences events, check out our website!https://www.

Benton County Health & Wellness Fair, March 7th at Vinton-Shellsburg High School

VIRGINIA GAY HOSPITAL
March 5, 2026 12:48 pm

Benton County residents are invited to attend the Benton County Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, March 7th, at Vinton-Shellsburg High School, held in conjunction the annual Kiwanis Club of Vinton with Pancake Breakfast.

‘MAHA' bill passes in the House, addressing K-12 requirements and Ivermectin

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
March 4, 2026 12:41 pm

The Iowa House passed a bill that will waive school lunch nutritional rules and make Ivermectin an over the counter drug. The “Make America Health Again” bill passed on Tuesday, in the Iowa House along with other bills that are related to K-12 health requirements.

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Stakeholder Meeting

BENTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
March 4, 2026 11:48 am

Benton County Public Health will be conducting our next Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in 2026. The CHNA is a vital tool for identifying the most pressing health & human service needs within Benton County.

VGH: Top 100 Critical Access Hospital via the Chartis Center for Rural Health

VIRGINIA GAY HOSPITAL
March 3, 2026 9:03 pm

Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton, IA today announced it has been recognized as a 2026 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

Safe at Home Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence

IOWA SECRETARY OF STATE
March 2, 2026 1:22 pm

January mared the 10-year anniversary of Safe at Home, a program created to protect the privacy and safety of Iowans at risk due to domestic violence, sexual abuse, trafficking, or stalking.

Benton County Suicide Prevention Coalition to meet March 2, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

BCSPC
March 1, 2026 9:45 am

Focus for our upcoming in-person and virtual meetings:Networking:  Strengthening connections among members and community partnersCollaboration:  Exploring opportunities to support one another's effortsGroup Building:  Sharing ideas on how our coalition can grow stronger and more effectiveYour voice and perspective are vital.

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group to meet First Tuesday

BCSPC
February 24, 2026 5:11 pm

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group would like to invite you to join them at their monthly meeting the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at St.

VGH Nurses Recognized as part of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses

VIRGINIA GAY HOSPITAL
February 20, 2026 10:44 am

100 Great Iowa Nurses was established in 2004 and hosted by the University of Iowa until 2020. In 2022, with the support of Mary Greeley Medical Center, the program, now called Great Iowa Nurses, is returning to recognize Iowa nurses that routinely go above and beyond every day and take that extra step to ensure safe, compassionate care for their patients.

Iowa hospitals oppose mandatory reporting of major medical errors

IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH
February 17, 2026 11:47 am

By Clark KauffmanA bill that would require Iowa’s medical facilities to inform regulators of any serious medical errors is again facing opposition from the state’s hospitals.