Building a Healthier Bertie County: Collaboration Promotes Well-Being for Students and Families

In Bertie County, North Carolina, Healthier Generation has joined forces with school and community leaders to advance health equity for students and families. Two events, supported by Novo Nordisk and Anonymous Trust, helped bring that vision forward this summer and fall.

Back-to-School Bash: Health Around the Community

On August 2, more than 300 students, families, and educators gathered for the annual Back-to-School Bash at Bertie High School. The theme, Health Around the Community, came to life through activities and services provided by Bertie County Schools, Healthier Generation, Albemarle Regional Health Services (ARHS), the YMCA, and ABC2.

Organizers distributed backpacks filled with supplies to over 200 students, to help them start the school year ready to learn. Families enjoyed food demonstrations, games, music from a local DJ, and raffles, as well as opportunities for health screenings and immunization record checks. Guests sampled fresh fruits and vegetables prepared by Healthier Generation staff in collaboration with the Bertie Cooperative Extension. Speaker Rwenshaun Miller shared insights on youth mental health, self-worth, and purpose.

Supported by countless volunteers, the event highlighted how collaboration can strengthen the well-being of students and families. 

In-School Vaccine Clinic: Removing Barriers to Care

Just weeks later, that same spirit of collaboration continued into the school year. On September 23, Bertie County Schools and ARHS hosted an in-school vaccine clinic at Bertie Middle School, as part of Healthier Generation’s ongoing efforts to expand vaccine access. More than 30 middle and high school students received immunizations with minimal disruption to their school day.

The clinic was driven by immunization assessment station checks conducted earlier in the year, which helped identify students needing required or recommended vaccines and prompted families to complete authorization forms for in-school vaccination. 

Behind the scenes, teamwork made the clinic possible: Bertie High School Principal Tina Nelson arranged student transportation, personally driving a bus to facilitate participation. Ashley Bradley, principal at Bertie Middle School, created quiet spaces for students to wait and recover, while School Nurse Brandi Johnson contacted parents to encourage participation. 

“When I first sent [consent] forms, I only received two back,” Johnson said. “So I began reaching out to families, and forms started flying in.”

The ARHS nursing team, led by Nurse Deneen Robbins, verified insurance information on-site, allowing every student to receive care. The clinic showed that with detailed coordination, in-school health services can remove barriers like transportation, cost, and lost instructional time.

These events reflect Healthier Generation’s commitment to advance whole child health equity by building connections between schools, families, and public health partners across the region.

Explore evidence-based resources at Healthier Generation’s Vaccine Resource Hub.

Learn more about Healthier Generation’s work to support health education and well-being in North Carolina:

Growing Full Futures: Student Leaders Cultivate Food Access in Charlotte, NC

Elevating Youth Voice Through Health Education

— By Jukelia Bess, Project Manager, and Nicole Blanton, Manager of Culturally Responsive Communications, Healthier Generation