The Health Department’s Wellness team provides screening, testing, education, resources, and referrals for a wide variety of diseases and health conditions.
Specifically, we offer no cost breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening for qualified individuals, as well as patient navigation to help all members of our community members get these important screenings done. Additionally, Wellness offers education, resources, and referrals for tobacco/vaping prevention, enforcement, and cessation.
Our team is passionately dedicated to building a healthier Caroline County community and are available to provide education and prevention information at community events and speakers for community groups.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in America, accounting for approximately 25% of all cancer deaths. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined — and thousands more die from other tobacco-related causes — such as fires caused by smoking and smokeless tobacco use.
Parents: 23% of high school students report using e-cigarettes and that based on use statistics, 92,000 Maryland kids now under 18 will ultimately die prematurely due to smoking. Studies have shown there is substantial evidence that if a youth or young adult uses an e-cigarette, they are at increased risk of using traditional cigarettes later.
Additionally, a recent study from the University of North Carolina found that even in small doses, inhaling the two primary ingredients found in e-cigarettes—propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin—is likely to expose users to a high level of toxins. The inhalation of harmful chemicals can cause irreversible lung damage and lung diseases.
All tobacco and vaping cessation services, education, and enforcement are funded and paid for by the Maryland Department of Health Cigarette Restitution Fund Program.
Cessation Services
We can help individuals interested in quitting any type of tobacco products (including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, vapes). Contact (410) 479-8080 to get started.
We make referrals to the Maryland Quit Line, which will proactively contact you to help you build a personalized plan to quit. You can also receive nicotine replacement products (patches, gum, lozenges) directly by mail from the Quit Line at no cost to you. Quit Line services are all conducted over the phone and by text – there is no need to attend a group or meet in person. Quit coaches will contact you in the way and time that is most convenient for you.
While we can help you get started, you can also contact the Quitline directly and self-enroll in services by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or enrolling online.
Quit Line services are available every day, including weekends, 24/7, so you’ll never have to go through the process of quitting alone. Nicotine replacement products are available through the Health Department on a limited basis for people enrolled in the Quitline program who have not yet received their products or for those in hospice care. Please call (410) 479-8080 for more information.
Please note that children under the age of 13 needing tobacco cessation services will be referred to their pediatrician or primary care provider.
Education & Prevention
Speakers and Community Events
Our Wellness staff are available to provide smoking and vaping education and prevention information in schools, at community events, and speakers for community groups. Our services can include education table displays, presentations, games, and more related to tobacco and vaping prevention and are provided at no cost. To request a staff member attend your meeting or event, please contact our office. Requests will be honored based on availability, and we recommend making your request as soon as possible.
Mini Grants
Mini grant funds are available to community organizations that would like to do their own tobacco prevention and cessation activities. Programs must be aimed at Caroline County residents and can serve youth, adults, or both. Recent examples include hosting a health fair/community day with tobacco prevention component and a youth event to skating rink with speaker about tobacco prevention.
Funds are usually available in the early fall and are awarded on a first come, first served basis. To inquire about availability and the application process, please email Leigh Marquess and Heather Grove.
Lung Cancer
Screening and early detection of lung cancer are key to survival. Symptoms are often dismissed as other issues like allergies or a cold. If you feel shortness of breath, have a cough that won’t go away, cough up blood, or experience weight loss and fatigue, talk to your doctor right away. Visit the American Lung Association for more information.
Enforcement
Our program is committed to preventing the sale of tobacco products to children and young adults. The minimum sales age for all tobacco products in Maryland is 21. This includes sales of all electronic smoking devices—e-cigarettes, vapes, pod devices such as JUUL®, e-liquids, and component parts and accessories.
Our program partners with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office to perform compliance checks on all retailers in the county. We also provide education about tobacco laws to all retailers in an effort to further prevent sales of tobacco products to minors.
Additionally, our program partners with schools in to provide an education program for youth who violate tobacco and e-cigarette laws.
Resources & Support
For People Trying to Quit
- Maryland Tobacco Quit Line
- CDC Tips from Former Smokers (En Español)
- Seven Common Withdraw Symptoms and What You Can Do About Them (En Español)
- Smokefree Apps
- Staying Quit
- Nicotine Anonymous (NicA)
For Parents & Caregivers
- Live Vape Free Program: This program is focused on supporting parents and other adults concerned about the Vaping epidemic. This online learning program is designed to provide the insights needed for getting started, tips and tools, and resources for ongoing support.
Contact Information
If you are ready to stop smoking, we are here to help! The Health Department offers support and access to free nicotine replacement products, as recommended by your doctor. Call 410.479.8080, 1.800.QUIT.NOW (1.800.784.8669) or visit https://smokingstopshere.com/
The Health Department provides no cost breast, cervical, and cancer screenings for individuals who are income eligible. We provide referral and navigation services to all Caroline County residents, regardless of income, to help them access important cancer screenings.
To be eligible for free cancer screenings, individuals cannot have an income that exceeds 250% of the federal poverty level. Eligible individuals may be uninsured, underinsured, or insured.
Call (410) 479-8080 for more information about accessing cancer screenings.
Breast Cancer
Our program covers the cost of clinical breast exams, mammograms, as well as specialist consults and diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI, and breast biopsy, if needed for eligible women. Mammograms are recommended annually starting at age 40, and earlier if there is a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors.
To be eligible, you must:
- Have an income under 250% of the federal poverty level
- Be a resident of Caroline, Dorchester, or Talbot Counties
- Be between the ages of 40 and 64. Women ages 65 and older if they do not have Medicare Part B.
Cervical Cancer
Our program covers the cost of the Pap smear and HPV testing, as well as a colposcopy, if indicated for eligible women. Pap smear tests are recommended every three years between the ages of 21 and 29, and every five years for ages 30-64 if Pap/HPV are negative.
To be eligible, you must:
- Have an income under 250% of the federal poverty level
- Be a resident of Caroline, Dorchester, or Talbot Counties
- Be between the ages of 21 and 64
Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Our program covers the cost of the pre-screening exam, preparation medications, the colonoscopy procedure, and pathology for eligible men and women. Colorectal Cancer screenings are recommended every ten years between age 45 and 75, though may be recommended earlier or more often if you have symptoms that could indicate colon cancer, a family history of colon cancer, or a colonoscopy shows polyps.
To be eligible, you must:
- Have an income under 250% of the federal poverty level
- Be a resident of Caroline County
- Be between the ages of 45 and 75. People under age 45 may be eligible if they are symptomatic or have a family history of colorectal cancer.
Caroline Wellness Coalition
The mission of the Caroline Wellness Coalition is to mobilize community partnerships to inform, educate, and develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts to reduce the incidence of cancers, chronic diseases, and the effects of tobacco and nicotine use. The Coalition meets quarterly and provides a place for community members and leaders to share, learn, and collaborate on new and existing projects.
If you are interested in being a part of the Caroline Wellness Coalition or would like meeting information, email Leigh Marquess. Student members are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Coalition.
Mid-Shore Health Improvement Coalition
All jurisdictions in Maryland have Local Health Improvement Coalitions to address pressing health issues. In 2021, the five Mid-Shore counties banded together to share knowledge and leverage scarce resources. Their initial task is to address the prevention and management of prediabetes and diabetes, and stakeholders across the region are working together to create the first Diabetes Action Plan for the Mid Shore.
Wellness Programs
Health and Public Services Building
403 S. 7th Street
Denton, Maryland 21629
Phone: (410) 479-8080
Email: Leigh Marquess, Wellness Director