What is Public Health?

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust local and state health departments into the limelight, but when we aren’t in the midst of a public health crisis – what do we do? I’m glad you asked!

Local health departments, like CCHD, protect and improve the community well-being by preventing disease, illness and injury and by impacting social, economic and environmental factors that are fundamental to public health. Our mission is to improve and protect the health, well-being and environment of the people of Clinton County. To achieve this, our department is split into 5 divisions (or teams):

1. Administration
2.  Environmental Health and Safety
3. Finance and Information Technology
4. Health Care Services
5. Health Planning and Promotion

Let’s talk a bit more about what each one does within our community.

Administration

Did you know CCHD has been Nationally Accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) since 2015? This means that we continue to meet or exceed standards and measures set by PHAB and have the capacity to continue to evolve, improve and advance. Our administrative team is responsible for maintaining CCHD’s Emergency Preparedness activities, giving us the ability to respond to public health emergency situations within our community. Right now, most of this work revolves around the pandemic, but we have also aided with natural disasters (like floods and winter storms) in recent years. When we aren’t actively working to respond to an emergency, we are preparing and practicing for the next one. Our administrative team also processes and maintains all the department’s contracts, MOU’s, and grant related documents.

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

Engineering reviews, individual sewage treatment systems, animal bite investigations, regulated public water systems, and food service inspections all fall within EHS’s wheelhouse. There are more than 850 regulated operations within Clinton County alone. Staff inspect food service establishments to ensure the food you are being served isn’t going to make you sick. Inspectors, as part of the Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act (ATUPA), routinely visit businesses that sell tobacco to ensure they are not selling to anyone under the age of 21. The Healthy Neighborhoods Program helps residents identify and eliminate hazards in their home. They cover five main areas: fire safety, lead, indoor air quality, injury prevention, and asthma. To learn more or request a visit from program staff click here. Got pets? EHS also vaccinates hundreds of animals at our FREE rabies clinics each year.

Finance & Information Technology (FIT)

Wrangling dozens of funding streams and grant budgets is a tall order for our FIT team, but they keep our heads above water. Our Information Technology staff also help us maintain access to a variety of different systems required to manage our day-to-day projects within our each division. They also keep all our patient and program information safe.

Health Care Services (HCS)

Many of HCS’s program aim to prevent adverse health outcomes within our community – think communicable diseases like STI, immunizations, tuberculosis, lead poisoning prevention and, of course, COVID-19. Our immunization program offers all childhood and adult vaccinations including Influenza, Rabies, HPV, Polio, and more. HCS staff also investigate and track all reportable communicable diseases that are found in Clinton County, like Measles, Tuberculosis and COVID-19. HCS is also the home of the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHAN) and Children’s Development Services programs. Developmental Services is comprised of two programs, Early Intervention (EI) and Preschool Special Education. EI serves infants and toddlers, birth to age three with a confirmed disability or an established developmental delay. Preschool Special Education Services provide services for children ages 3-5 who have a disability that affects learning. Hungry for more information on EI? Last month’s blog dives deeper into the services provided.

Health Planning & Promotion (HPP)

HPP specializes in community health education and engagement. When we aren’t in the midst of a pandemic – you can find our team out in the community meeting with partners and providing education to different groups. Right now much of this work is being done virtually. We work with local businesses, schools, and partners to develop health-related policies like; breastfeeding friendly, complete streets, school wellness, and worksite wellness. We have also recently been working with local farms and community members on food scrap recycling and composting options. Clinton County’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program serves hundreds of families each year and was the first local agency to offer tele-appointments last year! Check out our October blog to learn more about our WIC program.

Now you know more about us. We want to know more about you. CCHD recently launched the 2022 Community Health Assessment. Every few years, we ask our residents what they feel are the most pressing health-related issues in our community. The input gathered helps us shape goals for future community health initiatives. To be a part of this process, residents can take the 2022 Community Health Assessment here.

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Molly Flynn
Principal Public Health Educator
Division of Health Planning & Promotion