About Public Health

What is Public Health?

Public health is a term that is used to encompass a variety of activities designed to prevent the spread of disease and promote optimal health. 

 Why do we have public health departments?

Local health departments were developed to provide an organized approach to public health activates in communities.  Examples of the major types of activities include nursing, education, environmental health, screening and immunizations, communicable disease control, epidemiology, vital statistics, emergency preparedness, and other programs.

 In public health we address problems found in restaurants, grocery stores, camps, swimming pools, trailer parks, schools and abate nuisances.  We also perform immunizations, conduct health monitoring, epidemiology services, coordinate our response to emergencies with other agencies, and provide public education. 

 We have specialized programs such as vital statistics, BCMH, prenatal services, paternity testing, well child clinics, Help Me Grow, and WIC.  We also house the regional car passenger safety initiative to prevent injuries from motor vehicle accidents.