Divisions

Public Health Nursing involves applying nursing principles and practices to promote and protect the health of our community. The Nursing Division is multifaceted and includes several essential programs: home visitation and care coordination programs, sexual health, harm reduction, and immunizations. Each program consists of a combination of clinical skills, prevention strategies, community engagement, and a deep understanding of public health principles that address determinants of health.

The Environmental Health division focuses on preventing communicable diseases and environmental conditions that could be harmful to public health. Programs include Retail Food Inspections, Child Care and School Inspections, Swimming Pool and Spa Inspections, Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic) Permitting, Body Art Inspections, Vector Surveillance, Community Air Monitoring, Healthy Homes/Indoor Air Quality, Solid Waste Landfill Inspections and Water Quality. The following services are conducted: education, consultation, complaint investigation, routine inspections and permitting, and work on regional air quality issues, including climate change and Environmental Justice.

The foundation of the Nutrition and Family Health Division and programs within focus efforts on education, food access, community referrals, and advocacy related to diet, health, and nutrition across the lifespan. All programs contribute to the prevention of chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease; promote food security with increased access to nutritious foods; and protect the health of families who can grow out of difficult social and economic circumstances.

The Strategic Health Initiatives Division is the primary and expert resource for developing, establishing, and maintaining innovative evidence-informed, community-based public health promotion and disease prevention strategies identified through data analysis and community engagement. This is done through community health data and resource analysis, collaboration, and policy to advance individual, community, and social health improvement.

The Epidemiology and Data Science Division takes a multi-pronged approach to addressing public health. The Health Data and GIS Program specializes in analyzing public health data by considering how communities, cultures, and the environment impact population health. The Communicable Disease Surveillance program is dedicated to safeguarding public health by halting the transmission of infectious diseases. The Office of PH Emergency Preparedness and Response (OPHEPR) focuses on bolstering public health safety and community resiliency in preparation for and responding to various threats, be they natural or human-made.

The Performance and Business Excellence Division serves a critical role in our organization by supporting high performance and continuous improvement throughout the Adams County Health Department (ACHD). With a keen focus on performance management and quality improvement, our expertise lies in refining and optimizing processes to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. Operations excels in project management and the development of ACHD staff, while also enhancing the capabilities of community-based organizations. Strategic direction and deployment are critical in preserving ACHD’s competitive position and nurturing many business development initiatives