CONTACT: Robert Harris, Division of Public Health, (414) 227-4910

CITY OF RACINE HEALTH DEPARTMENT  PASSES REVIEW BY STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS

MADISON—Dr. Seth Foldy, State Health Officer, today announced that the City of Racine Health Department has successfully passed the state’s health department review. As a result, the City of Racine Health Department will maintain their Level III status.

“The hard-working staff of the City of Racine Health Department help make their community a healthier and safer place to live,” said Foldy. “Their department has an actively engaged and supportive Board of Health, and does an excellent job of monitoring and assessing the needs of their community and working with partners to assure a healthy community.”

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is required to formally review the operations of all 92 Wisconsin local health departments at the county or municipality level at least every five years. The review establishes the health department as a level I, II or III agency. A level I agency meets the minimum requirements and a level III agency meets the maximum requirements established for a local health department.

The City of Racine Health Department provides services important to the community in areas such as:

• Promoting Healthy Birth Outcomes & Reducing Infant Mortality
• Water Quality Monitoring, Remediation and Control
• Lead Poisoning Prevention and Assuring Safe Homes
• Communicable Disease Prevention & Immunizations

For information about the City of Racine Health Department, visit:
http://www.cityofracine.org/depts/health/ or Dottie-Kay Bowersox, Director/Health Officer 262-636-9201

For contact information for Wisconsin’s local health departments, visit:
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/localhealth/

For information about the state health plan, Healthiest Wisconsin 2010 or 2020, visit:
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/statehealthplan/index.htm

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Last Revised:  July 12, 2010