CONTACT: Mary Young, Division of Public Health, (608) 266-2757

CRAWFORD COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT  PASSES REVIEW BY STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS

MADISON—Dr. Seth Foldy, State Health Officer, today announced that the Crawford County Public Health Department has successfully passed the state’s health department review. As a result, the Crawford County Public Health Department will maintain its Level II status.

“The hard-working staff of the Crawford County Public Health Department helps 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 engaging a supportive community network to solve local public health problems.”

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 Crawford County Public Health Department provides services important to the community, such as:

• Dental Health – The LHD is leading the community to establish a Dental Coalition, provide fluoride varnish application, arrange for oral health screening by a dental hygienist, encourage daily teeth brushing in schools and provide enhanced nutrition education in four school districts.
• WIC Nursing -- The LHD serves WIC participants through health teaching, screening, collaboration and referral and follow up. Nursing services include lead screens, immunizations, water testing, prenatal care coordination, breastfeeding support and education, post partum support and general health education.
• Obesity Prevention – The local health department (LHD) collaborates with school nurses, UW Extension, Family Resource Center, 4- H, boys scouts, girl scouts, health practitioners from the hospitals and clinics to prevent obesity.

For information about the Crawford County Public Health Department, visit:
http://crawfordcountywi.org/health/

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