MAY 21, 2014 Watertown Board of Health FY15 Budget Hearing

Mission Protect, promote health, prevent disease and disability, and access and improve the health status of the community.

FY14 Goals & Objectives Ensure a safe and healthy community through:  Enforcement of Environmental Health codes  Implementation of Community Health Programs  Animal Control Programs  Emergency Preparedness Grant

Health Department 7 full-time employees 1 part time Veterinarian Board of Health  3 members appointed for 3 year term

Mandated Programs  Food Protection Program  Housing  Swimming Pool Facilities  Body Art Establishments  Tanning Establishments  Lead Paint  Indoor Air Quality  Tobacco Control  Communicable Disease Reporting

Environmental Health Programs 800 mandated inspections conducted at licensed establishments  475 licensed Food Establishments, Tobacco, Hazardous Materials, Tanning, Body Art, Swimming Pools

Environmental Health Programs 285 complaint inspections conducted  Nuisance, housing, vectors (rodents & mosquitos), noise, dust, and odor 183 administrative order letters issued for enforcement of violations 10 complaints resolved before Board of Health 14 complaints resolved in Waltham District Court

Education Seminars provided to many regulated establishments Topics include:  Regulatory requirements  Best practices Positive outcomes:  Decrease in citations  Knowledgeable operators  Increased sanitary conditions at establishments

Tobacco Control Program 5 Community Tobacco Control Program Tobacco retailer education Enforcement of amended tobacco regulation Tobacco compliance checks Tobacco retail establishment inspections

Communicable Disease Reporting

Non-mandated Programs Animal Control Program Mosquito Control Household Hazardous Products Collection Medical Waste Collection Program Flu Vaccine Distribution Grant Initiatives Nuisance Program Hazardous Materials Establishment Program Asbestos Abatement

Animal Control  370 complaints  50 quarantine orders  Lost pet investigation  Wildlife complaints  Fostering and placement of several animals  Rabies Clinic & Microchip Clinic

Mosquito Control East Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission  Plans larvicide, adulticide, and surveillance activities to control the emergence of vector mosquitoes Larvicide applied to 3812 catch basins  ACO applied larvicide to 400 catch basins

Household Hazardous Products & Syringe Household Hazardous Products  8 collections days  167 residents utilized collection facility Syringe/Sharps Collection  4 syringe collection days  56 residents utilized collection

Seasonal Influenza Clinics 7 public flu clinics 11 clinics for First Responders and Individuals with Functional & Access Needs Health Department purchased influenza vaccine Public Health Nurse and Medical Reserve Core vaccinated over 650 residents

Community Health Health Promotion  Community Health Educational Seminars  Tobacco Products  Watertown’s Emergency Alert System  Healthy Homes  Bats and Rabies Grant Initiatives  Compassionate Connections  Wellness Programs

Grant Initiatives Compassionate Connections III Grant Marshall Home Fund Grant Watertown Task Force Hoarding awareness education to first responders Community awareness lectures on “What is Hoarding” and “How to Help” Continue to provide professional organizer and social worker to assist residents with hoarding conditions

Grant Initiatives Risk Factor Screening and Referral Service Project Watertown Community Foundation First Part:  Promote and offer screening services  Refer at risk participants to primary care provider for further evaluation Second Part:  Provide education and continuing screening services for participants who were referred to primary care provider

Emergency Preparedness Developed and updated Watertown’s All Hazards Plan Developed the Emergency Dispensing Site Plan and Shelter Operations Plan focusing Individuals with Function & Access Needs MRC volunteer training “Small Animal Handling during an Emergency and First Aid for Pets”

Integrated Public Health Network Cambridge, Everett, Somerville, and Watertown Develop a regional public health structure Focused on Public Health best practices Standardize Health Department programs:  Emergency Preparedness  Environmental Health  Community Health Develop concept for Center of Public Health Practice allowing the region to utilize Public Health academic institutions and trained student interns.

FY15 Goals & Objectives Software technology for inspections, permitting, querying and running data for reports, and record keeping Health Department Website Continue to support Health Department programs through grant funding opportunities and interns Ensure a safe and healthy community by supporting and maintaining Health Department programs

WATERTOWN HEALTH BOARD OF HEALTH Thank you