CONTACT: Robert Harris, Division of Public Health, (414) 227-4860

KENOSHA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PASSES REVIEW BY STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS

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

“The hard-working staff of the Kenosha County Division of Health 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 assuring the delivery of health services necessary to prevent disease, maintain and promote health, and to protect and preserve a healthy environment for all citizens of Kenosha County.”

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.

County Executive Jim Kreuser praised the Division of Health for its high level of service to Kenosha County. “I am pleased that the Division of Health is being recognized for its efforts and I thank the employees for their dedication to protecting the health of Kenosha County residents,” Kreuser said. 

The Kenosha County Division of Health provides services important to the community, such as:

• Provides clinics for vaccine preventable diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, child health check screenings and women’s health screening
• Provides communicable disease prevention through education, disease identification, investigation and case management
• Licenses and inspects food establishments
• Provides chemical analyses of private and public water supplies
• Protects children from lead paint exposure through the Kenosha/Racine Lead-Free Communities Partnership
• Promotes preparedness for public health threats such as pandemic influenza and other natural or man made disasters

For information about the Kenosha County Division of Health, please visit:
http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/dhs/Divisions/Health/ or call (262) 605-6700.

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

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

-END-

Last Revised:  May 28, 2009