Austin Public Health

Austin Public Health
Department overview
JurisdictionAustin, Texas
Headquarters6800 Burleson Rd Building 310, Suite 295, Austin, TX 78744
Department executive
  • Adrienne Sturrup, Director
Websitewww.austintexas.gov/department/health

Austin Public Health (Spanish: Salud Pública de Austin) is the official health department of the city of Austin, Texas, which operates programs to improve general health in the community.[1]

History

Background

Austin was the first municipality in Texas to include public health provisions in its incorporation act, approved in 1839 by the Congress of the Republic of Texas.[2]

Accreditation and name change

Austin Public Health, then known as Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, received accreditation from the national Public Health Accreditation Board in May 2016. The department adopted its current name that December.[3][4]

Leadership

  • Adrienne Sturrup, Director
  • Dr. Desmar Walkes, Medical Director and Health Authority
  • Janet Pichette, Chief Epidemiologist
  • Laura G. La Fuente, Assistant Director of Health Equity and Community Engagement
  • Kymberley Maddox, Assistant Director of Administrative Support Services
  • Donna Sundstrom, Assistant Director of Community Services
  • Marcel Elizondo, Interim Assistant Director of Environmental Health Services
  • Cassandra DeLeon, Assistant director of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
  • Jen Samp, Public Information and Marketing Manager

Organization

Austin Public Health is composed of the following divisions which manage the listed services:

  • Community Services[5]
  • Disease Prevention and Health Promotion[6]
    • Chronic disease prevention and control
    • Communicable disease
    • Immunizations
    • Injury prevention
    • Refugee services
  • Environmental and Health Services[7]
    • Public health nuisances
    • Child care, foster care, and adoption housing
    • Food safety
    • Pool, spas, interactive water features & fountains
    • Mosquito and rodent control
  • Epidemiology and Public Health Preparedness[8]
    • Epidemiology and disease surveillance
    • Public health emergency preparedness
    • Vital records
  • Health Equity and Community Engagement[9]
    • Health equity initiative
    • Planning and evaluation
    • Social services
    • HIV resources administration
    • Community transformation (DSRIP) programs

References

  1. ^ "Health". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Austin incorporates--the first such act with public health provisions". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  3. ^ "We Are Austin Public Health!" (PDF). AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Austin Public Health Name Change". Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Community Services". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Disease Prevention and Health Promotion". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Environmental Health Services". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Epidemiology and Public Health Preparedness". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Health Equity and Community Engagement". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved 11 February 2023.