PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT
Public Health District
News & Information
West Explosion Follow-Up Survey
(April 1, 2019) Waco-McLennan County Public Health District (WMCPHD) is conducting a follow-up study to assess long-term health impacts among the residents of the West community following the 2013 West Fertilizer Plant explosion. The study will provide information on residents’ behavioral health, respiratory health, and other conditions associated with the explosion. Residents of the City of West are invited to participate in the survey, which can be completed online at www.westfollowup.org or during a face-to-face interview. The online version went live April 1, 2019.
The survey team will be wrapping up the face-to-face interviews in West through May 3, 2019, weather permitting.
We would like to thank the residents of West who have taken the time to share their stories with us and provided information.
If you haven’t had a chance to take the survey or have not been visited by our survey team by the end of the week, we encourage you to go online to complete the survey at www.westfollowup.org which will remain live until May 31, 2019.
Recognized as a runner-up in the 'Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge'
The City of Waco was named as one of just eight runners up in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge (the Challenge). As a runner up, the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District received $25,000 to continue their work to improve health outcomes in Waco.
About the Challenge
It began as a collaboration between the Aetna Foundation, the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) empowering 50 small to midsize U.S. cities and counties to make measurable, scalable improvements to public health issues in their local communities. Since its inception, $1.5 million in grants and prizes have been awarded to the 50 participating programs to support their efforts to tackle the most pressing health issues facing their communities.
Through the Challenge, the Health District worked with local partners to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in Waco by:
• Offering Monthly cooking demonstrations at our local farmer’s market and Healthy Soul food and Tex-Mex demonstrations at community centers and churches;
• Adding more locations of a local mobile farmer’s market, Veggie Van, which transitioned into the Veggie Prescription program in collaboration with Family Health Center;
• Working with the Downtown Farmers Market to offer Double Dollar SNAP benefits;
• Supporting Mission Waco to open a non-profit grocery store featuring low cost healthy foods and nutrition educators on staff; and
• Utilizing a Community Health Worker Program to connect residents to healthy eating resources.
For more information on this announcement, visit healthiestcities.org.
The 2018 Annual Report
WEEKLY FLU REPORT
Flu activity reports will be posted weekly October 2018 through September 2019 for the 2018-2019 season.
Flu Activity Report for the week ending on 05-18-2019
Influenza-like illness: 25 Flu A: 2 Flu B: 7 Non-Differentiated (ND): 0
Total (Flu A, Flu B and ND): 9
For complete flu season history.
The City Health Dashboard
The Health District and Prosper Waco have partnered with NYU School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health, NYU Wagner, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Resource Network, to create a first-of-its-kind data visualization online tool that allows city leaders to view residents’ health by neighborhood – and take action!
Learn more about the City Health Dashboard. Visit the dashboard to learn more about our City! cityhealthdashboard.com
Health District Strategic Plan
Need to Dispose of Sharps? More About Safe Disposal:
At the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, we recognize the importance of proper disposal of sharps and medications for residents and for the environment. We do not offer services to aid in the disposal of syringes; however, safe disposal of needles may be easier than you think. Click here for recommendations provided by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on how to dispose of medical waste.
Check out this helpful video from the Solid Waste Department and Muncipal Information Department of the City of Waco.
Residents may also check with their prescribing physician for free sharps containers to aid in the storage of medical waste. Local pharmacies may also take back of any unused medication.
Waco-McLennan County Health Needs Assessment
The 2016 Waco-McLennan County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) was conducted through a funding partnership with the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, Providence Healthcare Network, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Hillcrest, and Baylor University Center for Community Research and Development.
The goal of the CHNA is to provide a comprehensive and unbiased profile of McLennan County, assess community health and risk factors, and identify access to care issues. The results will stimulate discussion and planning of projects to address health needs identified. Previous assessments have resulted in targeted health promotions and have supported numerous grant opportunities for the community.