M7.4 Blog about your local environmental services

Local Environmental Services

Yolo County

Review your local (city or county) health department's website and list the services that you would consider “Environmental Health Services.” In your BLOG, note the environmental health services. Discuss, in your own words, the general breadth of services, note any services that you were surprised to find, or other observations about what is provided by your city/county government. 

I live in Davis, California, and I selected to review the environmental services provided by the Yolo County health department which is known as the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). The general breadth of services provided by the HHSA fall under mental health, substance abuse, social services, and public health. Examples of these services include the Behavioral Health Quality Management, Tobacco Cessation Program, Independent Living Skills Program, and Car Seat Safety Program. However, it is important to note that the services provided under HHSA do not focus on environmental health as part of the public health services that are offered. Instead, I was surprised to find that the environmental health services are located under the Yolo County Community Services Department/Environmental Health Division. Nonetheless, there are a couple of services under HHSA that might be considered part of environmental health. One program is the Tobacco Prevention Coalition. Tobacco smoke is a carcinogen, and second hand exposure is dangerous to individuals in a community. The second program is the Hanna and Herbert Bauer Memorial Garden which hosts 32 community plots that are gardened by local residents, and provides garden-based education to both adults and children in the community. This program helps to educate individuals on safe food growing practices. 

If your city/county also has a Department of Environment (or equivalent), look at their site, as well, and note a few of the programs that you found interesting. 

As I stated above, the Yolo County’s “Environmental Health Services” are housed under the Yolo County Community Services Department/Environmental Health Division. Whereas the HHSA focuses on improving community health through mental health, substance abuse, social services, and public health programs, the Community Services Department concentrates on improving public safety through their industrial, agricultural, and environmental practices and programs. At first I was surprised to find that the Environmental Health Division was under the Community Services Department and not the HHSA since environmental health has a large impact on a community’s public health. For example, there is a public health risk when a community is being exposed to toxic chemicals as a result of water pollution. However, after looking through both of the department’s websites it makes sense that the Environmental Health Division is located under the Community Services Department, along with the Integrated Waste Management Division, the Planning Division, and the Public Works Division, due to the fact that all of these divisions focus on the mitigation and prevention of toxic biological, chemical, and radiological exposures. 

A few of the programs under the Environmental Health Division that I found interesting include the following:

·     Waste Tire Program

The Waste Tire Program addresses fire and safety risks surrounding the storing and disposal of waste tires.

·     Land Use Review Program

Through an environmental review process of proposed land use, the Land Use Review Program works to mitigate or prevent any foreseeable health hazards or environmental degradation in the areas of hazardous materials and waste, solid waste, water supply, sewage disposal, vector control, food, housing, and recreational health.

·     Body Art Program

The Body Art Program helps prevent disease through permitting and inspecting of body art facilities for compliance with basic sanitary practices.

References: 

·     Yolo County. Health & Human Services Agency. Retrieved from: http://www.yolocounty.org/health-human-services 

·     Yolo County. Community Services. Environmental Health Services. Retrieved from: http://www.yolocounty.org/community-services/environmental-health-services

·     Yolo County. Community Services. Environmental Health Services. Waste Tire Program. Retrieved from: http://www.yolocounty.org/community-services/environmental-health-services/land-environmental-protection/waste-tire-program 

·     Yolo County. Community Services. Environmental Health Services. Land Use Review Program. Retrieved from: http://www.yolocounty.org/community-services/environmental-health-services/land-environmental-protection/land-use-program 

·     Yolo County. Community Services. Environmental Health Services. Body Art Program. Retrieved from: http://www.yolocounty.org/community-services/environmental-health-services/consumer-protection-programs/body-art-program