Austin Public Health
Austin Public Health is the official health department of the city of Austin, Texas, which operates programs to improve general health in the community.
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.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.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
- Women, Infants and Children program
- Neighborhood centers
- Family health unit
- Day labor center
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Chronic disease prevention and control
- Communicable disease
- Immunizations
- Injury prevention
- Refugee services
- Environmental and Health Services
- 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
- Epidemiology and disease surveillance
- Public health emergency preparedness
- Vital records
- Health Equity and Community Engagement
- Health equity initiative
- Planning and evaluation
- Social services
- HIV resources administration
- Community transformation programs