Services and Responsibilities of the Board of Health
Environmental Health Division
The mission of the Environmental Health Division is to provide quality services to Mahoning County residents, consumers, and regulated industries through evaluation, standard setting, and consultation. The Division provides for the development of and involvement in contemporary environmental health programs for the Mahoning County General Health District. Its staff promotes community awareness of environmental health issues through professional comprehensive outreach education to residents. Its services and responsibilities include:
RABIES CONTROL
The Environmental Health Division investigates all reported animal bites and enforces the ten-day quarantine and rabies vaccination requirements for dogs and cats. The Board of Health and volunteer veterinarians offer pet vaccination clinics and carry out seasonal raccoon-rabies oral baiting with the Ohio Department of Health.
BATHING BEACHES
The Environmental Health Division inspects beaches and collects water samples to ensure that safe conditions and acceptable water quality are maintained in the beach environment.
CAMPGROUND AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV) PARKS
The Environmental Health Division inspects and licenses campgrounds and RV Parks to ensure proper spacing, adequate sanitary conditions, potable water supplies, sewage disposal, and general safety.
COMMERCIAL SEWAGE SYSTEMS
The Environmental Health Division inspects commercial sewage systems serving small businesses.
FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS AND RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
The Environmental Health Division inspects and licenses establishments where food is prepared, processed, manufactured, packaged, stored, and offered for sale. Health standards are enforced covering operation, maintenance, and sanitation to protect the public from food-borne illness. Mobile and temporary food-service operations also are inspected to ensure safe, wholesome food is served at festivals and fairs.
HOME SEWAGE SYSTEMS
The Environmental Health Division conducts evaluations of property for the suitability of installing home sewage systems for single-family homes. The Division approves original and replacement septic system designs, inspects their installation, and inspects all septic systems before a home is sold. It investigates complaints regarding malfunctioning septic systems and enforces the abandonment of private home sewage systems and connection to the sanitary sewer when it becomes available. Low-interest loans for home sewage system improvements and sewer connections are available from several local banks through a partnership with the Board of Health and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
MOBILE HOME PARKS
The Environmental Health Division inspects and licenses manufactured home parks to assure adequate sanitary conditions, safety, spacing requirements, and general nuisance abatement.
NUISANCE CONTROL
The Environmental Health Division investigates complaints regarding conditions that may be harmful to the health, safety, comfort, or property of an individual or the public. These investigations include garbage, refuse storage, insects, noxious odors, animal waste, sewage, and unsanitary living conditions.
PLUMBING AND DOWN SPOUT INSPECTIONS
The Environmental Health Division inspects plumbing installation and new construction for proper drainage of storm water to storm sewers or streams.
PRIVATE WATER SYSTEMS
The Environmental Health Division inspects the installation of water wells to ensure that a safe and adequate water supply is provided for residents relying on private wells for their drinking water.
REAL ESTATE EVALUATIONS
The Environmental Health Division conducts inspections of all home sewage systems prior to home sale to determine the safety and adequacy of home sewage systems and water supplies.
SCHOOL SAFETY
The Environmental Health Division inspects schools to ensure that children are provided a healthy and safe environment in which to learn.
SOLID WASTE
The Environmental Health Division enforces Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Board of Health regulations governing solid waste disposal, composting, infectious waste, construction and demolition debris, and waste tire management.
SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS
The Environmental Health Division inspects and licenses public swimming pools and spas to ensure that proper water quality and safety are maintained in the pool environment.
VECTOR CONTROL
The Environmental Health Division provides for the control of rodents (rats) through baiting and sanitation. The Division provides expert advice for controlling other vectors such as mosquitoes and maintains a disease surveillance program to monitor and control vector-borne diseases.
WATER WELL TESTS
Low-cost bacteriological water testing is provided by the Environmental Health Division. This test is used to determine if water is safe for human consumption.
DIVISION OF FINANCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES
The mission of the Division of Finance and Human Resources is to properly manage all financial and personnel matters of the Mahoning County General Health District. Its goal is to maximize the output and return on funds generated by users of Board of Health services and from public tax dollars paid by residents of the Health District.
HEALTH PROMOTION & ASSESSMENT UNIT
The mission of the Health Promotion & Assessment Unit is to analyze the health status of Mahoning County residents in preparation for health promotion and disease prevention programs and community health plans. Health promotion programs are presented to area schools and community groups. The Unit maintains a library of health and environmental materials for community usage. The goal of the division is to assist county residents in reaching and maintaining optimal health.
LABORATORY SERVICES DIVISION
The mission of the Laboratory Services Division is to provide timely, accurate, and affordable environmental testing for public-health related concerns. Established in 1993, Laboratory Services is the Board of Health's newest division. The Board of Health is the only local board of health to have a full-service laboratory division. The laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment to test ground water and drinking water for contaminants and is fully certified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The Laboratory Services Division is developing a groundwater quality database to assist the public and private sectors in groundwater protection and management.
NURSING DIVISION
The Nursing Division exists to provide core public health nursing services to the residents of Mahoning County. Its services include:
ADULT DAY CARE
Adult Day Services provides day care to many older persons who would be unable to live at home without this type of service. The Board of Health is the only local board of health in Ohio to offer adult day care services to its residents. The center is staffed with a registered nurse and an activities coordinator, plus a van driver who provides transportation to the center for participants.
CHILDHOOD LEAD-POISONING PREVENTION PROGRAM
The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program provides comprehensive follow-up and support services to lead-poisoned children in Mahoning County. A Pediatric Coordinator and Licensed Lead Risk Assessors visit children's homes to determine sources of lead exposure, teach prevention techniques to parents, and make referrals to support agencies. The Program convenes the Task Force to End Lead Poisoning - a collaborative community group working to increase screening, promote awareness, and seek funding and legislation for lead-paint abatement.
CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL HANDICAPS PROGRAM
The Nursing Division provides public-health nursing services to children who have special health-care needs. Public-health nurses coordinate services provided to handicapped children by health and social service agencies. Public-health nurses can also arrange for diagnostic services to rule out a potentially disabling condition.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS AND CONTROL
The Nursing Division receives and investigates reports of communicable diseases within the Mahoning County General Health District. Public-health nurses serve as consultants and teachers of methods to prevent and control communicate disease transmission in child day care centers, nursing homes, residential care centers and schools.
IMMUNIZATIONS
The Nursing Division offers overseas immunizations, "express lane" child immunizations, flu shots in the fall, and hepatitis B immunizations to public safety workers.
PRENATAL AND WELL-CHILD SERVICES
The Nursing Division holds well-child clinics at convenient locations around the County, and offers prenatal services through contract provider members of the Mahoning County Child and Family Health Services Consortium.
REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTER
The Regional Resource Center (RRC) serves Mahoning County as well as 22 counties in southeastern Ohio by providing information about child lead-poisoning prevention to public and private health care providers. The RRC's efforts are directed towards ensuring that children throughout the region have access to quality lead poisoning prevention, detection and treatment resources. These efforts are accomplished primarily through the free lead testing funded by the RRC for children under six years of age, educational programs for professionals and the community, assistance in creating community-based collaboratives, and linking families and community agencies with resources at the Ohio Department of Health.
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES
The Nursing Division assigns a full-time public health nurse to the Springfield School District and provides hearing, vision, and scoliosis screening in other Mahoning County school districts. Public health nurses are also assigned to the Mahoning County Educational Services Center and Youngstown Area Community Action Council Head Start programs.
TUBERCULOSIS CLINIC
The Tuberculosis Clinic provides TB skin testing, medical evaluation and treatment for tuberculosis at no charge to Mahoning County residents.
