| |
 |
History |
 |
|
Originally
in 1981 a 501C "Not For Profit" Corporation was formed
under the name of Southern Missouri Association of Public Health
Administrator's, Inc., for the sole purpose of providing WIC services
for Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Shannon, Texas, and Wright Counties.
The Health Department Administrators were to serve as board members.
Eventually each county contracted to provide their own WIC services,
the last being Wright County in 1997.
The
name was changed in 1994 to South Central Public Health Services
Group, Inc., to provide public health services to Howell County.
Howell County had been without a health department or nursing services
for several years, and was the only county in the state without
a health department. The Board's mission was to provide public health
services to Howell County. In August 1995, Howell County Commission
appointed a Health Officer and South Central Public Health Services
Group, Inc., as the local public health agency to serve their residents.
On
April 8th, 2003 Howell County residents voted for a ten cent property
tax to support a Howell County Health Department. On 11/04/2003
The South Central Public Health Board transferred assets, contracts,
staff and the operaton of the public health agency to the newly
appointed Howell County Health Center Board. Therefore establishing
a permanent health department for Howell County.
Since
1900, the average lifespan of persons in the United States has lengthened
by greater than 30 years; 25 years of this gain is attributable
to the advance in public health.
Supporting a stronger public health system can protect residents
from existing health threats as well as new and emerging ones.
|
