About Us
WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH
The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts of society. It focuses on improving the health and well-being of populations rather than individuals. The CDC Foundation says that "Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases. Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations. These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country or region of the world". Public health prevents problems from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research. Public health also works to limit health disparities, and promotes health care equity, quality and accessibility.
https://www.cdcfoundation.org/what-public-health
FORMATION OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN NEBRASKA
In 2001, LB692 (Tobacco Settlement Funds) provided state appropriations to help form comprehensive local public health departments.
West Central District Health Department began with Lincoln, Logan, and McPherson Counties.
WHO WE ARE
The West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) is a public agency working to support health, safety, and well-being in the Nebraska counties of Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Thomas, Hooker, and Arthur. We aim to educate, promote, and improve the overall health of our communities and each resident; allowing all who live, work, and play within to thrive.
WHAT WE DO
As a public health department, WCDHD works to:
- Improve quality of life and reduce transmission of disease;
- Maximize health equity and improve access to services for all;
- Assess and monitor overall community health, and identify hazards and challenges;
- Respond to emergent and long-term public health crises;
- Enhance collaboration among local agencies and organizations addressing health-related concerns;
- Develop and enforce public health regulations and policy;
- And more.
Public-facing services offered through our office include:
- Routine and needs-specific vaccination
- Access to testing tools for certain high-risk infectious diseases (such as COVID-19) and environmental hazards (such as radon)
- Interpretation and assistance for non-English speakers in accessing and navigating local health services
- Mandatory disease reporting and investigation
- Education and information on a variety of important health topics, including chronic disease prevention, emergency preparedness, drug overdose prevention, and environmental health concerns.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Why do you need my social security number?
- By providing your social security number, you will be able to look up your complete vaccine record online through the Nebraska State Immunization Information System. https://nesiis-dhhs-prod.ne.gov/prd_ir/public/clientSearch.do
- Why do you ask for Mother’s Maiden Name?
- This question is an extra way we can check to make sure a duplicate vaccination record is not being created in the Nebraska State Immunization Information System.
- Why do you ask for sexual identity, race, and ethnicity?
- By asking these questions we are able to provide educational resources to people who may be at higher risk for certain vaccine preventable diseases.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
No Open Positions at this time.