The Lincoln-Lancaster County Well being Division (LLCHD) in the present day launched its 2024 public well being snapshot.
The snapshot highlights LLCHD’s efforts to enhance neighborhood well being and security by means of quite a lot of very important companies, efficient applications and new initiatives.
“The whole scope of our work is greater than you possibly can seize right here, however this snapshot displays how the Division of Well being and our group proceed to evolve and spotlight to fulfill the wants of our residents and assist everybody to reside their more healthy lives,” stated Kerry Kernen, director of Well being.
The general public well being snapshot is printed on the web site of the Division of Well being in Lincoln.ne.gov/well being. Essentially the most outstanding features of the 16 -page report embrace:
New chosen neighborhood well being priorities
The Division of Well being along with Bryan Well being and Chi Well being St. Elizabeth summons greater than 75 related organizations each three years at a neighborhood well being summit to determine and prioritize probably the most associated to well being challenges amongst Lancaster County residents. The Neighborhood Well being Summit was held in September 2024. The companions used the outcomes of the neighborhood well being evaluation of 2024 to assist decide the subsequent cycle of well being -related priorities that form the brand new neighborhood well being enchancment plan, which was launched in early 2025.
The brand new precedence areas are:
- Entry to medical care
- Despair
- Suicide prevention
Through the three -year cycle, working teams will transfer planning to motion, which is able to lead to an actual change for the neighborhood.
On-line self -service portal launched
The Well being Division launched an internet self -service portal to optimize companies for residents and firms. The portal gives the choice to request or renew meals permits, air, physique artwork, water or waste, request inspections and ship funds electronically. This secure and straightforward system modernizes the operations of the Environmental Public Well being Division, enhancing accessibility and transparency for Lincoln and Lancaster County residents. The portal is on the market in Emportal.Lincoln.ne.gov.
Household Connects celebrates one 12 months, reaches 1,000 visits
The Division of Well being celebrated the primary anniversary of Household Connects in 2024. This system gives all of the households of Lincoln and Lancaster County with a brand new child, a house go to of a extremely skilled public well being nurse inside three weeks after beginning.
Nurses present help and sources for households to have their youngsters a wholesome begin. Participation is voluntary and the go to has no price. As of February, nurses have made greater than 1,000 visits. Get extra data or schedule a go to to Lincoln.ne.gov/familyconnects.
LLCHD Public Well being Clinic
The Public Well being Clinic of the Division of Well being is a vaccine provider for youngsters and adults, particularly for individuals who could also be with out insurance coverage or not related to a medical dwelling. Over the past 12 months, eight,426 youngsters and 5,452 adults acquired routine vaccines by means of the clinic.
The clinic additionally serves refugees newly arrived in offering well being exams and vaccines, in addition to linking them to a medical dwelling to acquire steady preventive care. The clinic served 980 refugees in 2024. Refugees got here from many nations, together with Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine.
Dental companies
Good oral well being is a vital element of well being and normal nicely -being. Dental Providers gives preventive, routine and emergency take care of low -income youngsters and adults with out dental insurance coverage or registered in Medicaid. The dissemination applications embrace projections of the Lincoln and Lancaster County Faculty, the Head Begin fluoride varnish program and dissemination and dissemination occasions for weak populations. The dental clinic offered 13,746 visits and dental workers offered 1,362 dental exams and fluoride varnish purposes to the primary Head Begin improvement facilities, Head Begin and early childhood.
Prevention of using youth substances
The Division of Well being initiated an initiative for the prevention of using youth substances to determine wants and alternatives to help the welfare of younger individuals in Lancaster County. A working group was shaped to evaluate the information, perform an environmental exploration and collect neighborhood data by means of key interviews and group listening periods. Of those evaluations, the working group made suggestions for motion in 4 key areas: to lift younger individuals as creators of change, strengthen the resilience of the neighborhood, increase present particular interventions and help coordinated care methods.
A full report with suggestions is on the market at Lincoln.ne.gov/od.
Improved Wastewater Surveillance
LLCHD partnered with Biobot Analytics, Wastwataterscan, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities, and the Nebraska Division of Well being and Human Providers to increase the surveillance of wastewater. The samples of the 2 Lincoln Water Sources Restoration services are collected and analyzed recurrently, figuring out pathogens resembling flu, respiratory syncitial viruses or RSV, COVID-19, Norovirus and extra. Samples are examined weekly and checks can even detect excessive -risk substances resembling fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and nicotine. Wastewater surveillance knowledge may also help determine early developments and information the general public well being response.
Rabies prevention
Lincoln Animal Management maintains a receptive and full number of home companies and wildlife throughout the limits of town. The division ensures that the PET license (62,705 canines and cats have a license inside Lincoln, and the vaccination of rabies along with prevention training. Animal Management is related to the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Heart for bat checks. Roughly 268 bat