Public Health Services for Participating Communities

ESTABLISHED 1972
Naugatuck Valley Health District
Public Health Services for
Participating Communities
Ansonia • Beacon Falls • Derby • Naugatuck • Seymour • Shelton
Promoting Optimal Health and Quality of Life for Our Communities
P U BL I C H E A LT H S E RV I C E S
The Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD) serves our residents as follows:
• Prevention of epidemics and
the spread of disease
• Protection against
environmental hazards
• Prevention of injuries
• Promotion of healthy behaviors
• Response to disasters and assistance
with community recovery
• Assurance of accessible and quality
health services
E S S E N T I A L H E A LT H S E RV I C E S
LEAD POISONING PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION
AND ABATEMENT
Children up to age 6 are screened for lead poisoning.
NVHD public health nurses provide case management,
medical provider coordination, and education for
families with children testing for high lead levels.
Sanitarians conduct a thorough environmental
investigation of premises where children with elevated
blood lead levels have been found. Paint, dust, soil,
and water samples are sent to the state laboratory for
analysis. Property owners are required by law to abate
lead from premises with toxic levels.
NAUGATUCK VALLEY EMENDS LEAD (NAUVEL)
NauVEL provides resources directly and through
partnerships to make older homes in the community
lead-safe for young children and families.
HEALTHY HOMES
The quality of housing affects our health and quality
of life. The Healthy Homes Program is an educational
program addressing physical, chemical and toxic
hazards that can make a home unhealthy and unsafe.
The premise of the program is seven-pronged:
• Keep it dry
• Keep it well ventilated
• Keep it clean
• Keep it contaminant free
• Keep it safe
• Keep it well maintained
• Keep it pest free
COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND HEALTH
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
NVHD collaborates with community partners to
assess public health conditions and related social
determinant of health. It convenes diverse groups to
address strategies focused on improving the health of
the community. Visit our datashare page at nvhd.org
for local health reports.
PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS/MEDICAL RESERVE
CORPS (MRC)
Food protection during power outages, shelter
inspections, preparing organizations for continuity
of operations, mass dispensing, disease control, and
sanitation are some of the roles NVHD fulfills during
public health and all hazard emergencies. Planning,
training and drilling are ongoing. The district partners
with Echo Hose EMS to provide a MRC covering all
our member towns. The MRC focuses on 1) sheltering,
2) mass dispensing, 3) behavioral health, and 4) EMS
rehabilitation. The MRC provides a trained and
credentialed workforce with liability protection
and funding for activities and equipment.
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
A radon program provides testing and education for
homeowners aimed at reducing the second leading
cause of lung cancer. Nursing students provide a range
of health education programs in community settings.
The E-Bulletin is distributed monthly providing public
health information. Staff provide education and
outreach to residents of all ages at senior centers,
adult education programs, caregiver groups, health
fairs, libraries, Head Start and daycare, among other
settings. The NVHD website at www.nvhd.org provides
information and links to reliable sources on a range of
public health topics. A description of NVHD programs,
local codes, forms and news releases are available on
the website.
C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H S E RV I C E S
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Surveillance, investigation, counseling, referral,
education, and control measures to prevent the
spread of infectious diseases and outbreaks are the
responsibilities of local health districts. NVHD public
health nurses manage cases for those potentially
exposed to the rabies virus, provide direct observed
therapy in the home for those with infectious
tuberculosis, and investigate potential foodborne
outbreaks.
PUTTING ON AIRS
Asthma is a major public health issue with rates
rising nearly 18% in CT between 2000 and 2010. In
partnership with the CT DPH, NVHD coordinates a
regional asthma program focused on education for
ways to detect and manage children’s environmental
asthma triggers in the home.
WIC/WOMAN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN
A supplemental food and nutritional education
program for pregnant and postpartum women
and children up to five years of age is provided in
cooperation with Waterbury Health Department.
ADULT HEALTH SERVICES
Health education and screening programs are
offered to adults in community settings to increase
health awareness and promote healthy behaviors.
A Valley-wide influenza program is conducted for
seniors and high risk individuals. Adult immunizations
are provided to municipal employees and other
at‑risk adults.
CHILDHOOD HEALTH SERVICES
Childhood immunizations are provided, and a
Childhood Immunization Registry and Tracking
System (CIRTS) provides follow-up on children’s
immunizations scheduled in physician’s offices
including assessment, medical provider feedback,
and education.
HEALTHY START
Provides free health insurance coverage to eligible
pregnant women for pre-natal/postpartum care.
HUSKY insurance enrollment is provided for children
up to age 3. Families are connected to health care
providers and community resources.
E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A L T H S E R V I C E S
FOOD SERVICE
NVHD licenses and inspects restaurants, markets,
caterers, private clubs, itinerant vendors, school
cafeterias, group homes, day care centers, nursing
homes and temporary events. The district reviews
plans for proposed food service establishments
and provides a food safety rating system for public
awareness.
PUBLIC POOLS
NVHD issues permits and inspects all public pools
for sanitation measures that help control the spread
of water-borne diseases.
SALONS
NVHD issues permits and inspects the sanitary
conditions in all hair, nail, tattoo, body piercing,
tanning, and massage salons.
PRIVATE WELLS
NVHD approves applications for permits and
inspects all private well construction sites. It works
with homeowners, the construction industry, and
other government agencies to resolve water quality
problems and to protect the water supply at the
local level.
SEPTIC AND SEWAGE
NVHD reviews plans, issues permits and supervises
the construction or repair of subsurface sewage
disposal systems. It also approves applications
for change of use, the construction of accessory
structures and additions to buildings served by
a private subsurface sewage disposal system. It
investigates complaints of failed systems and
issues orders for corrective action where necessary.
DAYCARE/SCHOOLS
NVHD provides day care inspections for state
licensing and investigates complaints of sanitation
and safety in the schools.
HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT
NVHD responds to complaints of housing-code
health and safety violations filed by residents.
Investigations may result in the issuance of violation
orders and/or litigation.
OTHER INSPECTIONS AND VISITS
NVHD provides other inspections including nuisance,
beach samples, air, solid waste, toxic waste, water
and drainage, among others.
Naugatuck Valley Health District
VISION
Optimal health and quality of life for our communities.
MISSION
The Naugatuck Valley Health District is the official local public health entity for its participating
communities. It is committed to improving the quality of life for all it serves through the
promotion of health, prevention of disease and by assuring a safe and clean environment.
A B O U T N A U G AT U C K V A L L E Y
H E A LT H D I S T R I C T
The Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD) was founded in 1972 as
a collaborative effort to provide public health functions to the towns of
Ansonia, Derby, Seymour and Shelton. Beacon Falls and Naugatuck were
included in this voluntary effort in 1980 and 1985, respectively.
The NVHD is an independent governmental entity formed under
the CT General Statutes. One of twenty-one health districts in the state of
Connecticut, it was the third district to be formed. The NVHD serves a population
of approximately 126,649 residents. The district is governed by a board of directors,
comprised of representatives appointed by the towns served by the district.
NVHD services are made possible by funding from its member municipalities,
state and federal funders, grants, and fees.
Visit us online at www.nvhd.org
and
Like us on
98 Bank Street, Seymour, CT 06483
Phone: (203) 881-3255 Fax: (203) 881-3259