Dianne Edmondson, County Commissioner
We take your health seriously in Denton County! That has never been more evident than in the national recognition we received recently through the Denton County Health Department.
Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) recognized the Denton County Health Department (DCPH) for its ability to plan for, respond to and recover from public health emergencies, making it the sixth department in Texas and the only one in the Dallas-Fort Worth region to be recognized.
In fact, fewer than 20 percent of all national public health departments achieve PPHR recognition and I so appreciate Robson resident, Gary Toothaker, accepting my appointment to represent Commissioner Pct. 4 on the County’s Public Health Advisory Committee.
The national recognition reaffirms that DCPH has developed 14 thorough and coordinated emergency response plans for everything from mass care to environmental health. DCPH staff and volunteers are trained to protect Denton County residents in emergencies and coordinate with hospitals, local emergency management agencies and other public health departments to ensure maximum preparedness.
This designation comes after an intense evaluation by peers to assess DCPH’s ability to meet national standards for public health preparedness.
County’s public health dental services clinic a national model
The National Association of County and City Health Officials’ Model Practice Program also recognized DCPH as a 2019 National Promising Practice.
Denton County has one dentist for every 1,840 residents, according to County Health Rankings. DCPH’s public health dental services clinic provides an integrated care approach to improve the quality of life for our residents.
The Model Health Program recognition shows DCPH’s commitment to quality and innovation. It also demonstrates why it serves as a model to other local health departments.
“Healthy Texas” program promotes preventive health
At Lake Dallas Middle School, students are learning how to grow vegetables and how to prepare healthy, yet tasty, meals.
Their efforts have earned the school as the First Healthy Texas Recognized School in Denton County – a designation from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Denton County.
The Healthy Texas program started in South Texas in 2016 and expanded into nine counties in East Texas (including Denton County) in 2017.
The program, which combines the expertise of the Texas A&M Health Science Center with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to reach a statewide audience in the promotion of preventive health at the local level. It focuses on prevention of chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes and infectious disease.
Lake Dallas Middle School serves as a shining example of how the program can reach the youth through hands-on activities that will serve them throughout their lives.
Another component of Healthy Texas is Walk Across Texas – which enables all ages to participate by either walking or substituting walks with other activities ranging from cleaning house to playing a sport. The free eight-week program can be a fun way for a group of friends, families, employees and others to walk daily to a better life.
You can find more information about the program at www.walkacrosstexas.tamu.edu.
Together, we can accomplish much and what better goal than to work toward than a healthier tomorrow for everyone.
If you would like to receive a newsletter, please contact Precinct 4 Commissioner Dianne Edmondson at [email protected] and ask to be placed on the email list.
Contact Precinct 4 Commissioner Dianne Edmondson at 972-434-3960. Her office is located in the Southwest Courthouse, 6200 Canyon Falls Drive, Suite 900, in Flower Mound.