OHA supporting Gilliam County as it takes over public health services July 1

Transition follows county’s withdrawal from North Central Public Health District

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is supporting Gilliam County as it begins providing public health services as the local public health authority July 1, following the county’s withdrawal from North Central Public Health District.

North Central Public Health District will continue to be the local public health authority for Wasco and Sherman counties.

Over the past six months, OHA convened a workgroup of Public Health Division staff from across the division to support the new Gilliam County public health team with its preparation for the transition. Public Health Division staff have met regularly to plan for and communicate about the change, including sharing information with local partners, clients and the general public.

Gilliam County Public Health will be responsible for the following LPHA programs and services:

• Communicable disease prevention and control
• Sexually transmitted diseases client services
• Public health emergency preparedness and response
• Tobacco prevention and education
• Alcohol and drug prevention and education
• Immunization services
• Reproductive health services
• Nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC)
• Maternal, child and adolescent services
• Licensing and inspection of food, pool and lodging facilities

OHA will be responsible for safe drinking water services in Gilliam County.

WIC participants will continue to be served by their current agency through September. Once the transfer of WIC services to Gilliam County is completed – which could happen prior to September – OHA will announce it to the public and let county residents know how to connect with the WIC Program in Gilliam. Until then, those with questions about WIC services can contact their current WIC agency or the state WIC Program at 971-673-0040 or https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HealthyPeopleFamilies/wic/Pages/index.aspx.

Last December, Gilliam County announced it had passed a resolution requesting its withdrawal from an intergovernmental agreement with Wasco and Sherman counties that created the North Central Public Health District in October 2009. Gilliam County also passed an ordinance requesting to enter into a new intergovernmental agreement with OHA for the financing of public health services to be delivered by the county as the local public health authority.