The end of the year is a perfect time for agencies to reflect on the successes and challenges of the past year and set goals for the year ahead. In 2024, Carson City Health and Human Services staff worked together as a team, achieving numerous accomplishments. As CCHHS steps into 2025, staff remain committed to working as a T.E.A.M. because “Together Everyone Achieves More.” Here are some highlights of our team’s achievements.
Carson City Health and Human Services
With the dedication and hard work of the entire team, public health re-accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board was successfully achieved. Being accredited indicates that CCHHS meets national evidence-based standards, demonstrating a commitment to performance, accountability, quality improvement, and service to the community, policymakers, and stakeholders.
Thanks to the CDCs Public Health Infrastructure Grant and approval from the Carson City Board of Supervisors, several new positions were added, enabling a more proactive approach to serving the community and stakeholders. These positions serve the agency as a whole and include an administrative assistant, assessment and accreditation coordinator, data analyst, and public health communication specialist.
Staff extends gratitude to legislators for allocating $15 million during the 2023 legislative session to enhance public health across Nevada. Of that funding, CCHHS received $262,101 to support projects aimed at improving Carson City’s health, guided by the priorities outlined in the current Community Health Needs Assessment. CCHHS is collaborating with some city departments and local service agencies to address some of the identified gaps.
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
This division is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the residents within the community. Here are a few successes in 2024. The programs under CDPHP participated in 25 community outreach events.
At these events, staff talked with many attendees and distributed information about our programs. The Adolescent Health Education Program began teaching at all grade levels in Carson City schools, reaching over 600 youth.
The Tobacco Prevention and Control program completed about 80 tobacco retailer assessments for the region and provided over 15 presentations to the community on prevention efforts. Preventative Health and Health Services – Building Healthy Habits program focused on obesity prevention, implemented a tracking mechanism with CCHHS’ clinic to monitor patients with a body mass index over 25, and has begun working with the statewide 5210 – Helping Families Lead Healthier Lives program, an evidence-informed recommendation from national entities.
The messaging is for individuals to eat five or more fruits and vegetables daily, have two or fewer hours of recreational screen time, get one or more hours of physical activity, and drink zero-sweetened beverages. The Ryan White Part B – Outreach Services program served over 200 clients and assisted with over 300 services.
Clinical services
The clinic has had many successes in 2024. A new position was added, clinical services operation supervisor, overseeing clinical staffing schedules, vaccine management, assisting the manager, and other administrative duties as assigned in an effort for our nurses to serve more patients.
Additionally, staffing lunches have been staggered to keep the clinic open and create lunchtime appointments to better serve patients. The aesthetics and equipment within the clinic are being improved with paint, carpet cleaning, and three new ADA hydraulic exam tables.
Working within the community, clinic nurses have assisted the community outreach at multiple vaccination events and partnered with Meals-on-Wheels to administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines in a homebound program.
In collaboration with the Carson High School staff, students were able to tour the clinic, listen to a presentation, and introduced them to the Health Department. In partnership with Dayton High School, tuberculosis (TB) testing was provided for the students in the certified nursing assistant (CNA) program.
Environmental Health
The EH Division has been rebuilding for a year, having brought on excellent staff who are passionate, dedicated, committed, and eager to serve both Carson City and Douglas County. While the search for a division manager continues, the division is fortunate to have the expertise of a former manager who has stepped in to guide the division, providing valuable leadership and support as needed.
The health inspectors successfully addressed and mitigated serious customer allegations regarding imminent health hazards for food establishments serving the public. Over 1,150 inspection services were provided in Carson City and Douglas County. Services to Douglas County are provided under a contract.
Thanks to a grant, staff have been trained in home lead assessments and inspections. The funding also allowed the purchase of necessary equipment to carry out these inspections.
Thanks to the CDCs Public Health Infrastructure Grant, CCHHS was able to hire a part-time vector control technician (mosquito abatement) for Carson City. This position is fully dedicated to abatement efforts, which was not possible in the past due to budget limitations.
The technician will ensure surveillance and abatement activities are carried out effectively in the areas where this is allowable, with the goal of reducing the mosquito population and disease transmission in Carson City.
This staff member will also assist in developing educational materials for the public and empowering residents to take proactive steps in reducing the mosquito population around their homes.
Epidemiology
The Epidemiology Division is responsible for reportable condition surveillance within the region. During 2024, staff responded to more than 8,000 reports of reportable conditions with 61% of the reports being considered confirmed or probable cases.
In addition, staff responded to more than 30 outbreaks in congregate settings, providing guidance to the facilities on testing and control of the outbreaks. In combating the syphilis epidemic, CCHHS assisted pregnant individuals to receive proper treatment to prevent congenital syphilis cases.
Fiscal
CCHHS’ fiscal year 2025 budget is $11.439 million. Staff manage 40 grants, four program income accounts, and 11 indigent fund accounts. Of the total budget, CCHHS is 55% grant funded.
CCHHS has 61 full-time and part-time employees, four of which are fiscal staff. Together with program staff and members of the leadership team, six comprehensive grantor site visits have successfully been navigated. Consistently each year, CCHHS has zero audit findings.
Although this division had a lot of staff turnover this year, two incredible part-time staff worked many extra hours to close out the fiscal year without delay. In August 2024, the Fiscal Division added another outstanding staff member. This is an amazing team that helps ensure fiscal efficiency and responsibility with all funds, grants and general funds.
Human Services
In February 2024, the Street Outreach program was fully implemented, enhancing its ability to connect with the community. Additionally, the Women, Infant and Child (WIC) clinic in Douglas County reopened at the Douglas County Community Health Clinic, improving accessibility for participants.
Efforts to address mental health included two Columbia Suicide Prevention presentations and trainings conducted at Carson City Parks and Recreation and Advocates to End Domestic Violence. The organization also hosted four Responsible Giving presentations to educate the community on how to provide impactful acts of kindness for Carson City’s homeless residents.
Also, through grant funds, the capacity of the group living program was doubled, significantly expanding its support services. This program allows for two unrelated individuals to share an apartment.
Public Health Preparedness
For Public Health Preparedness, 2024 was a year of collaboration and relationship building. Staff worked to build strong relationships with regional emergency managers. Staff continue to support and work closely with them on preparedness efforts.
PHP staff participated in various community outreach events in each of the Quad Counties this year, providing important emergency preparedness information. The team also leads the Community Flu Vaccination Outreach efforts throughout the region.
Over a period of eight weeks, there were 48 vaccination events held throughout the region; seven of those events included the COVID-19 vaccine. During this time, over 1,500 individuals received their flu vaccine, 223 of those being 65 and older, and 180 individuals received their COVID-19 vaccine.
Finally, 2024 was a year of educating and training. Staff provided multiple training courses to healthcare facilities in the region to increase the healthcare system’s ability to respond to an emergency. PHP staff attended national conferences and participated in multiple trainings in and out of state to enhance emergency response knowledge and increase the agency’s emergency response capability.
The staff at CCHHS are dedicated to serving Carson City, and this is reflected in the work they do every day. Their passion is to serve and provide the best services possible. While there were many challenges and successes for 2024, the entire team is excited to continue the work to best serve all of you in 2025. Together, CCHHS will achieve more in the coming year!
For information about services and programs available to you through Carson City Health and Human Services, visit gethealthycarsoncity.org/, or call 775-887-2190. You can visit the CCHHS office at 900 E. Long St., in Carson City or follow CCHS on Facebook at facebook.com/cchhs, or Instagram @GetHealthCarsonCity.