For Immediate Release:
(New Milford, Connecticut) – The New Milford Department of Health and Pomperaug District Department of Health are pleased to announce that they are joining staff and services as the Housatonic Valley Health District, effective February 1st. This decision comes in response to approval from the New Milford Town Council and approval from the district’s Board of Directors.
The Town of Washington will similarly vote to join the district this month and it’s anticipated that district services will begin for Washington on February 4th.
By joining New Milford and Washington Departments of Health with the Pomperaug District Department of Health, this further strengthens their ability to improve health outcomes of their populations through disease prevention and health promotion. The district’s scope will cover the towns of New Milford, Oxford, Southbury, Washington, and Woodbury. The newly expanded district will continue to maintain office hours in all five towns.
“This is beneficial to all of the residents of the towns serviced by the Housatonic Valley Health District”, said Director of Health Lisa Morrissey. “We will have more resources to help our residents and offer more services to improve overall health and wellbeing.”
Lisa Morrissey will serve as the district’s Director, after serving as the Director of Health for the Towns of New Milford and Washington and as the acting Director of the Pomperaug District Department of Health. The Board of Directors will be composed of appointed officials from each town, apportioned by population size.
“Our municipal health departments and the health district were already working closely, this makes our partnership official”, said Morrissey. Ms. Morrissey added that the benefits of managing a public health district that spans multiple towns are that it allows for economic efficiencies for all municipalities, uniform and consistent enforcement of public health codes, and an increase in available resources to better serve the community.
The mission of the Housatonic Valley Health District is to create better health outcomes and promote the highest attainable standard of health. This is accomplished through three principles, which include prevention, education, and outreach. HVHD prevents disease, injury, and disability for their community through regular inspections of public and private businesses and homes to ensure conditions exist where people can be healthy. HVHD uses education to inform the public and health practitioners on public health best practices, policy information, and the impacts and methods of prevention for the spread of communicable diseases. HVHD conducts outreach to engage their communities that experience obstacles in accessing the public health services they need, deliver vaccines to the community, and advocate for needed and beneficial health policies. For more information about the Housatonic Valley Health District, call 860-355-603
