New Name Emphasizes Public Health Services

Jefferson County, CO-The Jefferson County Board of Health has approved a new name for the health department and it is: Jefferson County Public Health. "The purpose of the name change is to emphasize the public health aspects of the organization, plus, it's a lot easier to say" said, Jefferson County Public Health Director, Dr. Mark B. Johnson, M.D.

Formerly called the Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment, the name change and the new accompanying logo follow a 2008 strategic planning process that involved focus groups and key informant interviews with staff and community stakeholders. The process identified a gap in knowledge about what exactly public health is and what the health department does for the citizens of Jefferson County.

Thus, as part of our strategic plan, we intend on making the invisible, visible. We believe that when people have awareness about public health's purpose and role in creating healthier communities and know what programs and services are available to them, the public's health is better served. In addition to changing our name to include Public Health, which suggests our focus on prevention and community service, we have also developed a 14 item online survey which is available on our web site, http://health.jeffco.us. Please, take a few moments to complete the survey and provide us with valuable feedback.