Prince William Health District

PRINCE WILLIAM HEALTH DISTRICT ANNOUNCES BRANDING CAMPAIGN
Serves Residents of Prince William County, and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park
(MANASSAS, Va.) — The Prince William Health District recently introduced an updated visual identity, including a new logo, to support its visibility within the community. The new branding campaign is designed to promote the various and diverse services that the Prince William Health District provides to those in the greater Prince William area.
Health Director Dr. Alison Ansher says, “We serve the residents of the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, as well as Prince William County. Prince William Health District does so many things for our community, yet many people either don’t know who we are or don’t understand what we do. We’re hoping this new initiative will help everyone know that we are available to all residents in the greater Prince William area.”
The Prince William Health District is one of 35 health districts in the state. It is part of the Virginia Department of Health, headquartered in Richmond. It operates in cooperation with the jurisdictions of Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and receives a portion of its operational funding from them. The Prince William Health District embraces its vision of “A Community of Healthy People and a Healthy Environment” and is dedicated to promoting optimum wellness, preventing illness, responding to emergencies, and protecting the environment and health of its residents. Some of the services the Prince William Health District provides include:

• Investigation, Diagnosis and Treatment of Communicable Disease
  
• Immunizations
  
• Restaurant and Pool Permitting and Inspections
  
• Water Quality Protection
  
• Dental Services for Children and Seniors
  
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutritional Services
  
• Registration of Death Certificates
  
• Response to Public Health Emergencies
  Services are provided at locations throughout the community. For more information about the Prince William Health District, view the attached fact sheet or visit http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/LHD/PrinceWilliam. You can also follow the Health District on Twitter @PrinceWilliamHD or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PrinceWilliamHealthDistrict.
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The Prince William Health District is dedicated to promoting optimum wellness, preventing illness, responding to emergencies and protecting the environment and health of our residents.
What Does Public Health Look Like in the Prince William Health District?

The Prince William Health District works to promote public health in many ways:

Public Health is the science of protecting and improving the health of entire populations

through promotion of healthy lifestyles, disease and injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases. Our population includes Prince William County, Manassas City and Manassas Park, and it is our vision that this will be a community of healthy people and a healthy environment.
Unlike clinical professionals, who focus primarily on treating individuals after they become sick or injured, as public health professionals we try to prevent problems from happening or recurring by implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research. We work with local, regional and national partners to limit health disparities and promote healthcare equity, quality and accessibility.

• We monitor the health status of the community.
This includes tracking trends in health indicators such as vaccination rates among children.

• We conduct primary and secondary research on various public health issues.
Research ranges from communitywide health assessments to studies on specific topics like breast cancer awareness.

• We implement evidence-based health prevention strategies.
We promote initiatives including worksite wellness and breastfeeding programs, among others.

• We provide leadership and instruction on emerging health issues.
Spearheading efforts in the community to address issues ranging from the flu to childhood obesity.

• We detect, investigate and appropriately address reportable communicable diseases in the community. Examples include foodborne and other gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory illnesses and sexually transmitted infections.

• We promote healthy behaviors through education and counseling.
This encompasses anything from hand-washing practices to preconception health education for better birth outcomes.

• We supply nutrition education, healthy foods and breastfeeding support for Women, Infants & Children. The WIC program encourages healthy pregnancy outcomes, healthy eating and general better health.

• We offer immunizations, dental care and health screenings and referrals to other systems, programs and clinics when necessary.
We work with local health providers and social service departments to ensure that patients receive coordinated care.

• We train for and plan responses to a wide range of health threats and emergencies. Recent examples include our response to the H1N1 pandemic and natural disasters.

• We foster safe and healthful physical environments.
Activities include inspecting onsite sewage ground water, encouraging Chesapeake Bay protection and more.

• We ensure food and water safety.
We ensure compliance with regulations or laws by inspecting restaurants, hotels and care facilities.

• We limit, prevent and alleviate environmental hazards.
This includes assisting in the repair of failing septic systems, handling chemical spills and promoting preparedness.

• We partner with community organizations to support systemic solutions to health concerns.
We co-lead the Live Well! Coalition, a variety of organizations and agencies dedicated to preventing chronic disease.
For more information about the Prince William Health District, visit

www.vdh.virginia.gov/lhd/princewilliam