Health Department Celebrates Public Health Week; Invites Partners And Public to Accreditation Celebration

Members of the Garrett County Health Department staff kicked off National Public Health Week, April 3-9, 2017, by joining the Garrett County Commissioners as they signed a proclamation recognizing the observance locally.

“We appreciate what you do for the community,” said Commissioner Jim Hinebaugh. “It’s amazing how much you do with the amount of funding you have.”

“We have so much to celebrate this year,” said Health Officer Rodney Glotfelty. “First we recognize all accomplishments of public health over the years, such as significant increase in life expectancy and reductions in the incidence of injury, disability, and disease.  Then we need to celebrate the local accomplishment of being one of the few health departments nationwide that serves a population of less than 30,000 to be accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board.”

An Accreditation Celebration is scheduled to take place at the main office of the Health Department on Wednesday, May 3^rd, from 4-6 p.m.  Dr. Howard Haft, Deputy Secretary of Public Health at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, will be the guest speaker.  Local and state dignitaries and health partners, health department clients, the general public, and members of the media are all invited to attend the celebration. Tours of the building will be available, and light refreshments will be served.

“We are excited about our accomplishments, but we are even more excited about what is to come,” said Glotfelty. “Our digital planning tool, GarrettPlan.org, mobilizes community action through transparent agency strategic planning and community engagement. It’s the first innovation of its kind enabling the Health Department to work with nearly every community agency in the county.  We are engaging over 7,000 residents and can create virtually unlimited community representation toward the Community Health Improvement Plan.”

Log on to GarrettPlan.org to be a part of the discussion and planning for the health of Garrett County. For more details about the process call the Health Planning Unit at 301-334-7446.

For Immediate Release:
Contact Person: Diane Lee, PIO, 301-334-7689