Clark County Public Health outlines programs from birth records to harm reduction

Marissa Armstrong, communications manager for Clark County Public Health, gave an extended overview of the agency’s work at a recent local meeting, describing the department’s organization, several core programs and where residents can find data and services.

Armstrong said the department employs “about 190, full time equivalent employees and about 40 programs,” and described four divisions: administrative services; community health; environmental public health; and investigation and response. She emphasized that the department provides both local services and contract support to neighboring counties for specific functions such as communicable-disease investigation and health officer duties.

The presentation highlighted programs that directly affect residents. Armstrong described the Nurse-Family Partnership, a national, evidence-based program that pairs low-income, mostly first-time parents with a public-health nurse for one-on-one support during pregnancy and until the child turns 2. “It’s a free program,” she said. Clark…