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Southwest Suburban Health Department Reports Increased Service Activity, WIC Growth and Reaccreditation Work
Summary
Health Department leadership updated the council on 2024 and early‑2025 activity including vaccine administration, communicable‑disease management, WIC participation, food‑establishment licensing, nuisance complaints, and progress on reaccreditation and regional consolidation discussions with West Milwaukee.
The Southwest Suburban Health Department provided an update to the Public Safety Committee and council on March 18 covering 2024 service metrics and early‑2025 activity.
Health Commissioner Robert (Bob) Leischow reported higher service volumes in several areas compared with 2023: vaccine administration increased (staff reported about 981 vaccines in 2024 versus 827 in 2023), communicable disease case management rose (973 cases in 2024 versus 669 in 2023), and food‑establishment licensing expanded after taking on new jurisdictions (roughly 934 licensed establishments reported across the department’s jurisdictions after recent expansion). Environmental health staff handled hundreds of nuisance complaints in 2024, including rodent complaints (about 266 rat complaints), and the department continues rodent abatement and complaint response.
Other highlights and activities: - WIC remained the department’s largest program, with more clients served year to year and satellite clinics serving the broader region. - Vision screenings, car‑seat checks and family outreach events continued; the department reported strong community turnout for events such as the West Allis Hope Walk and family cooking classes. - The department continued to stock vending machines with fentanyl test strips and reported high use of those harm‑reduction devices. - The department submitted reaccreditation materials to the Public Health Accreditation Board in 2024 and is responding to follow‑up information requests as part of the reaccreditation review. - West Milwaukee is in a contract arrangement and has opened a formal discussion about consolidation into the Southwest Suburban Health Department; staff and the West Milwaukee leadership were reported to be moving toward a decision this year with a June 30 deadline for that municipality’s decision under current agreements.
Leischow and staff also noted recent brand and signage updates (a new logo and a new monument sign recently installed at the department’s site), and council members asked staff to examine sign brightness and scheduling if illumination proved intrusive.
Why it matters: the report shows an expanding workload tied to public‑health services and cross‑jurisdictional responsibilities. Reaccreditation status and discussions with West Milwaukee could change the department’s formal structure and service footprint.
Ending: the department will continue outreach, report on program metrics and follow up on consolidation and reaccreditation timelines.
Speakers quoted: Bob Leischow (Health Commissioner).
