West Central District Health Department warns of possible state funding cuts, outlines local services

Megan Trevino, executive director of the West Central District Health Department, told the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on April 14 that the health department faces an uncertain funding outlook while continuing core programs such as immunizations, emergency preparedness, substance‑use prevention and environmental health services.

Trevino told the board the department serves six counties from its main office in North Platte and is accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board. She said the department’s largest funding sources are federal pass‑through grants — including public health emergency preparedness and the Vaccines for Children program — plus competitive state grants, donations and occasional local support previously used for a school dental program.

The department has not requested local tax dollars since the end of that dental program during the COVID‑19 response, Trevino said. She told commissioners the state Appropriations Committee is considering LB261 and that a proposed reduction of $4,500,000 in the statewide public‑health appropriation would roll funding back to pre‑2001 levels; she said that drop, combined with recent federal funding cuts, would “create a significant barrier and impact” for local health departments.

Trevino described West Central’s priorities identified in a community health needs assessment and four‑year community health improvement plan: mental health, substance use, health literacy and preventive care. She listed programs the department operates or supports in Lincoln County: immunization clinics; an emergency preparedness program; Project STOP (sharing tools for overdose prevention) including naloxone training with local partners; teen outreach after‑school programming; environmental health services including water testing through the Know Your Well program; and employee wellness through a “Working Well” program that she said has 68 active participants in Lincoln County.

On oral health, Trevino said the department previously provided school‑based preventive dental services but that the program ended around COVID‑19 because of operational and financial constraints. She said the department is exploring partnerships with Great Plains Health and a federally qualified health center (FQHC) planning a North Platte satellite, and that dental equipment is currently housed at the hospital.

Trevino said the department achieved accreditation in 2008 and is in the reaccreditation process with final review expected in June. She asked local officials to advocate on behalf of public health funding and invited commissioners and community members to provide input on how the department should show up locally.

Commissioners praised the presentation and asked follow‑up questions about dental services, facility moves and volunteer or partnership options for restoring dental care. Trevino said she had discussed potential stipend approaches for local dentists before the recent funding shift required a pause, and that the department will continue working with partners to explore solutions.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; the presentation was informational and commissioners indicated they welcome future updates.