Wauwatosa health director outlines rising workloads, lead testing and harm‑reduction data in annual report

Director Stevens presented the Wauwatosa Health Department's 2024 annual report to the Common Council, summarizing service expansions, disease investigations and capacity concerns.

The report covered mental‑health and senior services, substance‑use harm reduction, environmental health work, lead testing, communicable‑disease investigations, maternal and child health services, vaccination clinics, and the department's reliance on grant funding.

Stevens opened the presentation by saying, "I'm here tonight to do our Health Department and Board of Health annual report," and then reviewed board membership and recent staffing changes, including the board's new medical director, Kevin Robertson.

Why this matters: the report identifies growing operational demands — from human health hazard cases and increased communicable‑disease work to a rising workload for environmental health inspectors — that the department says could require additional staffing or sustained grant funding to maintain service levels.

The body of the report

Mental‑health and senior programs: Stevens described technology‑training efforts for older adults, including a Senior Planet course launched in May that served 360 participants and a one‑on‑one "tech time" program that served 194 people last year.

Substance use and harm reduction: Since installing a harm‑reduction vending machine in November, Stevens said the machine recorded 569 transactions. Items most frequently taken included hand warmers, COVID test kits, naloxone (Narcan), hygiene kits and safer‑use supplies. The machine's usage data, Stevens said, helps staff decide what to stock and when to expand access.

Fatality review: The department convenes a quarterly fatality‑review coalition that examines one suicide death and one overdose death per meeting to identify potential interventions that could reduce future deaths.

Short‑term rentals and environmental health: Stevens said the city licensed 57 short‑term rentals and expects relicensing to proceed smoothly. An intern will again assist with licensing and inspections to reduce the burden on environmental health staff.

Lead testing and follow up: After a lead‑lateral information letter last November, the department distributed 534 in‑home water test kits, Stevens said. In 2024 the department logged 1,056 children tested for lead; 43 were reported with blood lead levels above the CDC's 3.5 threshold cited in the presentation. Of those, Stevens said 29 had confirmatory tests that fell below the threshold and about 17 children required follow up.

Communicable disease and nursing workload: Stevens reported 358 communicable‑disease investigations in 2024. Sexually transmitted infections remained a leading category: 113 chlamydia cases and 50 gonorrhea cases were recorded. The department saw an unusual increase in pertussis (55 cases in 2024) and reported 13 syphilis cases, down from 2023 but still above some prior years.

Maternal and child health services: The nursing team conducted 63 car‑seat checks and provided lactation consultation and other supports in partnership with community organizations.

Vaccination clinics and outreach: Stevens said the department ran nine flu clinics and recorded vaccination activity during the year; the presentation stated that "233 vaccinations to a 59 individuals, and a hundred and 39 of those were flu vaccines" (transcript phrasing retained). Stevens also noted a planned grant that will allow the department to offer combined COVID/flu tests next year.

Human health hazards and capacity: Stevens told the council human health hazard cases (hoarding, unsafe living conditions) rose to 14 last year from an average of two to three previously. The environmental health team has two specialists who split licensing and inspection duties; Stevens said the city currently has 393 licensed establishments, while the FDA recommendation cited in the presentation is 320 establishments per full‑time equivalent for inspections, indicating a staffing strain.

Funding and grants: The department operates about 15 grants (mostly federal funds routed through the state) that total roughly $450,000, Stevens said. ARPA‑funded positions supporting public‑health work remain funded through the end of 2026, she said, but longer‑term federal funding is uncertain.

Questions from council members focused on radon testing in short‑term rentals, whether additional inspection staff will be needed, and the demands of tuberculosis and other communicable‑disease case management. Stevens described TB treatment oversight (directly observed therapy) and said such cases can occupy substantial nursing time.

Looking ahead: Stevens asked the council to note emerging concerns such as measles, tuberculosis and avian flu as potential burdens on the nursing staff and urged continued attention to sustainable funding and staffing for environmental health and nursing services.

Ending

Council members thanked Stevens and her staff for the report and their work. Stevens said she would follow up with specific data requests from aldermen about radon testing results and other items.

(Direct quotations and numerical figures are taken from the council transcript of the presentation and Q&A.)