Licking County health officials report expanded services, harm-reduction steps to Pataskala council
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Summary
Licking County health department officials told Pataskala council the department finished 2025 with a clean preliminary audit, all sought grants funded, an expanded mobile unit serving 25 school sites, a community-navigator caseload of 84, and new distribution of fentanyl test strips and naloxone kits.
Pataskala city council on Tuesday heard a report from Licking County health officials on expanded services and grant-funded programs aimed at increasing access to care.
Kathy Wyatt, the county’s representative to the Licking County Board of Health, said the department finished the most recent audit cycle in strong financial condition and that "all grants sought this year were funded." Wyatt credited staff for improving online licensing and fiscal processes and for adding redundancy in IT and equipment to keep services running during emergencies.
Chad Brown, who spoke alongside Wyatt, described increased local service capacity: the county’s mobile nursing unit provided school vaccinations at 25 locations last year, and the county’s WIC services in this area have expanded from one day a month in 2020 to multiple days. Brown said the Pataskala office is now open five days a week with a health educator on site and that the department is hiring a health inspector to be in the area several days weekly.
Officials also highlighted substance-use interventions: the department has begun handing out fentanyl test strips after consulting with other Ohio health departments and is restocking naloxone kits in county rest areas. A new “leave-behind” program, in partnership with a local fire department, will have EMTs leave naloxone kits after overdose calls and connect patients to community navigators, who currently carry an active caseload of about 84 people.
Wyatt and Brown noted outreach and prevention events, including a community baby shower serving about 170 families and a regional event that connected 27 service providers to residents; they said the department is continuing efforts to standardize environmental health inspections, expand online permitting, and introduce technology and automation where appropriate.
Council members thanked the presenters and praised the department’s responsiveness. The report did not include new funding requests for Pataskala city; officials said they were monitoring federal and state budget developments that could affect funding flows.
The council did not take formal action on the report; staff and officials said they would continue coordinating on locations and partnerships for upcoming outreach events.
