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West Haven health director highlights warming center, mobile showers and domestic-violence outreach
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Summary
Health Director Sheila Carmen presented the West Haven Health Department's 2025 annual report, emphasizing expanded community partnerships, mobile shower services for people experiencing homelessness, a domestic-violence initiative and upcoming wellness events.
Sheila Carmen, director of the West Haven Health Department, presented the department's 2025 annual report to the council, saying the year involved "significant progress" including operational reorganization, stronger community partnerships and expanded public-health initiatives.
Carmen highlighted core programs such as overdose prevention, vaccination clinics, mammography and blood-pressure screenings, and wellness walks led by health-care providers. She said the mobile shower service provides showers and toiletries and can accommodate multiple people during each multi-hour outreach ("showers to 4 individuals at a time up to 17 to 20 during the 4- or 5-hour time period," Carmen said).
Under Mayor Dorinda Borer's leadership, Carmen said the department launched a domestic-violence initiative in partnership with BH Care, Youth and Family Services and other local organizations and that the health department is investing in staff development to support an expanding workload. Carmen listed partner organizations including the University of New Haven School of Health Sciences, Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center and BH Care.
Council members praised the department for coordinated, wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness and for building relationships with local nonprofits. Councilman Gary Donovan and others asked how residents can volunteer or find information; Carmen said the department is improving its website and posting events and volunteer opportunities on social media and in the annual report.
Carmen announced upcoming activities including a May 11 beachside domestic-violence awareness gathering at Oak Street and a wellness-and-motion series starting in July. The council thanked the health department staff and board members for the work and requested the report be distributed as a supplemental packet item.
Background details: Carmen said West Haven serves about 55,000 residents and that the department continues to manage an active tuberculosis caseload while expanding outreach and prevention work.
