Genesee County health department wins accreditation, unveils HPV campaign, mobile unit and new family programs

The Genesee County Health Department told the county board on June 10 that it met all indicators during a recent state accreditation visit and received recommendations to refine policies, update training documentation and improve some web materials.

Health Officer Michelle Estelle introduced the four-part presentation and said the accreditation review — conducted in February by several state divisions including the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services — confirmed the department’s program compliance and cited strengths in disease investigation protocols, health equity partnerships and public risk communications.

Dr. Corsi outlined next steps and new projects. The department has an NACCHO-funded grant to support an HPV vaccination outreach campaign that will include interviews with parents to shape educational materials; staff said Genesee County’s adolescent HPV completion rate is about 36 percent versus roughly 44 percent for the state and higher nationally, which the department identified as a gap to address through prevention efforts.

Deputy Health Officer Brad described a strategic planning process (covering 2025–2030) that included a staff SWOT survey and community listening sessions with University of Michigan–Flint support; the plan is expected to be implemented September 1. He also reported the health department issued an RFP for a mobile health unit in March, received 10 vendor proposals, and expects to recommend a vendor to the board by the end of the summer with delivery within a year of contract approval. A preliminary cost estimate for the custom-built unit provided during Q&A was approximately $500,000; staff said possible funding sources include the county health millage and departmental general funds.

Ashley Herbig, quality and emergency response administrator, described two programs starting this year: a "Dad as Doula" initiative funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to provide father-focused doula-adjacent training (first cohort scheduled for October), and a summer vector-borne disease surveillance program with weekly mosquito trapping at five county sites and biweekly tick drags; collected specimens will be tested at the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories.

The presentation covered program-specific recommendations: food service quality assurance reviews (100% coverage), on-site wastewater monitoring and complaint follow-up, clarifying out-of-state referral procedures for communicable-disease logs, reinstating annual mass-vaccination mock drills, instituting client satisfaction surveys for immunizations, and publishing an immunization fee schedule online (already done). Staff said they are implementing changes, updating policies, working with IT to fix website errors and pursuing a training-tracking solution to document staff training annually.

During board questions, commissioners asked whether HPV and STI efforts emphasize prevention or treatment (staff said prevention and early identification are primary goals and that STI/HIV services include testing and referrals), whether abstinence is included in teen outreach (family-planning programs list abstinence as an option), and whether the mobile unit can serve in emergency response (staff confirmed the RFP required capabilities for clinical services and emergency response). Board members also asked where the county might store the vehicle; staff said facilities and operations are exploring a county site and possible indoor storage.

On funding, Estelle and staff said state funding shifts are uncertain; while the department currently expects to absorb many changes, it anticipates the potential need for staff reductions or other adjustments depending on final state decisions. The department pledged to keep commissioners apprised as additional information becomes available.

The board thanked staff for the presentation and recorded no formal objections; the meeting moved on to committee reports and routine resolutions.