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Stanislaus County health officials report higher death rates than state average, cite gains in suicide prevention
Summary
Public health leaders told supervisors the county’s 2024 age‑adjusted all‑cause death rate (869 per 100,000) is higher than California and the U.S.; presenters highlighted declines in suicide and opioid deaths, disparities by race/ethnicity, and program investments—while asking the board to help fund strategic initiatives.
Stanislaus County public health officials presented the 2025 Public Health Annual Report to the Board of Supervisors on May 5, outlining population health trends, disparities, and program responses.
Dr. Thea Papas Omanos, the county’s public health officer, said the county’s 2024 age‑adjusted all‑cause death rate was 869 per 100,000 — higher than California (624) and the U.S. (722) — and reported life expectancy at 77.3 years. She identified heart disease and cancer as the leading causes of death, while noting progress in suicide prevention: crude counts fell to 39 deaths in 2024 with preliminary 2025 data at 53, and staff said the longer-term trend has shown improvement.
The report included racial and ethnic breakdowns showing higher cancer death rates among white and Black residents compared with Asian and Hispanic residents in the county; maternal and infant outcomes and child‑mortality drivers (preterm birth complications, road injuries, congenital anomalies) were discussed in response to supervisors’ questions.
Alicia Sanders, assistant public health director, summarized programmatic activity across four strategic "buckets": supporting children and families, education and outreach, policy/systems/environmental change, and strengthening community connections. Highlights included 3,938 home visits by family health services in 2025, screening and referral work in school‑based oral health, and 6,322 vaccines administered by public‑health teams at outreach events.
Sanders and Dr. Papas Omanos credited a newly formed Health Initiative Unit for improving cross‑sector coordination; the unit convenes a leadership council and action work groups focused on access to care, behavioral health, and chronic‑disease prevention. Supervisors pressed for proposals with clearer funding asks to move community metrics closer to state averages; staff said several activities from the community health improvement plan have already attracted funding for the coming year.
Supervisor Buck Condit praised the public‑health team’s work and asked for additional breakdowns on child mortality causes; staff said they will return with more granular infant‑age analyses. The board unanimously accepted the report.
What this means: county officials said mortality and chronic‑disease gaps remain but also pointed to programmatic progress and new governance structures to coordinate community health initiatives. The health agency will provide follow‑up data and funding proposals to the board.
