Williamson County & Cities Health District outlines mobile unit, eWIC expansion and outbreak monitoring

Amber Erickson, executive director of the Williamson County & Cities Health District, told the Cedar Park City Council that the district is preparing to launch a mobile health unit and expand remote services such as eWIC to reduce barriers to care.

"We recently got approval for funding for a mobile health unit," Erickson said, adding an RFP will be issued in the coming months. She described the district's nationally accredited clinical services and said the Cedar Park clinic accounted for a substantial proportion of recent visits: "in FY25 we had a little bit over 2,000 immunization services…about 40 percent of those vaccine visits were in our Cedar Park clinic." Erickson also told the council the agency will publish its updated five-year strategic plan for public comment in about two weeks and is moving to expand outreach programming, including a podcast series and short 'Public Health in the News' episodes.

Erickson reviewed disease surveillance activities and urged residents to take precautions after noting county-level positives in mosquito pools for West Nile virus. She also said an ongoing cyclosporiasis investigation has identified cases in Williamson County but "we haven't identified a point source" and the investigation is continuing. On preventive services, Erickson noted a screening program funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money will end in December unless new funding is found; the district is actively seeking grant or partnership alternatives.

Council members pressed for details about access and staffing. Erickson said the district is hiring two new restaurant inspectors, expects to increase clinic capacity as staffing improves, and plans coordination with local transportation services to help residents reach appointments. Regarding senior services, she said the district is working with partners in Sun City and hopes the mobile unit will support future senior-care programming as staffing allows.

The presentation closed with council appreciation for the eWIC rollout and community outreach. "We thank you all very much for your support," Sergeant Zander said during the earlier proclamation discussion; in the presentation itself Erickson invited council members and residents to upcoming outreach events, including a "Walk with a Doc" session at the Cedar Park Library.