Health care
BY MELISSA ENAJE
Barbie Robinson shares new Harris County Public Health initiatives Barbie Robinson has led Harris County Public Health since she was named executive director in March 2021. HCPH provides comprehensive health services and programs to communities across the county. The mission of the organization—made up of approximately 700 public health professionals—is to promote health and well-being by advancing equity, building partnerships and establishing culturally responsive systems. What message about overall health and well-being would you like to share with readers? Although this is the beginning of a new year, this is still cold and flu season. In addition, nationally, we have seen a rise in respiratory infections, includ- ing respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. I would like to encourage community members to stay alert and watchful for any common signs and symptoms. It is important that they consult their primary care physician or a provider and receive the appropriate testing if they are experiencing signs or symptoms. If they do not have a primary care physician and live within Harris County, we have resources that can help. What are some initiatives residents can expect from HCPH in the upcoming year? In the new year, HCPH is working to expand our violence prevention services. Our Community Health and Violence Prevention Services Division uses public health approaches to prevent violence
in Harris County and is comprised of two pro- grams—the Holistic Assistance Response Team pilot program and the Relentless Interrupters Serving Everyone program, formerly known as the Commu- nity and Hospital violence prevention programs. HART utilizes a public health approach when responding to calls for services traditionally routed to law enforcement. HART reduces the burden on law enforcement by dispatching a team made up of a crisis intervention specialist and a certified emergency medical technician to nonviolent 911 calls to address behavioral health and social welfare concerns. As of February, HART has responded to over 8,000 calls since launching in March 2022. RISE is a community-based solution to reducing gun violence using a public health approach that operates outside and is complementary to law enforcement. This program utilizes credible mes- sengers to interrupt violence and defuse immediate tensions in an effort to help build long-term peace while creating a safer community for everyone. Why is it important to provide increased access to services and programs for residents who have historically been underserved? Harris County has one of the highest measures of adverse health, economic and social outcomes due to COVID-19. Many, if not all, HCPH programs observed significant setbacks in their service deliv- ery and goals. The lessons learned proved to be an opportunity for more significant work and reach of services. It is now more important than ever to work toward health equity as the pandemic exposed and worsened existing health care access and outcomes inequalities. HCPH Integrated Mobile Health Services offers various free and/or low-cost preventive and chronic care health services such as vaccinations, health screening, HIV testing, chronic disease prevention and management, and tobacco cessation.
As part of the health literacy portfolio, HCPH is working diligently to create and establish a Maternal Health Bill of Rights to increase awareness for birthing persons, medical providers and community partners that support birthing persons. The [bill of rights] aims to move the needle in addressing the public health crisis of maternal and infant mortality.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.
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