Hood River County Health Department staff
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Health Department served thousands in 2024
The Hood River County Health Department is a community hub for health and well-being. It connects community members with resources to promote equitable public health, prevent disease, limit environmental risks, and avoid harm and injuries. Here is a recap of the Hood River County Health Department’s services and activities in 2024. In July 2025, the Health Department will enhance services by including prevention and veteran services under the umbrella of the Health Department.
Environmental health offers regulatory oversight including drinking water protection, licensing and regulation of food, lodging, pool and spa facilities, and onsite wastewater disposal systems. EH certifies food workers to safely handle food and licenses local restaurants, food carts, lodging, and pools and spas. In 2024, Environmental Health completed 340 inspections of restaurants, food carts, lodges, pools, and spas.
Immunizations are provided for children and adults, and Oregon vaccine records can be verified. Some vaccinations available at the health department include: COVID-19 doses, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), chicken pox, and seasonal influenza.
 Immunizations |
 Drinking water protection |
 Restaurant inspections |
Family Health (nurses visited over 20 families per month in 2024, and WIC supported 530 families with nutrition)
- WIC – the supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children designed to improve health outcomes and influence lifetime nutrition and health behaviors for at-risk populations.
- Babies First! – provides free regular nurse home visits for pregnant women and families with infants and children up to age 5.
- CaCoon – offers free regular support to qualifying families with youth with special health needs
The Hood River County Health Department saw 1,189 clients for clinical services in 2024, including Immunizations and Sexual and Reproductive Health.
 Family health |
 Public Health |
 Outreach |
Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Wellness Exams – breast and cervical cancer screening, gynecological exams.
- Family Planning – encompasses pregnancy testing, birth control options, emergency contraception, and free condoms and lubricants.
- Testing & Treatment – for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) which are climbing at the national, state, and local levels. Using protection, and testing if any symptoms, a known exposure, or high risk is high for a STI.
Harm Reduction & Injury Prevention
- Opioid Overdose Prevention is available in the form of training on how to use naloxone, to making naloxone available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Since these efforts began in July 2023, around 600 people were trained to prevent opioid overdose, and nearly 1000 naloxone kits were distributed.
Oregon Health Plan and related programs assistance is available to community members interested in applying for or renewing coverage with the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). The Health Department’s OHP Assistor helped around 30-35 applicants per month in 2024, tracking approvals and denials.