Prevention and Veterans Services become divisions of the Health Department

The Health Department will oversee four distinct divisions. Pictured are (left to right) Environmental Health Supervisor Mike Matthews, Veterans’ Service Officer Lynetta Hickman, Health Department Director Trish Elliott, and Prevention Manager Amanda Holste.

The Hood River County Health Department has long been a central hub for community health and well-being. This spring, the Health Department has merged with two longstanding County departments, which will now operate as divisions. The County’s Prevention Department has joined the Health Department and is now housed at the 1109 June Street building. Additionally, the Veterans’ Service Office (VSO) is becoming a division of the Health Department, which will provide enhanced system support. The VSO will move to a new office in the County Courthouse, opening on May 5.

With this integration, the Health Department will oversee four distinct divisions: public health, environmental health, prevention, and veterans’ services. This restructuring aims to foster collaboration and support the work of each division through shared resources, cross-training of staff, and decreased overhead. 

The Hood River County Health Department is dedicated to connecting community members with resources that promote equitable public health, prevent disease, limit environmental risks, and reduce harm and injuries. Both the Health Department and prevention programs embrace an open and inclusive philosophy. Over the years, these two departments have collaborated numerous times, including most recently on efforts to prevent opioid overdoses. Veterans’ Services provides a wide range of services to veterans, their dependents, and survivors within the County. 

“The Health Department is expanding to include two new divisions. We are excited to work together to build a cohesive team that will support each other’s work and align with the County's priorities. We anticipate budget savings by sharing technology and resources, cross-training staff, participating in community outreach events together, all while decreasing administrative burden. We look forward to discovering new ways to collaborate and support one another. There will be lots of exciting news coming from the newly expanded Health Department,” explains Health Department Director Trish Elliott.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Public Health provides a wide range of programs including clinical services such as immunizations, reproductive health including breast and cervical cancer screening, contraceptive management, pregnancy testing and counseling, family planning including infertility services, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV testing, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children program), breast feeding support, home visiting services for pregnant women and families with infants and children. Additionally, Public Health provides referral services to health-related resources such as medical, dental, behavioral health, and social support programs.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Environmental Health, led by Supervisor Mike Matthews, provides regulatory oversight in several key areas, including drinking water protection and the 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.

The Prevention Division is now located at the Health Department Building. The team is pictured (from left to right): Office Manager Kathy Smith, Manager Amanda Holste, Prevention Education Specialists Yonny Castillo and Esmerelda Bibian.

PREVENTION 

Prevention offers diverse support and resources for community members and their families, addressing substance misuse related to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and gambling, as well as mental health and youth development. The division manages a dozen active local, state, and federal grants.

The Prevention division focuses on Prevention Science, which aims to enhance health and well-being by addressing problems before they arise. This proactive approach helps mitigate potential issues that could lead to serious negative outcomes.

Prevention Manager Amanda Holste worked most recently at Safe Space, a local children’s advocacy center. “With all the changes the Prevention division has undergone, its commitment to providing ongoing support to community members has amazed me,” relayed Holste. “Building relationships, mentoring, and providing primary prevention efforts for our youth has been, and will continue to be, an ongoing mission of the Prevention division at the Hood River County Health Department.”

VETERANS’ SERVICE OFFICE

The County Veteran Service Office offers a range of services to Veterans and their families, including survivors and dependents. The Veteran Service Officer (VSO) assists Veterans and their families in navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA), and other resources available to Veterans. The VSO and staff can provide various forms of assistance, such as information on documents needed to file claims, filing VA claims, and tracking claims through the VA system. If necessary, the office can help with the process of appealing denied claims.

Lynetta Hickman has served as the County’s Veterans’ Service Officer since March 2024. Lynetta returned to Hood River after completing her service in the Marine Corps. The Veterans Service Office aims to help veterans and their families identify potential benefits and assist them throughout the application process. “We are looking forward to collaborating with the Health Department and Prevention Division to enhance our capacity to serve the community,” Hickman said.