COURTHOUSE SPOTLIGHT: Butler County Public Health

The well-being of Butler County residents is a priority for Butler County Public Health Director Jennifer Becker and her staff.

Public Health provides services in three main areas: Public Health Nursing, Home Care Services (skilled nursing), and Environmental Health. On staff, there are six nurses (including Becker), three secretaries, who are involved with program management, four home health aides, and an environmental health specialist.

Public Health offers scheduled blood pressure clinics and foot clinics for adults over the age of 55 in every Butler County community once a month. They also provide immunizations for infants, children and adults, from flu shots to vaccinations for tetanus and hepatitis.

The department does disease surveillance and investigation as required by law, monitoring the health of staff and students at Butler County schools. If, say 10 percent of a school population is sick, Becker investigates to find what illness is prevalent— whether influenza, a virus or a gastrointestinal illness. Monitoring is done to help prevent a severe outbreak.

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