Community Outreach

Community Outreach is a public informational/educational program which targets the citizens of Sonoma County who may be at risk from environmental hazards such as groundwater contamination, West Nile Virus and mold. The program provides notification to citizens generally within one-fourth of a mile about potential public health risks in their neighborhood such as potential groundwater contamination of domestic wells; health risk information and risk reduction strategies; collaboration with communities to assess and address needs; resource information to help meet the needs of impacted communities (i.e. water treatment device information, stress support); environmental risk education to health care providers; integration of environmental health with community activities; cooperation and communication with multiple agencies to ensure community needs are met and services are not duplicated; packets, pamphlets, brochures and other health information of educational nature; a bridge between public perception and agency interventions/regulations.

The goal of the program is reduction of public health risk by informing and empowering citizens through the cooperation, communication, collaboration, and coordination of government agencies and the private sector.

The program provides notification about health risk information, risk reduction strategies and available resources to the meet the needs of the community. This collaborative process was also utilized to develop domestic well and water quality brochures. Additionally, several in-service trainings were provided to medical residents and a continuing education seminar was offered to health care providers in the community.