And so it begins!

A beautiful day to open the Hill at Sims Bayou, a terrific new resource for Sunnyside and the region

Y’all. I am SO EXCITED about the new JOINT Harris County Public Health / Houston Health Department data hub. Behold this one-stop-shop for reports and dashboards published by both departments: publichealth.harriscountytx.gov/Media/Report... #collaboration #publichealth

New Baby, New Chapter! Great turnout for this weekend’s community baby shower featuring education, resources, community closet, CPR practice, games, and more. #maternalhealth

New World screwworm, dangerous to livestock and other animals, has been slowly moving north. USDA is working closely with Mexico and Central American governments on surveillance and control, including via sterile insect technique. #onehealth #publichealth

A happy new year from this cutie, who has no business being here on January 1st! Harris County Public Health also identified West Nile Virus in three mosquito pools this week - the latest ever.

Judge Lina Hidalgo was thrilled to attend the last Wellness on Wheels Event hosted by Harris County Public Health. These mobile events provide our community with opportunities to access breast and cervical cancer screenings, vaccines, dental screenings, and receive referrals to health services.

Car just drove by blasting Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” loud enough to be heard inside our house and that’s the energy I’m wishing you to close out the week 🚀

stuck behind a train under the watchful eyes of the presidents #hiwi

Harris County’s Domestic Violence Assistance Fund, administered by HCDVCC in partnership with Harris County Public Health, offers flexible financial assistance through 19 partner agencies. The 2024 Annual Report highlights successes: www.hcdvcc.org/wp-content/u...

some professional news, as they say:

The HAY Center campus is officially open! With a wraparound services building for life skills classes, counseling, and other supports plus 50 affordable apartments, the campus will support more than 1,000 youth aging out of foster care each year.

Harris County Public Health is OUT AND ABOUT this weekend: 💉Spring Branch immunizations 🩺 Burnett Bayland sports physicals 👩🏽‍⚕️ Sheldon Health Hub Open House 🐾 Petco Love Mega Adoption event 🚙 HART alternative first responders expanding into HCSO District V

Harris County Public Health fourth annual violence prevention conference underway, featuring case studies and credible messenger certification tracks 🧡 Hot topic: how to sustain progress as COVID funding expires and families face upcoming reduction in food, healthcare access, and other resources?

Always a blast to walk the pride parade with St Paul’s UMC 🌈

How can we make sure as many people are prepared for disasters as possible? Harris County Public Health has formed community-based resilience teams to help share information and build connections to resources. East and Central African community asset mapping underway today:

Every five years, Harris County (via @readyharris.bsky.social) prepares a hazard mitigation plan in partnership with dozens of local jurisdictions. New this year: including public health emergency as a critical hazard. Read and comment on the latest version: www.readyharris.org/Contact/Miti...

Harris County Pets is closed to the public for a deep clean today; over 40 volunteers are coming by to take animals outside while staff scrub everything from floor drains to ceiling vents! These kittens will have a cleaner home but they’d rather be home with you :) www.countypets.com #publichealth

Learning from local and national experts at today’s “Preventing Firearm Injury Through Purpose and Policy 2025” conference at Rice U’s Baker Institute www.bakerinstitute.org/event/preven... #publichealth

pew pencils got a glow-up this morning

Happy Harris County Bike-to-Work Day! Changes since last year: - Drivers stopped at 11th, Heights, and White Oak crossings 👍 - Spring St trail closed, new Pinckney St connector under construction (thanks @harriscopct2.bsky.social) - I-10 White Oak Bayou project in full swing

Pope Leo has Koussevitsky running through my head: “the next Beethoven will from Colorado come.” Not at all the same thing but that’s the earworm.

Proud of Harris County Public Health team sharing knowledge at #PrepSummit25 Featured: - Communications to improve child health, including child care engagement and vaccination campaigns in six languages - Hospital data analysis showing who was impacted where and how by Hurricane Beryl

Who’s at NACCHO Preparedness Summit? Come say hi. Listening to presentations from states on data sharing projects with Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response reinforces the need to maintain ASPR functionality as HHS rolls it under CDC. Fiesta pic from last night for attention 🌺

This is adorable. Urban (coed!) version could work for a neighborhood, housing complex, or house of worship.

Judge Hidalgo spoke to the Harris County Maternal & Child Health Care Conference attendees and held a joint press conference with @rodneyellis.bsky.social, and public health experts. In Harris County, we’re improving access to high-quality child care and strengthening maternal health systems.

Since 1965, the Harris County Public Health Mosquito and Vector Control Division has worked diligently to protect the health of our residents. Thank you all for six decades of service and for keeping Harris County safe.

We’re recognizing #NPHW while also taking time to celebrate long-term commitment to disease prevention: 60 years of Mosquito & Vector Control in Harris County!

If there’s one thing Sackets Harborites do not play about, it’s their school. In a town of 1,400 (double what it was when I was a kid!), the HS marching band punches above its weight nationally, high schoolers provide EMS service through the VFD, and 1,000 protested the removal of these three kids.

No better way to kick off National Public Health Week (technically one day early) than by running into our environmental public health team at the HOU BBQ festival. If you enjoyed some brisket, sausage, or pork belly without worrying about getting sick, thank a food inspector! #NPHW

The Harris County health department said Thursday it’s investigating a reported measles case in a child with no travel history, which would make it the first case in the Houston area this year that is not associated with international travel.

decisions, decisions

What do parents of very young children need to know about measles vaccines? @magegordon.bsky.social has the scoop, including insight from the Harris County Public Health immunization team. More info including pop-up vax locations:

Harris County, it’s a beautiful day for a measles shot. Talk to your provider or call (832) 927-7350 to schedule an appointment. - Kids should get first MMR at 12 months+ and second at age 4-6 - If you were a kid in the 60s, consider getting revaxxed! Locations ⬇️

I’m so excited about this new health hub in NE Harris County offering health screenings, dental services, behavioral health supports, vaccinations, WIC, and chronic disease prevention resources all under one roof. Read more from @emacdonald5.bsky.social: www.houstonchronicle.com/health/artic...

Standing room only at Natl Assn of Counties immigration panel as construction, ag, child care, and hospitality reps highlight the critical role of immigrants in their industries and the urgent need for immigration reform.

Insights from #NACoLeg: many think “Medicare is for the old, Medicaid is for the poor” yet Medicaid is the primary funder of long-term supports and home-based care services. The proposed $880B cuts to Medicaid would directly impact seniors. www.kff.org/health-polic...

The measles vaccine is for adults too! If you’re in your 60s, you may have received a vaccine without long-lasting effects. Talk to your provider or call (832) 927-7350 to schedule an immunization appointment at an HCPH clinic near you.

Have highlighted agenda, will travel. Who is going to NACo legislative conf this weekend? #publichealth

I can confirm that Harley and Winnie were very good girls at Commissioners Court today. Harris County Pets is on track to spay and neuter more than 6,000 dogs and cats this year - *prevention* is key! Meet Harley and Winnie: 24Petconnect.com/DetailsMain/... 24Petconnect.com/DetailsMain/...

My annual selfie with Albertus Magnus Thanks to the @uh.edu Hobby School for having me over to talk county government, public health, and the Current Situation with MPP and MPA students

Proud of our epi team for analyzing impacts of Hurricane Beryl. Insights: children were most affected by CO poisoning, seniors by heat-related illnesses, and all ages experienced storm-related injuries. Harris County has responded by updating our fire code, requiring backup power for nursing homes.

ARPA presented a unique opportunity for TX counties to invest in wastewater projects. (Typically only cities, MUDs, and private utilities can do so.) This East Aldine neighborhood has a septic system failure rate of >46%. New infra is sorely needed & is now on the way via @harriscopct2.bsky.social

NEW: Pregnancy became far more dangerous in Texas after the state banned abortion, according to ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis, which found the sepsis rate for women hospitalized as they miscarried in the 2nd trimester shot up by more than 50%. https://propub.li/43487Tj

Amidst 🤯everything😮‍💨 the Texas Association of City and County Health Officials had a productive #txlege visit. 80 staffers & a few members stopped by to grab a donut & learn about public health priorities: - TB control and prevention - Childhood immunization - HIV/STI and congenital syphilis

The Financial Times is recuiting for a Houston correspondent- energy will be a key focus- but also the Texas economy and migration- apply here job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/financialtim...

10 cases of measles in Gaines County: - All unvaccinated - 8 school-aged children - 7 hospitalized www.texastribune.org/2025/02/08/m... #publichealth #getvaxxed

Making time for health is hard - but Harris County Public Health’s Wellness on Wheels makes things easier with a one-stop-shop. Hundreds of residents stopped by the Community of Faith church today for: - Cancer screenings - Dental checkups - HIV/STI testing - Immunizations - Lead testing & more

Gun injury prevention is public health. More about the report:

Sister Maureen O’Connell, director for the Secretariat of Social Concerns of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston, notes that parish and clinic attendance has dropped in light of recent immigration actions