2. Public Health
“Healthiest Nation 2030”
Community Outreach
The Community Outreach Depart-
ment is comprised of Texas Healthy
Communities and Farmer’s Market
Nutrition program, as well as public
information and health educa-
tion services. Through our Texas
Healthy Communities program,
we are committed to healthy living
through tobacco control, physical
activity, good nutrition and chronic
disease prevention. Our goal is to
improve the health environment
where you live, work and play.
Environmental Health
The Environmental Health
Programs are conducted by
Registered Sanitarians and
Environmental Health Technicians
to observe/evaluate, inspect/
Investigate, educate, and implement
change and to provide code
enforcement. Environmental
Services provides restaurant and
pool/spa inspection to Smith
County.
Immunizations and
Tuberculosis Control
The Immunization Program
promotes routine immunization,
ensures access to low cost im-
munization services, promotes
and maintains an immunization
registry, and assesses immuniza-
tion coverage levels in clinics,
schools, and child care facilities.
The tuberculosis control program
provides TB skin tests to the public,
daily. The program also monitors
and manages tuberculosis cases
in Smith County and educates the
community on tuberculosis control
initiatives.
Laboratory Services
The Northeast Texas Regional
Laboratory performs environmen-
tal, analytical and medical testing
services in order to provide valid
data to those who are making deci-
sions about how best to protect
public health.
Public Health Emergency
Preparedness & Disease
Surveillance
Public Health Preparedness de-
scribes the ability of local health
departments to respond to public
health emergencies. Since the ter-
rorist events of 2001, Public Health
Preparedness has been expanded
to include emergency response
plans for a bioterrorism event or
a natural or man-made disaster.
With fears ranging from Anthrax
to Smallpox to the looming pos-
sibility of a bird flu pandemic, to
tracking the spread of infectious
diseases, local and regional public
health services are exceptionally
important.
Vital Statistics
The Northeast Texas Public Health
District serves as the Local Reg-
istrar for the City of Tyler - filing
certificates of birth and death that
occur within the city limits. The
Vital Statistics department also
issues certified copies of these vital
records to qualified applicants
upon request. Birth certificates are
usually required for several reasons
including school, employment,
insurance, retirement, and travel
among others. Death certificates
are usually needed by the family
for insurance purposes or estate/
inheritance issues. Birth certificates
are available from anywhere within
the state of Texas from the year
1926 (in most cases) and City of
Tyler births are available from the
year 1910. Death certificates are
available for deaths that occurred
within the City of Tyler from the
year 1910.
Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC) Program
Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC) Special Supplemental Nutri-
tion Program is a nutrition
program administered by NET
Health that helps pregnant women,
new mothers, and young children
eat well, learn about nutrition, and
stay healthy.WIC provides health
information and referrals; nutrition
assessment and counseling;
healthy foods for women, infants,
and children; and breastfeeding
counseling and training. The NET
Health WIC Program has 20 clinics
in 23 counties throughout East
Texas. The WIC program provides
nutrition education and breastfeed-
ing peer counseling to expectant
mothers and families with children
under five.
Center for Healthy Living
The Center for Healthy Living pro-
vides prevention services and free
health screenings to the commu-
nity. Healthy living services include
chronic disease self-management
classes, nutrition & cooking classes
and tobacco cessation programs. In
addition, the Center provides breast
& cervical cancer screenings and
education to women who are unin-
sured, as well as, case management
and client navigation of community
resources.
NET Health Services
LEADERSHIP TEAM
George T. Roberts, Jr., FACHE, CEO
Micah Alsobrooks, Interim Director of Vital Statistics
Russell Hopkins, Director of Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Dawn May, Director of Human Resources and Revenue Strategies
Corrie Phipps, Finance Manager
Tecora Smith, Director of WIC Program
Cindy Spier, Director of Regional Laboratory
Stephanie Taylor, Director of Community Outreach/Public Information Officer
Sylvia Warren, RN, Director of Immunization and Tuberculosis Program
Ginger Wood, Interim Director Environmental Health
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Gaston, Board Chairman
Linda Klotz, RN, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Tom Bochow, M.D., M.P.H., Secretary
David Bright, D.D.S.
Luis Fernandez, M.D.
Cindy Grace
Linda Isabell, R.N., B.S.N., M.B.A.
Carlos Villapudua
Otis Webster, Ph.D.
Jeffrey Levin, M.D., Smith County Health Authority
Net Health | Pg. 2
website: www.healthyeasttx.org
Main phone #: 903-535-0030
815 N. Broadway Ave.,Tyler,TX 75702
3. http://www.healthyeasttx.org/
HealthyLiving/FitCityChallenge.aspx
The Fit City Tyler coalition was launched
in the summer of 2010,and has created hun-
dreds of community partnerships to shine a
light on the epidemic of obesity.
The Fit City Coalition consists of more
than 100 local organizations: hospitals,
schools, governmental agencies, non-prof-
its, health organizations, and businesses.
Together, members of the coalition have
worked to make Tyler a Fit City, one step,
one bite, and one health-conscious deci-
sion at a time.
Mission: Help residents of Tyler and East
Texas become more aware of the national
and local epidemic of obesity, and to give
them tools and knowledge with which to
fight against it.
The goal is to make Tyler and East Texas
the fittest city and region in Texas, and then
the nation.
Fit City Tyler has been recognized at lo-
cal, state, and national levels for its work to
encourage communities to adopt healthy
lifestyles. In our first year, the focus was di-
rected toward community engagement. The
Fit City ‘Days in the Park’ successfully con-
nected residents with a variety of free and
low-cost wellness opportunities available in
and around the Tyler metropolitan area.
In 2012, we began the Lighten Up East
Texas Regional Weight Loss Challenge. Par-
ticipants who lose at least 5% of their start-
ing weight become eligible for entry toward
our grand prize drawings, which includes a
$5,000 Fit City dream vacation, four $1,000
Brookshire gift cards and a free vehicle from
Allen Samuels Tyler.
Students in the Tyler and Whitehouse
school districts became engaged with the
5-2-1-0 Goes to School Program. This ini-
tiative expanded to over 60 campuses across
East Texas, receiving several state recogni-
tions and awards. The program emphasizes
the daily practice of eating at least ‘5’ fruits
and vegetables, viewing less than‘2’hours of
recreational screen time, gaining more than
‘1’ hour of physical activity and consuming
‘0’sugar-sweetened beverages.
Fit City Tyler also sponsors and pro-
motes initiatives such as Walk With a Doc,
the Downtown Tyler Mayor’s Walk, munch-
n-learn sessions at various businesses, the
NuVal Nutrition Scoring System, and work-
site wellness initiatives promoted by com-
panies throughout the Tyler metropolitan
area. Fit City Tyler is a resource network of
individuals and businesses who are making
an impact in Tyler.
Become involved with Fit City Tyler by
contacting either of our co-chairs.
DaveBerry-RetiredEditor
TylerMorningTelegraph|dvberry@tylerpaper.com
GeorgeRoberts-ChiefExecutiveOfficer
NETHealth|groberts@netphd.org
Obesity & Diabetes - Fit City Coalition
http://www.nphw.org/tools-and-tips/themes/raising-the-grade
FB.com/FitCityTyler @FitCityTyler
Net Health | Pg. 3
ACTIVE LIVING
Regular physical activity can reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other
chronic diseases.You don’t need to buy expensive equipment or rearrange your whole schedule to
be more active. Start by taking small steps—they all add up.
Exercise gives you more energy and reduces stress. Check out these tips to see how easy it is to
add physical activity to your daily life.
TOBACCO-FREE LIVING
Avoiding tobacco in all its forms—smoking, smokeless tobacco, or secondhand smoke—can
reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, stroke, and other chronic diseases. Every cigarette you
don’t smoke lengthens your life by about 7 minutes.Within 24 hours of quitting,your heart attack
risk starts to fall.
Quitting smoking can be hard, so use these tips to make it easier for you.
Tip #1: On hot days walk
inside an air-conditioned
shopping mall or go
swimming at a community
pool.
Tip #2: When driving
somewhere, park far away
and walk.
Tip #3: Take a walk on your
lunch break.
Tip #4: Take a break from
watching TV or sitting at
your computer by going for
a walk.
Tip #5: Take the stairs
instead of the elevator.
Tip #6: Use local parks
and other free recreational
facilities to increase your
daily physical activity.
Tip #7: Get a little bit of
exercise every day, even
if it’s only 30 minutes.
Tip #8: Invite friends or
family to exercise with you.
Tip #9: Whenever you can,
walk or bike instead of
driving.
Tip #10: Find an exercise
class or walking group.
Tip #1: Keep track of the money
you’re saving by not buying
tobacco.
Tip #2: Quitting smoking is hard.
If you slip up, try again. Visit
YesQuit.org.
Tip #3: Set a date to quit
smoking and don’t change it.
Tip #4: Talk to your doctor about
the best way for you to quit.
Tip #5: Snack on sunflower seeds
or carrot sticks to keep your
mouth busy.
Tip #6: Make a list of reasons
why you want to quit.
Tip #7: Ask your doctor about
medicines that can help you quit
smoking.
Tip #8: Get rid of all
cigarettes and ashtrays.
Tip #9: Take a walk to fight the
urge to smoke.
Tip #10: Ask friends, family, and
co-workers for support.
Want to quit smoking?
CALL THE QUITLINE
1-877-YES-QUIT
(1-877-937-7848)
It is confidential, free, and convenient.
T O C R E AT E T H E
2) Creating a Healthy We
We recognize that there is a complex
web of social and environmental
factors that affect everyone’s health
and limit the ability for many people
to make healthy choices. Today we
join the Generation Public Health
movement to demand that our lead-
ers consider these factors in all their
decisions so that all people and all
communities have the opportunity for
a long, healthy life.
source: www.apha.org
1) Creating a Healthy Me
We promise to eat well, exercise and
get regular checkups.We will make
healthy choices that improve our
health and set an example for our
family and friends.
SIGN HERE
Itisonlywhenwecome
togetherthatarewestrong
enoughtocreatethehealthiest
nationinonegeneration.We
areGenerationPublicHealth.
We all need to start by pledging to take 2 steps:
Healthiest Nation
4. Net Health | Pg. 4
Serves: 6
Contributed by Cameron
County WIC Staff
Two Bean Salad
NUTRITION
INFORMATION
PER SERVING:
237 calories, 6g total
fat, 1g saturated fat,
0mg cholesterol,
989mg sodium, 38g
carbohydrate ((11g
dietary fiber, 2g sugar),
11g protein
PREPARATION
Rinse and drain canned beans.
Combine all ingredients into
a large bowl and mix well.
Refrigerate for 20 minutes to
allow vegetables to soak in lime
juice. Serve chilled.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 15-ounce can
garbanzo beans
• 1 15-ounce can
black beans
• 2 medium tomatoes,
chopped
• ¾ cucumber, chopped
• 3 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 2 limes, juiced
• ⅛ cup olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
HEALTHY EATINGEating lots of fruits and vegetables and avoiding high-sugar, high-fat foods can
help reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
Healthy foods are often cheaper than unhealthy ones.And many healthy meals
can be prepared quickly.You can work them into your diet with just a few small
changes to your eating habits.
Find out how by using these tips that contain easy steps to healthy eating.
Tip #1: Switch to low-fat or non-fat
milk.
Tip #2: Eat different colors of fruits
and vegetables to get a variety of
nutrients.
Tip #3: Eat steamed, broiled, or
grilled foods instead of fried foods.
Tip #4: Have fresh or dried fruit for a
snack.
Tip #5: Drink water instead of soda
and other sugar-sweetened drinks.
Tip #6: Eat at least two vegetables
with dinner.
Tip #7: Keep a food diary to help
track what you eat.
Tip #8: Keep a bowl of fruit on your
counter so it’s easy to find.
Tip #9: Plan ahead to make sure your
meals are balanced and healthy.
Tip #10: Use a smaller plate or bowl
to encourage appropriately sized
portions.
WASH hands with
soap and warm
water 20 seconds
before and after
handling food.
USE one cutting
board for raw meat,
poultry, and seafood
and another for
salads and
ready-to-eat food.
USE a food
thermometer –
you can’t tell food
is cooked safely
by how it looks.
COOL the fridge to
40° F or below, and
use an appliance
thermometer
to check the
temperature.
CHILL leftovers
and takeout foods
within 2 hours, and
divide food into
shallow containers
for rapid cooling.
THAW meat,
poultry, and
seafood in the
fridge, not on the
counter, and don’t
overstuff the fridge.
STIR, rotate
the dish and
cover food when
microwaving to
prevent cold spots
where bacteria
can survive.
BRING sauces,
soups, and gravies
to a rolling boil
when reheating.
KEEP raw meat,
poultry, and
seafood and their
juices apart form
other food items in
your grocery cart.
STORE raw meat,
poultry, and seafood
in a container or
on a plate so juices
can’t drip on other
foods.
RUN cutting boards
and utensils through
the dishwasher or
wash them in hot
soapy water after
each use.
KEEP countertops
clean by washing
with hot soapy water
preparing food.
Clean. Bacteria can spread
throughout the kitchen and get on hands,
cutting boards, knives, and countertops.
Frequent cleaning can keep that from
happening.
Separate. Cross-contamination
is how bacteria spreads. Keep raw
meat, poultry, and seafood and their
juices away from ready-to-eat food.
Cook. Even for experienced cooks,
the improper heating and preparation
of food means bacteria can survive.
Chill. Bacteria spreads fastest at
temperatures between 40 degrees
Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit,
so chilling food properly is one of the
most effective ways to reduce the risk
of food borne illness
5. Net Health | Pg. 5
Visit our Vital Statistics department for yours today.
BORNIN
TEXAS?
We Have Your
Birth Certificate
Prenatal Health Starts Long
Before a Pregnancy
Approximately six out of 1,000 babies in Texas die
before their first birthday, and premature birth is a
leading cause. But many of the causes of premature
delivery are preventable, and could stem from
unhealthy behaviors and poor nutrition before the
baby even arrives. Too many women are unhealthy
before they become pregnant, and in most cases,
preconception health is a greater predictor of infant
health than prenatal care.
About Healthy Texas Babies
The state’s Healthy Texas Babies initiative was
developed to help Texas communities decrease infant
mortality using evidence-based interventions. It
involves community members, healthcare providers,
insurance companies and other invested stakeholders.
A reduction in infant mortality will improve the health
of Texas babies and mothers and has the potential to
save millions of dollars in healthcare costs.
Someday Starts Now
Someday Starts Now – a free public awareness
campaign – urges men and women to get healthy
now so that if they have a baby later, that baby has a
greater chance of being healthy and happy. Supported
by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the
campaign is part of Healthy Texas Babies, the state’s
infant mortality reduction initiative.
Reducing infant mortality will improve the health of
Texas babies and mothers and has the potential to save
millions of dollars in healthcare costs. Community
members, healthcare providers, patient advocates and
insurance companies across the state have pledged
their support of this important effort. Do the same by
visiting SomedayStartsNow.com to get started down a
healthier path.
Things to Do Today
While most parents understand the importance
of early and regular health care during pregnancy,
the prenatal care period may be too late to ensure a
healthy pregnancy and baby. The time to start is now.
Whether or not there’s a baby in your immediate
future, there are things you can do now to have a
healthy someday: eat right, manage stress, stay active,
use your support system and map out your future
by completing a Life Plan. DSHS also recommends
quitting smoking, taking the vitamins that your health
care provider recommends, managing stress and
building a support system.
Whether you are a man or a woman, your health
today is important – and even more important to the
baby you might have someday.
Infant mortality is a serious issue facing our state. Help
us make sure every Texas baby has a healthy, happy
first birthday. Encourage your friends and family to live
healthy now for a healthy baby later, and ask them to
visit the enhanced website at www.SomedayStartsNow.
org to get started.
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
LIVE
HEALTHY
TODAY
FOR THE FAMILY
YOU MAY HAVE
SOMEDAY.
6. Net Health | Pg. 6
WORKSITE WELLNESS
Your health is important wherever you go. And now that many people are spending
most of their day sitting at a desk or inside an office,implementing health programs inside
the workplace has become a vital piece of the healthy lifestyle puzzle.
Your health is important wherever you go. And now that many people are spendingYour health is important wherever you go. And now that many people are spending
HealthyWorksite | HealthyWorkforce | Healthy Communities
the workplace has become a vital piece of the healthy lifestyle puzzle.the workplace has become a vital piece of the healthy lifestyle puzzle.the workplace has become a vital piece of the healthy lifestyle puzzle.
CHRONIC
DISEASE
WORKChronic diseases such as
depression and hypertension
can lead to a decline in the
overall health of employees in a
workplace,contribute to an increase in
health-related expenses for employers and
employees,and lead to days away from
work.Many businesses have realized the
benefits of health promotion,and to curb
the costs of rising health care they have
begun offering wellness programs to their
employees.Ideally,the office should be a
place that not only protects the safety and
well-being of employees but also provides
them opportunities for better long-term health.them opportunities for better long-term health.
Emergency Preparedness Checklist
for Small Businesses
How vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
or other emergency were to occur?
Know your region and the types of disasters most likely to have an
impact on your business.
Find out what emergencies have occurred in the past and what impact
these had on other businesses in your area.
Consider your facility’s physical capacity to resist damage and proximity
to flood plains,seismic faults,dams,hazardous materials,nuclear power
plants and other hazards.
Consult with your insurance agent and learn what coverage is available
and what precautions to take for disasters that may impact your business.
Remember,many general policies do not cover earthquake and flood
damage.
Assess the capacity of your employees to prepare for and respond to an
emergency.
Are 10 - 15 percent of your employees trained in basic first-aid and CPR
techniques? Do all employees know how to identify individuals who are
trained?
Are employee roles clearly defined in the event of a disaster or emergency?
Identify external emergency resources that will provide assistance
during or after a disaster or other emergency.Who will you contact in an
emergency and what will they be able to provide?
Local and state law enforcement.
Fire department and emergency medical services organizations.
Local government officials,emergency management office.
Local American Red Cross chapter.
Telephone,water,gas and electric companies.
Neighboring businesses.
Emergency repair and cleaning services.
What is your plan to protect the business and its
employees before, during and after an emergency?
Identify a first-aid team.Approximately 10-15 percent of your workforce
should be trained in first-aid and CPR so that they can assist in times of
disaster or emergency until help arrives.
Obtain necessary safety equipment.Budget for and purchase any
safety equipment,first-aid kits,Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs),
fire extinguishers,smoke detectors and shelter-in-place supplies that
may be needed.Make sure employees know how to access and use
these supplies.
Write a plan for responding to emergencies.
Your Emergency Response Plan should include:
A system for warning employees about emergencies and
communicating with employees and local emergency officials during
a disaster or emergency.
Considerations for the special needs of employees with disabilities
and medical conditions.
Evacuation routes from your facility and an established location
where employees should gather.
Provisions and a location for employees to shelter-in-place.
Develop a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).This plan will
help keep your business operating as it responds and recovers from
the effects of a disaster or emergency situation.Here’s how to start
developing a COOP:
Establish procedures for COOP activation.
Identify essential business functions and staff to carry
out these functions.
Establish agreements and procedures with suppliers,vendors
and other businesses critical to daily operations.Create a plan for
conducting business if the facility is not accessible.
What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
into our normal business operations?
Educate employees.Consider partnering with community organizations to help
create comprehensive preparedness training. All employees should know:
Their role during a disaster and the roles and responsibilities of key personnel
at your facility.
Warning and communication procedures.
Evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures.
Practice your plan.Practice makes perfect.
Conduct regular emergency drills.
Use the drills to assess the readiness of your employees and your facility.
Involve both personnel and community responders in the evaluation process
and use lessons learned to improve procedures and training as needed.
Encourage personal preparedness among employees.Your employees will be
better able to help your business respond and recover from an emergency if they
know how to prepare their homes and families.Offer preparedness training and
encourage your employees and their families to:
Get a kit,make a plan,be informed.A free online education module is available
to help them at www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady.
Encourage employees to identify alternative routes for going to and from your
facility.
Remind employees to always keep their emergency contact information current.
Help your community get prepared.Work with local community groups
and government officials to ensure that your community is prepared
for disasters and other emergencies.
Host blood drives.
Work with your local Red Cross chapter to train preparedness education
volunteers to conduct preparedness presentations.
Contribute supplies and/or services to emergency efforts.
Adopt a local school or organization and support their emergency
preparedness programs.
How vulnerable would your business be if a disasterHow vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
or other emergency were to occur?
Know your region and the types of disasters most likely to have an
How vulnerable would your business be if a disasterHow vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
or other emergency were to occur?
How vulnerable would your business be if a disasterHow vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
or other emergency were to occur?
How vulnerable would your business be if a disasterHow vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
or other emergency were to occur?111 How vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
1 How vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
1 How vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
1 How vulnerable would your business be if a disasterHow vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
1 How vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
1 How vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
1 How vulnerable would your business be if a disaster
or other emergency were to occur?1 or other emergency were to occur?1 or other emergency were to occur?1 or other emergency were to occur?
What is your plan to protect the business and its
employees before, during and after an emergency?
What is your plan to protect the business and its
employees before, during and after an emergency?
What is your plan to protect the business and its
employees before, during and after an emergency?
What is your plan to protect the business and its
employees before, during and after an emergency?222 What is your plan to protect the business and its
2 What is your plan to protect the business and its
2 What is your plan to protect the business and its
2 What is your plan to protect the business and its
employees before, during and after an emergency?2 employees before, during and after an emergency?2 employees before, during and after an emergency?2 employees before, during and after an emergency?
What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
into our normal business operations?
What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
into our normal business operations?
What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
into our normal business operations?
What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
into our normal business operations?333 What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
3 What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
3 What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
3 What can we do to integrate emergency preparedness
into our normal business operations?3 into our normal business operations?3 into our normal business operations?3 into our normal business operations?
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
7. Net Health | Pg. 7
IMMUNIZE
FOR A
HEALTHY
FUTURE
Measles is still common in many parts of the world.
Unvaccinated travelers who get measles in other
countries continue to bring the disease into the
United States.
Give your child the best protection against measles with two doses
of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Infants 6 to 11 months only need 1 does of measles vaccine before
traveling abroad.Children 12 month and older should receive
2 doses before travel.Check with your pediatrician before
leaving on your trip to make sure you children are protected
1st
dose at
2nd
dose at
8. ACTION
SCIENCE
HEALTH
NORTHEAST TEXAS PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT
815 N Broadway Ave
Tyler, TX 75702
903-535-0030
www.healthyeasttx.org
MISSION: Prevent Illness, Promote Health,
and Protect our Community.
VISION: Through our collaborative efforts,
Northeast Texas communities will be the
healthiest in the state.
VALUES: Respect, caring,
community, honesty and change
