DHS/Public Health Division 100th Anniversary
P R O C L A M A T I O N
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DHS/PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION 100th ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, the year 2019 marks the centennial of the appointment of Arlington’s first Health Officer and employment of two additional public health staff, making it one of the first full-time County health departments in the nation; and
WHEREAS, tireless work during its earliest years led to the creation of Arlington’s public water supply and sewer system, thereby putting local public health on the road to preventing conditions that could harm the public’s health instead of only treating illness; and
WHEREAS, within its first year it hired a full-time dentist to serve the students in Arlington’s public schools, making it the first time in the nation that a full-time school dentist had been appointed for a County and establishing the strong collaboration with the school system that continues to this day; and
WHEREAS, its vital work to protect the health of our community has grown to meet Arlington’s changing needs, leaving behind the rural work of inspecting outhouses and dairies to focus all its resources on the core efforts of communicable disease investigation and control, restaurant and other inspections, immunization, services for mothers and infants, and care for our school’s children; and
WHEREAS, its achievements in emergency preparedness and response, begun with Civil Defense training during World War II and continuing through 9/11 to the present day, include being the first County in Virginia to be recognized for meeting national “Project Public Health Ready” standards; and
WHEREAS, Public Health works with community partners both to serve the current health needs of our community and to address systems and equity issues that contribute to maximizing the health potential of all who live, work and play in Arlington County;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christian Dorsey, Chair of the County Board of Arlington, Virginia, do hereby congratulate the DHS/Public Health Division and proclaim April 2019 as the
DHS/PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION 100th ANNIVERSARY
and encourage all residents to recognize all past and present public health professionals, community leaders and volunteer organizations for their contributions to the local public health system.
Christian Dorsey
Chair