FAQs
Who do I call if I do not live in the NNPHD District?
If you do not live in Cedar, Dixon, Thurston or Wayne counties, visit the Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors (NALHD) site to find the contact information of the health department that serves your county.
Where can I sign up for WIC?
Click here to find out more about WIC and how to contact the agency that provides this service in the NNPHD Health District.
Before the start of NNPHD in 2002, the Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership provided WIC. We support the work of the Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership.
Where can I get Immunization shots?
Click here to find out more about Immunization (shot) clinics and how to get an appointment with the agency that provides this service in the NNPHD Health District.
Before the start of NNPHD in 2002, the Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership was already providing public immunization (shot) clinics. We support the work of the Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership.
Where can I get a Certified Birth Certificate?
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) takes care of Certified Birth Certificates. Click here to find out more.
Where can I find out about mold?
We suggest you look at these websites:
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
- Identifying Moisture and Mold Sources in Houses
- Landlord and Tenant Handbook
- Is Mold Affecting your Health brochure
Where do I find out about food safety in Northeast Nebraska?
- Call Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department at (402)375-2200 or 1-800-375-2260. We lead food-borne illness investigations when someone shows signs of food poisoning.
- The Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department does not do food handling inspections, but we can connect you with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture food inspectors who have that duty in most of rural Nebraska.
Where do I find out about foul smelling outdoor air?
Call the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department (402)375-2200 or 1-800-375-2260. We can connect you with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.
Where do I find out about smoking bans in workplaces?
Report any indoor smoking violations to Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department by calling (402)375-2200 or 1-800-375-2260
What do I do if I have a bat in my home?
Please click here to learn more about bats, how to keep bats out of your home, and what to do if you suspect rabies
What is the difference between Public Health and Medical Healthcare?
Medical care is given from a doctor or other medical provider to a patient for a specific injury or disease. Public health works to improve the health of groups of people. Public health experts track and find the causes of health concerns of whole communities and help people develop healthy habits and lifestyles.
Who are public health experts?
Many people are involved in public health, such as doctors, dentists, nurses, social workers, eye doctors, pharmacists, environmental scientists, counselors, nutritionists and dietitians, health educators and many others. If a job involves improving the health of people, it can be used in public health.
What type of background and experience does Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department staff have?
Public Health staff (local and state) has knowledge and skills in many fields including: medicine, nursing, health education, environmental science, diverse cultures, epidemiology and public health. The NNPHD staff participates in ongoing trainings to stay up-to-date with skills and new knowledge.
What does the public health department do?
We work to improve the health of the whole community by:
- Stop epidemics and the spread of disease
- Protect against health hazards
- Prevent injuries
- Support and encourage healthy lifestyles and good mental health
- Respond to disasters and help communities get back to normal after a disaster
- Improve the quality and access of health care services
Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department does not do this by itself. We rely on many partners to fulfill many of the duties, services and programs needed to keep our communities healthy.
Why does Nebraska need the local public health departments?
Nebraska is one of the few states in the nation that did not have a statewide public health system until the passage of LB692 in 2001. While many very helpful organizations and agencies provided public health programs and services before that time, the overall structure of public health in the state was incomplete. Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department began in 2002 from the passage of LB692 which provided money from the Tobacco Settlement Dollars for public health departments to open their doors. With the help of the new local public health departments, programs can track public health data to watch for health threats to the public. They are then able to identify local health needs and bring new services to the area that will help people be healthier.
Where do local public health departments, such as Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department, get their funding?
LB692 invested the 2001 Tobacco Settlement funds into a Health Care Cash Fund: Local public health departments are given $5.1 million /year which is spread out based on a formula, which is set up by the Unicameral in state legislation. The formula provides public health departments a base amount plus roughly <$2 for each person living in the health district. NNPHD gets about $167,000 each year based on this formula for the four-county health district it serves.
The health districts that existed before 2001 also get some local tax support from their counties, but many of the new health districts, such as NNPHD, do not get this local tax support.
In 2006, the Unicameral set up a line item in the general budget for $100,000 to each of the health districts for monitoring the health status of the health district.
All other funds come from contracts and grant awards that the staff must apply for through competitive public health funding sources. These are usually given to public health departments in one to three year cycles.
