Missouri Bureau of Environmental Health Overview

Bureau of Environmental Health Services The Partnership for Environmental Health in Missouri 6+++++ Dusty Johnson Chief - Bureau of Environmental Health Services

Talking Points What is Environmental Health Who is the Bureau of Environmental Health Services What is a Local Environmental Health Program Environmental Health Operational Guidelines (EHOG) BEHS and LPHA Partnership for EH

Environmental Health Environmental Health Environmental Health (EH) is a core part of Missouri's Public Health System. The Bureau of Environmental Health Services (BEHS) is the agency responsible for EH Activities in Missouri. Our mission is to prevent illness, injury and death related to environmental causes using: Environmental Risk Assessment Surveillance Education Enforcement

BEHS Operations The Bureau is split between Field Operations and Program Operations. The Field Operations consists of a Field Operations Manager, 5 District Supervisors, and 12 Environmental Health Specialists. The Program Operations consists of a Program Operations Manager, 5 Program Managers, and 4 Program Assistants, and 1 Trainer. The Bureau is supported by an Office Manager, and 2 Administrative Support Staff and managed by the Bureau Chief.

Program Operations The Bureau has 6 programs in which our operations are centered around. These program consist of: 1. Retail Food - Paige Anderson 2. Lodging Licensing Britni Hendren 3. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Eric Folks 4. Environmental Childcare Molly Grellner 5. Manufactured Food Ainsley Lackey 6. Legionella Control and Prevention Britni Hendren Program Operations are managed by Mark Jenkerson.

Field Operations District Supervisors Northwest Lori Moore Southwest Edith Todd Central Rachelle Kuster Eastern Whitney Nelson Southeast Ann Winkler Field Operations are managed by Aaron Winslow. District Map is listed on LPHA Info HUB

EH Authority An LPHA authority to conduct EH activities comes from RSMo 205.100 and 192.280, which grants the health officer both the right and the duty to enforce the rules and regulations of the DHSS. The 4 main activities of a Local EH Program are: 1. Inspections and Evaluations 2. Outbreak and Complaint Investigations 3. Public and Industry Education 4. Regulatory Enforcement Actions

Environmental Health Staff Environmental Health Staff EH Practitioners need 3 key elements to conduct effective field work. 1) Strong understanding of the rules and regulations. They must understand the what and the why. 2) Excellent communication skills. Inspectors are EH salespersons. 3) Ability to properly document the EH activities. If it is not documented, it never happened.

Local EH Duties Local EH Duties LPHAs perform the following fieldwork as part of the State Investment in Local Public Health Services CORE agreement. Retail food inspections Annual Lodging inspections Onsite wastewater complaint investigations Emergency response activities truck wrecks, fires, floods, etc.

Potential Local EH Duties Potential Local EH Duties In addition to the duties in the CORE, many LPHAs perform additional EH activities under specific a participation agreements with BEHS. These are: Childcare sanitation inspections and complaint investigations. 3-year agreement Onsite wastewater treatment system permitting and inspections 3-year agreement Summer Food/At-risk site inspections Annual Agreement

Local EH Ordinance Local EH Ordinance Many LPHAs have local ordinances for EH activities especially in the areas of retail food and onsite wastewater. RSMo 192.300 is the law that gives county commissions and local health center boards the authority to pass additional health rules. A local ordinance is an excellent means to improve EH in your jurisdiction as they provide increased authority and the ability to charge fees for services at the local level. Local ordinances cannot conflict with any DHSS rules or regulations.

EHOG The Environmental Health Operational Guidelines (EHOG) is the manual developed by BEHS to set the minimum standards for EH Activities. The EHOG is posted on LPHA Info HUB. The EHOG is broken down into 8 chapters covering: 1. Environmental Health Fundamentals 2. Food Safety 3. Lodging, Safety and Sanitation 4. Emergency Response 5. Onsite Wastewater Treatment 6. Environmental Childcare 7. Drinking Water 8. General Environmental Health

BEHS Goal with LPHAs Our goal is to assist LPHAs in the development of a comprehensive risk based EH program, by working with both environmental staff and administration. We provide technical assistance and field support to environmental staff. We are available to administrators as a resource and sounding board.

LPHA Acknowledgment The bureau fully recognizes that our local EH programs are the boots on the ground and the connection to the communities in Missouri. Everyday 100s of inspections, evaluations and investigations are being conducted at the local level. That work may be unnoticed by some but is NOT by the bureau. We need our local EH programs as we can t do our jobs without you.

Final Thoughts The bureau truly appreciates the work and diligence shown by our local partners day in day out. The success of EH is based on timely communication, clear expectations, and a passion to make peoples lives better. The bureau will continue to strive to strengthen our partnership with LPHAs.

QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? Dusty.johnson@health.mo.gov 573-751-8415 Health.Mo.Gov