To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774; Amelyn Olson, 707-565-2696
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution proclaiming the week of April 6-12, 2026 as National Public Health Week in Sonoma County.
End
Executive Summary:
National Public Health Week (NPHW), observed April 6-12, 2026, is a nationwide initiative led by the American Public Health Association to recognize the contributions of public health professionals and highlight the systems that protect and improve community health. The 2026 theme, “Ready. Set. Action!”, calls on communities to strengthen public health infrastructure, partnerships, and science to ensure safe, healthy, and equitable environments for all.
In Sonoma County, public health is foundational to community well-being. Through disease prevention, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, maternal and child health services, laboratory testing, animal services, and health equity initiatives, the Department of Health Services works to protect residents across the lifespan. Under the leadership of the County’s Public Health Officer, the County fulfills its statutory responsibility to monitor health conditions, prevent the spread of disease, respond to emergencies, and safeguard community health.
This item recognizes National Public Health Week in Sonoma County and the dedicated staff in the Department of Health Services, and reaffirms the Board’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening local public health systems that protect residents every day.
Discussion:
Public health works largely behind the scenes to prevent illness, extend life, and promote well-being at a population level. From ensuring safe drinking water and food safety inspections to disease surveillance, outbreak response, vaccination programs, and emergency preparedness planning, public health systems create the conditions in which communities can thrive.
The theme of National Public Health Week 2026 “Ready. Set. Action!” reflects the importance of maintaining strong, responsive public health systems that are prepared for emerging health threats, environmental hazards, and ongoing health inequities. Public health matters because prevention reduces suffering, saves lives, and lowers long-term costs to individuals and the healthcare system. Investments in prevention, preparedness, and early intervention strengthen resilience and protect the economic and social vitality of Sonoma County. Notable achievements of Public Health have included the dramatic reduction in lung cancer deaths and heart disease by reducing tobacco use and alleviating tobacco addiction, eradicating communicable diseases through comprehensive vaccination campaigns, savings lives in vehicular crashes by the adoption of safety standards and practices for motorized vehicles, and enhancing oral health across the lifespan through population based strategies such as water fluoridation, fluoride varnish, and dental sealants.
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services’ Public Health Division promotes optimal health and quality of life through service, science, leadership, and community engagement. Core programs include communicable disease control, immunization coordination, tuberculosis and HIV prevention, sexually transmitted infection prevention, maternal and child health services, home visiting programs, California Children’s Services, public health laboratory services, environmental health protections, and emergency preparedness planning and response. Thanks to Public Health, our water is safer to drink, our food is safer to eat, our children are protected from devastating illnesses, and people are living longer and healthier lives.
Sonoma County Animal Services also plays a vital public health role by promoting rabies prevention, investigating animal bites, preventing zoonotic disease transmission, supporting humane animal care, and contributing to community safety. These services reflect the interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health, often described as a “One Health” approach.
The County’s Public Health Officer serves as the local health authority under California law and is responsible for protecting the community from public health threats. The Public Health Officer oversees communicable disease control, issues health orders when necessary, provides medical and scientific guidance, and works collaboratively with healthcare providers, community partners, and state agencies to ensure coordinated response to health concerns. This leadership ensures that public health decisions are grounded in science, legal authority, and community need.
National Public Health Week provides an opportunity to recognize the essential contributions of public health professionals - epidemiologists, nurses, health educators, laboratory scientists, environmental health specialists, animal services staff, emergency planners, and community partners - whose daily work protects the health of Sonoma County residents.
By adopting this resolution, the Board of Supervisors affirms its support for strong public health systems, equitable access to services, prevention-focused strategies, and continued investment in programs that safeguard and improve community health.
Prior Board Actions:
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Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None