What is Public Health?

Our Vision is to have a healthy Mason County.

Our Mission is to:

  • Promote Healthy Lifestyles
  • Prevent Disease and Injury
  • Protect from Unsafe Environments
  • Prepare for Public Health Emergencies

Public health is guaranteed to all residents by Washington State law.  From safe drinking water and restaurant food safety, to disease prevention and control; the work of public health is to help communities be safe and healthy.  The National Public Health Performance Standards Program has identified standards to ensure an optimal level of performance from state and local public health departments.  Ten essential services of public health provide the framework for these standards including:

  1. Monitoring health status to identify community health problems.
  2. Investigating health problems and environmental health hazards to protect the community.
  3. Informing, Educating, and Empowering people about public health issues.
  4. Mobilizing community partnerships to identify and address health problems.
  5. Developing Policies and Plans that support individual and community health efforts.
  6. Enforcing laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.
  7. Promoting strategies to improve access to healthcare     services.
  8. Assuring a competent public health workforce.
  9. Evaluating effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of public health processes, programs, and interventions.
  10. Researching new insights and innovative solutions to public health problems.

Mason County Board of Health oversees policy and budget decisions of the public health department.  Departmental leadership is provided by:                                                                 

  • Dave Windom - Public Health Director     
  • Daniel Stein, MD - Health Officer
  • Ian Tracy –Interim Environmental Health Manager
  • Lydia Buchheit, RN, PHN – Community & Family Health Manager
  • Casey Bingham – Finance Manager

Public Health services are funded by a combination of federal, state, and local funding and fees for service. The 2011 BOCC Adopted Budget Publication provides detailed financial information for the department (pages 226-234).