Item Description:
title
National Public Health Week Proclamation - offered by Commissioner Conley
body
WHEREAS, the week of April 6 through April 12, 2026 is National Public Health Week and the theme is “Ready. Set. Action!” recognizing how public health has improved our daily lives, safeguarded our families, expanded our life spans, and strengthened our communities. It’s also a time to celebrate the efforts of public health staff and partner organizations and encourage continuous improvement for the future; and
WHEREAS, Significant strides have been made in public health, including the following public health successes:
1. Hennepin County is improving health outcomes and working to eliminate disparities by addressing food insecurity through a $4 million investment in food support to 35 partners, providing support and access to culturally relevant foods to residents across the county. Additionally, the county invested another $2 million in response to the 30+ day federal shutdown to ensure residents had readily available access in a time of crisis.
2. Hennepin County Public Health is reducing barriers to accessing childhood immunizations by providing community based vaccination clinics across the county, including clinics hosted in libraries and in partnership with local schools, providing 855 people with a total of 2,484 immunizations in 2025.
3. African American/Black and Indigenous women in Hennepin County experience higher rates cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, than women of any other racial group. To address these disparities, Hennepin County has partnered with community and clinical partners since 2024 to develop and support culturally relevant prevention, care coordination, and mental health services. These efforts reached 5,000 community members in 2025 and supported the “Your Heart Beats for Generations” campaign co-created with our community.
4. The Red Door Exchange offers safer drug use supplies and essential medical services, including medications for opioid use disorder, and testing, prevention, and treatment for STIs, Hepatitis C, and HIV. It also offers wound care. In 2025, staff provided wound care to 761 participants and treated 567 patients for opioid use disorder. Staff also distributed 6,919 naloxone kits with 1,641 reported overdoses reversed, demonstrating significant impact in preventing fatal overdoses.
5. Health impacts of climate change such as rising heat-related deaths are now being mitigated by actions such as public health campaigns, local adaptation plans including cooling centers and other preparedness plans to protect the public from extreme weather, wildfires and other regional threats; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County Public Health recognizes racism as public health crisis, and has committed to reducing health disparities and advancing health equity; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County Public Health envisions a community where all people are healthy, all people are valued, and all people thrive; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County Public Health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, withstand and recover from the impact of a full range of health threats, ranging from infectious disease outbreaks to natural disaster preparedness; and
WHEREAS, efforts to adequately support public health and the prevention of disease and injury can continue to transform a health system focused on treating illness into a health system focused on preventing disease and injury and promoting wellness; and
WHEREAS, engaging with the community for shared decision-making centers Hennepin County Public Health’s strategy to enhance the health of county residents through a disparity reduction lens.
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners declares the week of April 6 through April 12, 2026, as Public Health Week in Hennepin County; in recognition of the efforts and impact of Hennepin County Public Health, its staff and its partners in progressing the health of our community.
Recommendation from County Administrator: No Recommendation