Environmental Public Health
One of the most important public health concerns is “Environmental Public Health.” Environmental Health strives to prevent illness, injury and death related to environmental causes. Carter County Health Center provides environmental public health services in Carter County by a trained Environmental Public Health Specialist. Services and inspections are provided in accordance with the Missouri Food Code and Missouri state laws and regulations.
https://health.mo.gov/safety/foodsafety/pdf/missourifoodcode.pdf
The types of inspections included under Food Sanitation are:
– School Cafeterias
– Restaurants
– Taverns
– Embargo Activities
– Temporary Service Stand
– Mobile Food Service
– Retail Grocery
– Senior Citizens
– Summer Feeding
– Truck wrecks/Fires (food related)
– Food Complaints
For more information on Day Care regulations and licensure:
https://health.mo.gov/safety/childcare/index.php
Recalls
For information on the most current recalls, please click on the following links:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts
Responsibilities
Food sanitation & protection and inspection (Restaurant/Food Establishments); Sewage Treatment Complaint/Inspection; Solid Waste Disposal; Daycare Licensing Inspection; Lodging Sanitation; Institutional Sanitation; Community Environmental Sanitation; Water Supply Evaluation (Well Testing); General Vector Control; Occupational Health; Consumer Product Safety; Fire Safety (Lodging); Risk Assessment; Building Related Illnesses; and Epidemiological Investigation.
Day Care Sanitation Inspections
Purpose: To create and maintain a safe, sanitary environment for all children in “out of home” childcare facilities regulated by the Department of Health & Senior Services. Those regulated are:
– Family Homes- 1-10 children
– Group Homes- 1-20 children
– Childcare Centers- 21 or more children
– Inspected Religious Organizations (not licensed) – 1 or more children
These facilities are inspected annually. They do not pass inspection until all defects are corrected. If an individual keeps more than 4 children in their home who are not related to them, the home must be licensed.
Any childcare facility that desires licensure may be inspected regardless of their category or number of children cared for.
Water Testing
Water Testing
It is the purpose of this program to protect water supplies to prevent water-borne disease or illnesses by providing technical assistance to the public in water treatment, well installation, and sampling. This program addresses individual water supplies as well as water supplies that serve food and lodging establishments and other facilities under Carter County Health Center jurisdiction.
Private Water Sample Test Kit Information
Private drinking water sample test kits may be picked up at the Carter County Health Center at 1611 Health Center Rd., Van Buren, MO 63965 during regular business hours.
Once the sample is obtained, it should be returned to the health center for pickup to be sent to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services Laboratory for bacterial analysis. There is a $10.00 charge for this analysis, payable to the laboratory.
The Carter County Health Center’s Environmental Public Health Specialist does collect samples for Bacterial Analysis of private Drinking Water for Foster Care Programs, and individuals under Special Circumstance Situations. These are done free of charge. Water samples may only be collected on Monday-Thursday.
For more information in regards to any Environmental Public Health Services contact the Carter County Health Center at 573-323-4413, ext. 222.