The Bristol-Burlington Health District or “BBHD” is a full-service local public health district serving the towns of Bristol and Burlington. It was formed in October 1979 when the two municipalities sought the services and economies of scale that a regional sharing of resources and facilities would allow.

It is our mission to safeguard and improve the status of public health in the geographical area served by the District. It has a strong focus on maintaining the highest standards that are expected of a health district, both in its regulatory efforts as well as in its prevention and health education functions.

Legal Status

The District is organized under the provisions stated in Chapter 368f of the General Statues of the State of Connecticut. It is a quasi-governmental agency that is separate from municipal government and has its own governmental body and budget.

Board of Health

The District is governed by a Board of Health. It functions as the general policymaking body and has overall budget adoption authority. The Board has monthly meetings as well as special meeting when necessary. Notices of the meetings conform to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. Daniel G. Zabel, MPH, is the current representative from the Town of Burlington.

Staff

The District has 43 employees. This includes the Director of Health, the Chief Sanitarian, two registered sanitarians, two public health nurses, the Senior Dental Hygienist, two registered dental hygienists, the Health Educator, fifteen school registered nurses, thirteen health aides, the Office Manager, three administrative staff, and the Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator.

The Director of Health serves in a full-time capacity and performs such duties including, but not limited to, the day-to-day operation of the District. The Director is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for public emergencies.

The District contracts with a local physician for services as the medical advisor. The medical advisor is responsible for clinical supervision and the issuance of medical standing orders among other duties. The District also retains its own legal counsel to assist with personnel issues as well as other rules and regulations that promote general health within the District. In addition, one of the six regional epidemiologists of the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health is located at the Bristol-Burlington Health District.

Programs and Services

The District provides the following comprehensive local public health services: environmental health, communicable and chronic disease control, school and oral health, public health emergency planning, record keeping and data management. The District also works with federal, state and local agencies, community groups, academia, and other health-related organizations to coordinate existing programs and to plan and implement new ones.

The District is divided into two different areas that include Environmental and Community Health. 

• The Environmental Health Program enforces state statutes, the Connecticut Public Health Code, local ordinances, and regulations relating to public health issues. This division reviews septic system design, inspects septic systems, and conducts soil testing for new and repairs of sewage disposal systems. It provides permits and inspects construction sites of all private wells. Services also include inspection and testing of public bathing areas and outdoor swimming pools throughout the summer season.
  
  The BBHD food protection inspection program is a major component of the environmental health area. District staff inspects restaurants, cafeterias and eating facilities in the public and private school systems as well as temporary food service events. The environmental health staff also responds to complaints related to garbage, sewage, lead paint, oil and chemical spills and air pollution. Other responsibilities include but are not limited to the regulation of barber/beauty/nail salons and control of insects and rodents.
  
  
  

• The Community Health Program monitors and provides follow up in communicable diseases reported by physicians and laboratories and provides rabies clinics for cats and dogs and potential human exposure to rabid animals. Other responsibilities include planning for public health emergencies and outbreaks of disease including bioterrorism. This includes the creation and implementation of mass vaccination clinics if necessary.
  
  Residents of Burlington and Bristol are able to receive low-cost vaccinations for a number of diseases as well as testing for tuberculosis during our immunization clinics. The clinic is located at the District office. Influenza clinics are also offered to residents for this service. In addition, the community health staff provides basic health screenings and education at monthly clinics. This service is provided free of charge to residents.
  
  Lead poisoning is one of the most common yet preventable diseases in children. Even relatively low levels of lead may lead to permanent damage to the nervous system and brain, interfere with growth, and contributes to learning disabilities. The District provides comprehensive lead services by public health nurse and environmental health staff. This area of service will most likely increase with the new legislative mandate requiring action at a venous blood level equal to or greater than 15 micrograms/deciliter (Note): the current action level is equal or greater than 20 micrograms/deciliter).
  
  The Bristol-Burlington Health District Dental Program for the Elderly offers dental exam, cleaning and referral services to Burlington and Bristol residents who are 60 years of age or older. This program receives funding from the North Central Area Agency on Aging, the Teddy Bear Jamboree and the Women’s Services Organization of Bristol. A donation of $20 per person/per visit is requested.
  
  
  

Finances

The fiscal year of the District is from July first to June thirtieth inclusive. Each year, the BBHD Board of Health has a public hearing on its proposed budget. Following the public hearing and before April 30th of each year, the Board adopts its annual budget in accordance with its estimate of financial requirements for the next fiscal year. An annual audit of the finances of the District is conducted in the fall.

The District receives federal, state and local funds. In addition to funding for public health emergency planning and prevention programs from the federal government, BBHD is funded on a per capita basis formula from the State of Connecticut. A proportionate share of the expenses of the District, to pay the cost of operating the District, is established using the last annual population estimate for the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, for each participating town or city. For fiscal year 2008, the District received $6.62 per capita from the City of Bristol and Town of Burlington and $2.08 per capita from the State of Connecticut. Additional fees are generated through the issuance of permits and licenses.

Grants

The District applies for available funding grants that assist in fulfilling its capacity to meet the essential services of local public health. As a full time health district, BBHD is also eligible for additional grant monies to address specific issues that are not available to part time health departments.

To promote the overall health and well-being of its member communities, the District frequently applies for grants that address current and future public health concerns. Grants received during the past year include funding for oral health services of older adults, cancer control planning activities, tobacco cessation programs, public health emergency planning, and HIV/AIDS counseling, testing and referral. Funding for a physical exercise program, oral health services, and public health emergency preparedness have already been received for FY 2008-2009. These programs are provided to residents of Burlington and Bristol at low or no cost. In addition, the District conducts studies of existing and emerging trends and regularly seeks funding for innovation solutions to identified issues.