DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Proclamation Of Public Health Week In Dakota County The Week Of April 6-12, 2026
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Proclaim Public Health Week in Dakota County, the week of April 6-12, 2026.
SUMMARY
Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is and performs the duties and exercises the powers of a community health board under Minn. Stat. Ch. 145A, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents.
In the first full week of April, individuals, families, organizations, and government agencies will celebrate National Public Health Week. The goal is to recognize and promote the vital work public health plays, along with the behavior of individuals and families, in creating a healthy community. This year the theme is “Ready. Set. Action!” Public Health is more than just health care. It’s the steps we take to ensure our neighborhoods and environment are free from pollution. It’s ensuring our food and water are safe to eat and drink. It is preventing diseases before they start. It is helping people live longer, healthier lives while managing health-related costs. It’s also relationships we foster in our communities. When we all come together to support and take action toward our public’s health, all of us, individuals, families, communities, and the public health field, can achieve the goals of public health.
OUTCOMES
The Dakota County Public Health Department (DCPH) works to create a healthy, thriving, and equitable community for all. We do this by collaborating to prevent disease, promote well-being, and protect health and the environment. In 2025:
• Our public health nurses, community health workers, and staff completed over 9,900 visits with community members during pregnancy and after delivery to provide information on healthy physical, social, and emotional child development.
• Our public health department continued to work to control and prevent infectious diseases like COVID-19 and flu. Over 4,900 vaccines were provided to community members at 95 clinics (3,768 DCPH/83 clinics/932 people, 1247 Homeland Health/12 clinics/554 people).
• Our Fall Prevention Project, a project within the Communities for a Lifetime program, served 73 residents in West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Burnsville, and Eagan - helping residents avoid falls and fire departments reduce lift assists.
• Our health promotion team leveraged over $2.3 million in funds for active living and physical development infrastructure.
• Our opioid team provided naloxone training to over 100 people to increase access to overdose prevention resources and reduce the stigma of substance use in our communities.
• Our environmental health team distributed over 800 radon test kits to community members to promote safe living conditions.
• Our Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) staff provided nutrition and breastfeeding education to 8,666 community members. There were 486 families served by the WIC Peer Program.
• Our Child and Teen Checkup (C&TC) staff contacted 7,854 individuals about the benefits of infant and child preventive health care, when their next screening is due, and how to access care.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
To encourage residents to take action to promote their health, the health of their families, and health of their community, staff recommends the Dakota County Board of Commissioners recognizes Public Health Week in Dakota County, April 6-12, 2026.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
None.
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is and performs the duties and exercises the powers of a community health board under Minn. Stat. Ch. 145A, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents; and
WHEREAS, the week of April 6-12, 2026, is National Public Health Week, where the goal is to recognize and promote the vital work public health plays, along with the behavior of individuals and families, in creating a healthy community; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 theme is “Ready. Set. Action!”; and
WHEREAS, public health is more than just health care; it is taking steps to make sure our neighborhoods and environment are free from pollution and making sure our food and water are safe to eat and drink; and
WHEREAS, public health is also relationships fostered in our communities, being aware that we are all interconnected and when we all come together to support our public’s health, all of us - individuals, families, communities, and the public health field - can achieve the goals of public health; and
WHEREAS, preventing diseases before they start is critical to helping people live longer, healthier lives while managing health-related costs; and
WHEREAS, strong public health systems are critical for sustaining and improving community health.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby proclaims April 6-12, 2026, as Public Health Week in Dakota County and encourages residents to take action to promote their health, the health of their families, and the health of their community.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Presentation Slides
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Gina Pistulka
Author: Gina Pistulka