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East Central District Health
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Good Neighbor Programs
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History
The concept of having a multi-county health department started in the minds of several committed citizens long before it's November 1998 approval as a two county health department by the State of Nebraska. These individuals included Mary Lou Holmberg, Theresa Hilton, Arnie Stuthman, Alice Haenggi, Dana Bailey and Dr. Ron Klutman from Columbus as well as Connie Peters, Mary Peschal and Earl Wendt of Schuyler. These individuals spent about six years laying the foundation for what would become the Platte Colfax County District Health Department (PCCDHD). Thanks largely to the persuasiveness of these very dedicated professionals and consensus among the critically important community of health professionals, the importance of a health department was generated early on, and this consensus was translated into support among political leaders in the area who backed creation of the health department. Subsequently, through genuine attention to community participation in the development and operation of the health department, key health department board members and administrators were able to generate support for pursuit of funding to establish the health department.
The two county health district hired Rebecca Rayman as it's first executive director in July of 1999. Soon after starting, the Platte Colfax County District Health Department, dealt with it's first disease outbreak (Hepatitis) in September of 1999. In 1999, the year of its inception as a working department, PCCDHD provided 314 service encounters with a staff of four. In July of 1999 the department was located in a 1200 square foot office building. By September of 2000 the department was hopelessly out of space
so the board of health approved the purchase of a 4,400 square foot building on Howard Blvd. in Columbus, by December of this year we had increased the number of clients served to 1,456.
In July of 2001, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB 692, a bill intended to encourage the formation of District Health Departments and cover the entire state of Nebraska with a public health department. In October of 2001, the department reorganized as the East Central District Health Department (ECDHD) when Boone county was added to
the service area. The department grew again in May of 2002 when Nance County joined in giving the district it's current four county configuration. LB 692 allowed for stable funding for the public health activities of the department for the first time in it's history . At the same time a public health assessment process was started known as Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership (MAPP). This planning process pulled the community together. Perhaps more than any other factor, it has been the capabilities of community visionaries, county and health department board members, and key administrative staff to engender community support through real efforts to promote community understanding of and participation in the health issues that have confronted the community that have led to success.
In November of 2002, the success of the ECDHD lead to a need to expand the program facility yet again and the Board of Health purchased the building at 2282 East 32nd Ave to become the primary site of activities. In April of 2003, the ECDHD was granted a Community Health Center grant which led to the formalization of the medical services in the area for vulnerable populations. This grant led to the formalization of the Good Neighbor Community Health Center (GNCHC) with it's own governing board. In November of 2003 the Wellness Center opened to provide a central location for all activities related to prevention. In April of 2004 Obstetric services were added to GNCHC and in July of 2004 mental health services were expanded. An addition to the main site was completed in early 2005 expanding the building space to over 14,000 square feet. Dental services began in July of 2006 for GNCHC.
Funding for the organization comes from federal and state grants, foundations, state tobacco dollars, patient fees and insurance payments. No direct tax dollars are contributed from the four counties served.
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