AUSTIN, Texas - The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of public health as Austin and Travis County had the need for mass vaccination and testing sites at the drop of a hat. As the virus raged on, Austin Public Health (APH) put its full weight behind curbing its spread in our community and making sure everyone had the opportunity to get vaccinated. Following the end of the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023, efforts that weren’t highlighted during the pandemic have had a chance to shine, including food safety, health screenings and more.

The first Trauma Recovery Center in Texas opens in Austin

APH’s Office of Violence Prevention, in collaboration with the African American Youth Harvest Foundation, opened the state’s first Trauma Recovery Center in November. The center provides evidence-based mental health trauma treatment and wraparound services to survivors of violent crime and their families.

In just the first six weeks of operation, the center has served 96 individuals seeking services.

Survivors of violent crime can contact the Harvest Trauma Recovery Center by:

• Phone: 844-428-HTRC (4872)

• Email: hello@harvesttrc.org

• In-person: 6633 E Hwy 290 #300, Austin, TX 78723 (Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Ensuring hundreds of families have healthy starts for their newborns

APH’s Family Connects supports families of newborns in Austin and Travis County by linking them with nurses and resources to grow healthy babies. Family Connects nurses make home visits, where they offer a number of services, including:

• Checking the weights of mom and baby

• Screening for postpartum depression

• Giving tips on bath time and changing diapers

• Sharing information on child care options

• And much, much more!

In 2023 Family Connects has been able to visit more than 900 families to offer these services. 

Those who are interested in Family Connects can visit FamilyConnectsATX.org or call 512-972-5096.

Making sure the Austin food scene is as healthy as it is tasty

APH’s Environmental Health Services Division is full of teams working behind the scenes to make our community a healthy place to live. One of their many responsibilities is food inspections – inspecting any and all establishments that serve food to ensure safe practices are being followed. In just the last year, Environmental health officers conducted more than 10,000 inspections, responded to 400+ citizen food complaints and conducted 105 foodborne illness investigations.

This work isn’t limited to just our brick-and-mortar restaurants – staff are busy with mobile food vendors, especially those seen at all of our local events. In 2023, environmental health officers conducted 1,995 inspections at events including SXSW, ACL and Formula 1.

While officers work to ensure everyone follows best practices, they also look to support restaurants with resources. Most recently, the division developed food safety guides in several languages that are shared with restaurants during inspections.

Looking forward to a healthier 2024

The accomplishments listed above are just a peek into the daily public health work done by the hundreds of employees who make up the APH team. Highlights of work from all our divisions can be found in our 2023 Year in Review. We’re looking to continue this work and more – let's make Austin-Travis County a healthier place for all in 2024.