Tracy Tucker’s personal experience with COVID-19 illustrates why a health department will be so valuable in Delaware County, writes J.F. Pirro for Main Line Today.

 When she and her family contracted COVID, there was nowhere to go for local virus stats or updates.

No longer. Delaware County is now one of seven counties in Pennsylvania to have its own health department.

It was born out of a political desire to create equitable health in Delaware County, along with an infusion of federal COVID relief funds and a unique public-private partnership with the Foundation for Delaware County.

The Foundation was already running maternal health programs like Healthy Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and WIC nutrition programs.

It set up a Delaware County Public Health Fund, then contributed an initial $50,000 to get things going.  It also offered staff support and expertise.

“You can’t just have a county council that says we want a health department and then approve one,” says Foundation President Frances Sheehan. “Council invited the community in.”

The partnership ties in with the new health director’s approach to align with community leaders.

 “It’s about being inclusive and not working in a silo or vacuum,” Melissa Lyon says.

Read more at Main Line Today about the new Delaware County Health Department.