Purpose

 

The purpose of the Gila River Indian Community's Environmental Health Service Program is to protect the health of the community and those individuals visiting the community through the prevention and control of communicable diseases and through the minimization of exposure to environmental health hazards.

  

Overview

The goal of the Environmental Health Services (EHS) is the reduction of the risk of environmental related disease through education and prevention in 5 areas:

(1) Food safety and protection

(2) Environmental and vector related infectious disease prevention and control

(3) Institutional Environmental Health

(4) Recreational Health

(5) Public Health concerns - Septic systems

 

Staff

  • Hollie Rieger – Environmental Health Supervisor
  • Vacant – Environmental Health Specialist II
  • Vacant – Environmental Health Specialist II
  • Mohamad Sari-Basel Sbai -Environmental Health Specialist I
  • John Interpreter - Environmental Health Specialist I
  • Armando Ruvalcaba -Environmental Health Technician
  • Vacant– Environmental Health Technician
  • Vacant - Environmental Health Technician

 

Program Goals

Environmental Health Services works to protect the entire Community and the visitors to the Community from preventable environmentally transmitted illnesses by:

  • Providing education on integrated pest control to community homeowners.
  • Providing vector control measures to minimize mosquito-borne and tick-borne illnesses using the appropriate application of pesticides and natural control strategies.
  • Regulating permitted food establishments operating in the community (fixed food establishments, mobile food establishments, and special event food establishments) to insure safety and compliance with the GRIC Food Code.
  • Regulating the operation of permitted swimming pools and splash pads to insure safety and compliance with the GRIC Pool Code.
  • Conducting plan reviews of new food establishments and swimming pools as well as approval of major remodeling of those facilities.
  • Conducting failure assessments of septic systems at residences in the Community.
  • Conducting Housing assessments for Community members.
  • Conducting assessments to identify infestations and give homeowners recommendations on the control of bedbugs, rodents, mold, cockroaches, and termites for Community Head-of-Households.
  • Conducting sampling for disease agents in vectors (mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, etc.) and other environmental sampling where needed.
  • Conducting legal enforcement against operators who are not authorized to conduct food sales in the community.
  • Regulating the operation of childcare centers to insure safety and compliance with the GRIC Childcare Ordinance.
  • Responding to disaster events such as fires at permitted facilities and floods at residences.
  • Investigating disease outbreaks suspected to be caused by improperly operated food establishments and swimming pools.

 

FORMS

Temporary Food | Mobile Food | Application and Commissary