About NVHD
The Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD) serves as the official local public health entity for the combined towns of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton, Connecticut. The service population for the district is approximately 130,441* residents.
In January 1972, the cities of Ansonia, Derby, Shelton, and the town of Seymour joined together to form the Lower Naugatuck Valley District Public Health Department. The town of Beacon Falls joined in 1980, and when the borough of Naugatuck joined in 1985, the name was changed to the Naugatuck Valley Health District.
NVHD achieved national public health accreditation in 2015 and reaccreditation in 2022.
NVHD is committed to protecting the environmental and physical well-being for its communities through the promotion of health access, health education, regulation, community engagement and partnerships.
NVHD is made up of three main divisions: Environmental Health, Community Health and Administration.
Environmental Health Division
The goal of the Environmental Health Division is to prevent illness, disability, or death from the interactions between people and the environment. Our sanitarians perform health inspections, investigate and resolve complaints about health hazards, and educate the public. The NVHD is responsible in partnership with state and federal agencies, for enforcement of the State Public Health Code, relevant State Statutes and Regulations, and Local Health Ordinances. NVHD responds to public health emergencies on a 24-hour basis.
Community Health Division
The Community Health Division has legal responsibility for the investigation of infectious diseases in the district. It also provides a wide array of preventive health programs aimed at increasing the span of healthy life for all our residents. Activities take place at convenient community locations and involve partnerships with local health and human service agencies, municipal departments, and physicians.
Emergency Preparedness and Medical Reserve Corps
Public health emergency preparedness efforts support the health and safety of residents in the district. The Naugatuck Valley Health District maintains All-Hazards Public Health Emergency Response Plans to ensure optimal response to various man-made and natural disasters. Emergency plans are updated annually and outline preparation, response, and recovery efforts specific to plans such as pandemic influenza, small pox, bio-terrorism and other emergencies that impact the public’s health. Emergency preparedness initiatives are based on state and federal standards to support optimal response efforts. The Medical Reserve Corps is a volunteer unit comprised of individuals with both medical and non-medical backgrounds who support preparedness and response activities within the NVHD jurisdiction. Sign up online at CTresponds.ct.gov
Administration
The Administration Division focuses on clerical and operational functions that support the public health professionals as they carry out their responsibilities. Human resources, accounting, purchasing, and facilities management are some of the functions provided by the Administrative Division. Administration also supports planning, data management, reporting, communication, and other across-district activities.
