I want to share with the public the mission, authority, laws, and procedures regarding the Environmental Public Health Specialist, (EPHS), from the Howard County Public Health Department (HCPHD).

At this time, the HCPHD has one part time EPHS, who works eight hours per week. His name is John Michael Holman. The Mission of the EPHS and the work of the health department is “To protect and promote health and safety consisting of professional and technical work promoting community environmental health and implementing environmentally influenced public health laws and regulations.”

The HCPHD serves Howard County by the policies and standards set forth by the Bureau of Environmental Health Services, which is a component of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The EPHS strives to prevent illness, injury, and death related to environmental causes. The goal of the HCPHD/EPHS is to uphold several values that we feel are important to our clients as well as to our staff. We believe that respect, confidentiality, communication, listening, professionalism, courtesy, integrity, and trust are essential aspects of our work.

There are numerous requirements for the position of EPHS, consisting of professional and technical work promoting environmental health... (continued)