Douglas County, which recently formed its own public health department, will continue getting health services from longtime partner Tri-County Health Department through the end of 2022, according to an agreement both parties signed Tuesday.
Douglas County decided Sept. 7 to formally split from Tri-County after 55 years and form its own public health agency over objections to COVID-19 mandates that Tri-County had handed down for mask usage in schools as well as Tri-County’s decision to no longer allow its member counties, which includes Adams and Arapahoe, to opt out of public health orders.
Tri-County will continue to provide core health services to Douglas County, including health inspections, hazardous material expertise, food programs for low-income women and children, vital records and disease control and investigations. This will happen “until the new health department can provide those services,” Tri-County said in a news release Tuesday.
“This agreement benefits all parties, but mainly ensures there is no gap in services for the residents of Douglas County,” Tri-County Executive Director Dr. John Douglas said.
