Health Department Releases Public Health Snapshot

Health Department Releases Public Health Snapshot

Published on April 08, 2026

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) today released its 2025 Public Health Snapshot. The snapshot highlights LLCHD's vital services, effective programs and their impact on the community.

"LLCHD had a highly productive year," said Kerry Kernen, Health Director. "We launched several new public health initiatives that will enhance the health and emotional wellbeing of Lincoln and Lancaster County residents and advance our mission of protecting and promoting the public's health."

The report is posted on the Health Department's website at lincoln.ne.gov/health.

Highlights include:

6 Pillars for Emotional Wellbeing Series

The 6 Pillars for Emotional Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide is a video series designed to help families build healthy rhythms and routines into everyday life that support youth emotional health. The series features local and national health experts, partners and parents. It focuses on six core elements including sleep, physical activity, nutrition/hydration, relational connectedness, mastery and quieting. Watch the video series at lincoln.ne.gov/6Pillars.

CredibleMind Online Platform Launched

The Health Department and health system partners launched CredibleMind - an online platform designed to support mental wellbeing and provide evidence-based mental health resources that can be personalized to fit a person's needs. It's free, confidential and available 24/7. CredibleMind now offers assessments and resources related to each of the 6 Pillars. Visit myhealthymind.com.

Heat Response Plan and Resources

Extreme heat can be dangerous and pose a threat to people's health. The Health Department created a Heat Response Plan to help the community prepare for and respond to extreme heat events and help residents stay safe as temperatures rise.

The plan lays out clear action steps for the City and Lancaster County, partners and residents during extreme heat, including offering extended hours at cooling centers and heat relief kits - more than 1,300 kits were distributed to cooling centers and partners during the heat season.

Additional resources were also created as part of the heat planning process including:

• Extreme heat website - lincoln.ne.gov/Heat provides information and resources to prepare for and stay safe in extreme heat including a one-page information sheet and social media graphics available in several languages.
• Heat briefs - The Health Department distributed briefs to more than 350 heat planning partners prior and during extreme heat events. The briefs prompt partners to take action steps identified in the plan and share heat safety messages with staff, clients, and community members.

Lincoln-Lancaster County is one of the only localities in Nebraska with a Heat Response Plan.

LLCHD Public Health Clinic

The Health Department's Public Health Clinic is a safety net provider of vaccines for children and adults, especially for those who may be uninsured or not connected to a medical home. Over the last year, 8,623 children and 4,583 adults received routine vaccinations through the clinic.

STI Services

The Public Health Clinic includes a Sexual Health Clinic that offers convenient and confidential services including exams and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The clinic expanded hours and days of operation in March 2025 to help serve clients more effectively and efficiently. Services include screening, diagnosis, treatment and education. The clinic also launched a new Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) service for HIV prevention, which is managed on-site.

Dental Health Services

Good oral health habits start early and last a lifetime. Dental Health Services provides preventive, routine and emergency dental care to low-income children and adults without dental insurance or enrolled in Medicaid. Outreach programs include Lincoln and Lancaster County School Screenings, Early Head Start Fluoride Varnish Program and education and outreach events for vulnerable populations. The Dental Clinic provided 12,896 visits and dental staff provided 1,494 dental screenings and fluoride varnish applications to Early Head Start, Head Start and early childhood development centers.

Youth Sports Sign Up Events

Participation in organized sports increases physical fitness, improves mental wellbeing, and strengthens social connections for youth. LLCHD partnered with the Lincoln Community Learning Centers to develop Youth Sports Sign-Up events. The free events were a one-stop shop to connect families with affordable local youth sports programs. Families learned about a variety of sports, expectations, exchanged equipment, registered for upcoming sports seasons, and applied for scholarships or financial assistance onsite.

Thirty-six different sports programs participated in three sign-up events, which featured a variety of sports such as swimming, track and field, martial arts, archery, and roller derby. More than 170 local students registered for youth sports through these events.

New Electronic Health Record System

LLCHD successfully deployed a new electronic health record system for the Department's public health clinics. This transition marked a significant leap in operational efficiency and patient engagement. The system empowers patients through an online portal, allowing them to securely access medical records and schedule appointments. The upgrade also optimizes clinical workflows by ensuring seamless data integration from the front desk to patient care. Key features include automated electronic lab orders and synchronized immunization records with Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Rabies Prevention

Lincoln Animal Control maintains a responsive and full array of domestic and wildlife services within the city limits. The Division ensures pet licensing - 62,249 dogs and cats were licensed within Lincoln - and rabies vaccination. Animal Control partners with the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center for bat testing. Approximately 290 bats were tested for rabies over the last year and 12 tested positive. Animal Control also focuses on cruelty and neglect case investigations and community education about responsible pet ownership and pet safety.

About LLCHD: The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department is an accredited public Health Department that serves the community through a range of services and programs aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water, and clean air; providing dental care and life-saving immunizations; protecting pets; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies and natural disasters.

LLCHD is the oldest and largest local health department in the state of Nebraska. Its mission is to protect and promote the public's health. LLCHD serves residents in both urban and rural communities including those living in Lincoln and in 23 rural towns, villages, or unincorporated villages, or on farms and acreages.