Senate Resolution No. 394

BY: Senator BORRELLO

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
Cattaraugus County Health Department

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those
organizations that work to serve the health care needs of citizens of
the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Cattaraugus County Health
Department, to be celebrated at an event on Thursday, June 15, 2023; and

WHEREAS, In 1921, the New York State Legislature passed a law to
organize the first county health unit in New York; after surveys were
made of four counties, Cattaraugus County was selected as the first
demonstration area on November 20, 1922; and

WHEREAS, In 1923, the Cattaraugus County Health Department was
officially launched with bureaus dealing with communicable diseases,
tuberculosis and statistics, and with a laboratory service; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Cattaraugus County Health Department diligently
works to engage and empower the public of all ages to live healthier
lifestyles through efforts of education, prevention, promotion,
monitoring, accessibility, affordability, technology, testing,
diagnosing, and treating; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Cattaraugus County Health Department is
in direct correlation to the efforts of its Public Health Director Kevin
D. Watkins, MD, MPH and his staff, whose involvement is, and always has
been, characterized by an impressive commitment to the profession, an
unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in
all endeavors on behalf of the organization and the residents they help
take care of; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the vital importance of
the Cattaraugus County Health Department in providing excellence in care
through prevention, education and treatment, and its evident commitment
to this mission; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Cattaraugus County Health
Department; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Kevin D. Watkins, MD, MPH, Public Health Director,
Cattaraugus County Health Department.