Health Director Stephen Williams is Empowering Houston with Sustainable Health Care Reform
This Thanksgiving, in the midst of the on-going debate over health care reform in our nation’s capitol, Houstonians can be thankful for the positive changes already in motion under the strong leadership of Stephen Williams, Director of the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Williams came to Houston in 2004 after serving a successful nine (9) year tenure as executive manager of Travis County’s Health and Human Services and Veteran Services Department in Austin, TX. His record proves he has more than embraced the challenge Mayor Bill White issued to provide Houstonians with more efficient and effective delivery of public health services.
“I’ve always liked being in a position where I can actually help people.…or influence people that are in the business of helping people.” said Williams. “I always look at situations and see what can be done rather than focusing on what doesn’t exist.” Williams’ attitude, passion and leadership continues to help the City of Houston move in the right direction. There is still a lot to do, but you may be surprised to learn how much has already been accomplished during Williams’ tenure.
Under Williams’ leadership, Project Saving Smiles was initiated, targeting Houston 2nd graders for oral screenings. In only one school year, through enhanced partnerships and updated methodologies, this project resulted in an increase of over 100% for the number of children receiving dental sealants. Williams also established the Gift of Sight to provide vision screening and glasses to school aged children. “One child [who received glasses] didn’t know he had lines on his hands,” recalls Williams. These types of programs have more impact than we know. Oral health is directly related to heart disease prevention. And who knows how many behavioral problems often result from undiscovered vision problems.
Another successful program has been the community Assessment, Intervention and Mobilization project (AIM), a door-to-door responsive services program. AIM meets a variety of short-term and long-term needs, such as minor home repairs, food, clothing, emergency utility and rent assistance, and in some instances, services are granted immediately. So far, the department has taken AIM to Houston’s Near Northside, Sunnyside, Independence Heights, Magnolia Park, Tri-Community, and Fifth Ward neighborhoods.
In addressing communicable diseases, Williams was able to get in front of a syphilis outbreak with a rapid response team. This is ordinarily something requiring assistance from state and federal partners but he was able to address the issue by mobilizing his own staff and community partners. A Disease Surveillance System also was implemented to detect disease outbreaks in the community by monitoring hospitals, clinics and drug stores to gauge what is really going on, from a disease perspective, in the community. This type of creative ingenuity led to a school absentee monitoring system to stay in front of outbreaks including H1N1 influenza.
This administration is also making a name as a trendsetter with its nationally recognized Hip Hop for HIV Awareness Intervention screening and concert event. For the past three years the DHHS has teamed up with several organizations to sponsor free and confidential sexually transmitted infections screenings. This year, over 14,000 teens and young adults took advantage of the free service, with over 120 new syphilis and HIV infections identified. These individuals were then linked to medical care. Alarmingly, over 20% of those tested were positive for Chlamydia or Gonorrhea.
Along with promoting wellness and preventing disease, Williams has improved our regional preparedness efforts for natural disasters. Williams, who has managed relief efforts for 3 hurricanes in five years, understands the importance of preparedness in response to natural disasters. Under his leadership, senior issues are being addressed and childhood immunization rates increased. In conjunction with the Mayor’s Office, air quality improvement efforts were amplified. While the list of accomplishments is long and impressive, Williams keeps a forward focus.
Houston is a thriving city with a world-renowned medical center. It is open and very supportive of businesses. However, Williams admits, “…. we’re still challenged with issues related to poverty and health disparities. There is no reason why we can’t in a meaningful way start to tackle these issues. There is no reason for the abuse and neglect rates to be what they are in some of our communities; there is no reason for our HIV rate to be what it is, for our STD rates to be so high. There’s no reason why we cannot really look at preventative health issues for children. He questions “Why can’t we re-create our systems to be responsive to those needs?”
For Houston to continue expanding and moving upward and responding to the community’s public health needs, Williams has set even higher goals for 2010.
• Maintain efforts in air quality
• Increase testing for HIV and other STIs
• Build initiatives like the Kids Village initiative that focus on children that will result in integrated and comprehensive services for children
• Expand oral health services; provide dental sealants for every 2nd grader in the city of Houston
• Increase the partnership with the One Sight Foundation to include seniors
• Maintain state of readiness for disaster in public health emergency
• Continue response to H1N1 influenza and other potential natural or disease disasters
• Continue depression screening within the WIC program and look at preventative mental health services
• Look for ways to integrate HDHHS services to a greater extent
• Continue Healthy Families initiatives and the nurse family partnership program
• Continue wrap around services in Kashmere High School
Williams is quick to acknowledge that the success of the office and carrying out the future goals are only possible because of his highly competent and knowledgeable staff.
When asked about the Health Care Bill that is now in the hands of the U.S. Senate, Williams agrees that something needs to be done. “There are just too many people who are challenged with access to healthcare. I also think that there needs to be a major focus on preventative health issues, because I think that’s where the cost savings will actually come into play. As long as we are dealing with sick care we are going to continue to be challenged with how to finance that sick care system. There is a way to prevent people from getting chronic disease. And there is a way to manage chronic disease even when it occurs,” said Williams.
When it comes to public health, Williams believes in a comprehensive approach. “It’s not enough just to look at health care. I think you have to consider your emotional, physical and, spiritual well-being in the context of the environment that you exist in and the relationships you have,” said Williams.
Williams is committed to ensuring that the work of the department is geared towards connecting people with long term activities. He emphasizes how we should not wait until we are sick to go to the doctor but get regular check ups. He also mentioned the importance of looking at what we eat and whether or not we exercise. “I believe that people need to assume a greater level of responsibility for themselves and their own well-being,” says Williams.
“I can remember my mother in her senior years even starting to cook greens with smoked turkey. That’s a big deal! We can do things like that. It is possible to maintain our culture and still be healthy,” suggests Williams.
Prior to managing the Travis County Health and Human Services and Veteran Services Department, Williams served as Administrator of Public Health, then Deputy Director for programs and services for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. From 1979-1991, he served in various public health capacities, including administrator of community health services in Maricopa County (Phoenix, AZ) and in leadership roles with the Montgomery, AL, Area Mental Health Authority. He also worked in the Juvenile Justice system in the Alabama Department of Youth Services.
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