GO Health 2025: A Year in Review
Published on December 31, 2025
2025 was a successful year for GO Health! In March, we achieved national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), highlighting our commitment to high-quality, efficient public health services. Throughout the year, our teams led projects and programs that made a real difference in the health and well-being of our community.
The Community Health Services Team works to meet important health needs through direct services, disease prevention, and sharing public health data. This year, the Maternal and Child Health Initiative added a new webpage. The Welcome Baby program sent 173 packets, responded to 69 referrals, and completed 12 home visits. The team administered over 500 vaccines through clinics and outreach, including visits to farms, flu and back -to-school clinics, jail-based clinics, and vaccinations for GCC Vet Tech students, veterinary staff, and county employees. Rabies prevention helped over 70 people who needed post-exposure care. Tuberculosis efforts included contact investigations, treatment for TB infection, and care for active TB cases. The team also conducted over 650 investigations for other communicable diseases. Public health data access expanded, with dashboards for respiratory illness and overdoses available on the GO Health website, along with the addition of wastewater testing results for high-risk substances added.
Environmental Health oversees many licensed facilities in Genesee and Orleans Counties to make sure they follow the New York State Sanitary Code. They help keep the community safe from foodborne illnesses by inspecting restaurants and other food vendors. Environmental Health Specialists also check septic systems, monitor public water supplies, enforce the Clean Indoor Air Act, and provide free rabies clinics. The Lead Program teaches families how to prevent lead poisoning and encourages lead testing for children. In 2025, GO Health received another grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help reduce lead hazards in homes in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties.
Staff in the Children with Special Needs Programs work with families of young children (birth to age 3) through the Early Intervention Program. They provide support, education, case management, and referrals. Services include speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special education. In 2025, 216 children in Genesee County and 180 children in Orleans County received Early Intervention services. For children ages 3 to 5, the counties work with local school districts through the Committee on Preschool Special Education to make sure children get the services they need. In the 2024–2025 school year, 236 children in Genesee County and 177 children in Orleans County were enrolled in preschool special education. The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs program (ages birth–21) continued a partnership with Independent Living of the Genesee Region, leading to more referrals and support for families.
The Public Health Education (PHE) team dedicated significant time and effort throughout 2025 to support the Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The team actively participated in multiple coalitions and led many workshops on Narcan use, mental health, diabetes prevention, nutrition, and other important health topics. They also updated the GO Health website to make public health information easier to find and use. Over the year, PHE staff went to more than 82 community events and educated over 5,345 people about different health topics.
In 2025, Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) updated its programs, inventories, and plans to follow state and federal guidance. The program worked closely with Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) partners in Genesee and Orleans, set up public health emergency agreements, shared mobile preparedness apps (Ready Genesee and Orleans Aware), and offered more safety training through the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). During National Preparedness Month in September, the community took part in training on sheltering, shelter-in-place, and evacuation planning. PHEP also improved its response skills through MRC mission planning. This helped during the August 22nd I-90 tour bus accident by providing a first aid station and a backup triage point.
Weights & Measures (W&M) is responsible for testing commercial devices used to weigh and measures various commodities. These inspections are done annually at grocery stores, delis, bakeries, produce stands, laundromats, farms, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, stone quarries, recycling centers, gas stations and non-commercial locations as requested. The department is also responsible for testing the quality of fuel sold within the counties, a task that is 100% reimbursed by New York State.
“Serving the residents of Genesee and Orleans Counties is a privilege,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “We are grateful for the support of our county legislatures, community partners, volunteers, and Board of Health members, and we wish everyone a safe and healthy New Year.”
For more information on GO Health programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:
- Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555
- Orleans County: 585-589-3278
Follow GO Health on Facebook, Instagram and X at GOHealthNY.
GO-Health-2025-Year-in-Review-Article_12.31.25.pdf(PDF, 170KB)