HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Wayne Fisher - Health Officer
Phone: 837-4824
Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM July and August

The Health & Human Services Department is the agency of municipal government that offers health education programs, conducts countless sanitary inspections and provides preventive services to protect the health and welfare of all the men, women and children who live in Teaneck.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE & HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT: The prevention of blight and neighborhood deterioration is a top-priority responsibility of the Teaneck Health Department, the chief enforcement agent of property maintenance and housing codes. The enforcement program includes investigation of residential overcrowding, inadequate heat and hot water, insect and rodent infestations, and overgrown and littered properties. Property maintenance is not limited to the appearance of buildings and properties; it also includes the correction of variety of health and safety hazards.

The code enforcement program includes licensing and inspection of one-family rented dwellings and lodging houses, which are inspected on an annual basis. All vacant apartments, including those in two-family houses, must be inspected before they are reoccupied.

The department makes thousands of inspections a year. Enforcement proceedings included warnings, violation notices, and, if other means fail, Municipal Court action.

FOOD SAFETY: Licensed Sanitatians perform periodic inspections of all establishments which sell or serve food products to the public. More than 165 establishments including supermarkets, restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals, nursing homes, caterers, itinerant Vendors and school cafeterias are inspected. Over 100 food vending machines are also inspected on a yearly basis. Food handler training courses are given by staff personnel to food service managers and their employees. A rigorous sampling program for dairy products and potentially hazardous foods is conducted twice a month. Food samples are tested for bacterial and mold levels and dairy products are tested for fat content as well as microorganisms.

ANIMAL CONTROL: The Township contracts with the Bergen county Animal Shelter to provide animal control services. Residents may obtain these services by contacting the Teaneck Health Department, Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM and through the Teaneck Police Department at all other times. Dog licenses must be obtained in January of each year. A $10 late charge is added to the licensing fee if the license has not been obtained by the end of February. Cat licenses must be obtained during April of each year. A $1 0 late charge is added to the licensing fee if the license has not been obtained by the end of May. The department offers free rabies shots for dogs and cats owned by residents, when indicated. The Health Department Sanitarians investigate all complaints about animals.

GENERAL INSPECTIONS: To insure that sanitary conditions are maintained and conditions comply with applicable codes, periodic inspections are made of public institutions, including hospitals, nursing homes, child-care centers and public and private schools including Fairleigh Dickinson University. Throughout the year, public bathing places are monitored weekly to ensure compliance with the state recreational bathing code. Water samples are analyzed for microorganisms and proper water chemistry.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH: The department periodically inspects all place of employment, including factories, warehouses and office buildings. These inspections are designed to protect employees against potential health and safety hazards and to insure healthful working conditions.

INSECT AND RODENT CONTROL: The department administers a pest control contract that includes inspection and outdoor extermination on public lands only. Advice and information will be provided to private homeowners having problems with insects or rodents. The Bergen County Mosquito Commission provides control of areas where mosquitoes breed by monitoring and spraying.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING: The Township contracts with Holy Name Hospital for the provision of Public Health Nursing Services. Public health nurses conduct hypertension/risk assessment clinics on Monday evenings and Friday afternoons. Appointments are not required. Blood pressure and health counseling and assessment are done every Thursday afternoon at the Senior Service Center.

The Public Health Nurse also audits all schools and child care centers in the Township for immunization compliance. All cases of reportable communicable disease are followed-up by the Public Health Nursing staff. Flu shots are also administered free of charge to persons 65 years or older in October and November. Watch the newspapers for the time and date.

HEALTH EDUCATION: Public Health education goes hand-in-hand with preventive medicine. Its purpose is to influence people's attitudes to encourage them to make decisions which will prevent development of self-destructive health habits. The public health educator works with community and school groups to organize and develop programs and services tailored to their requests and needs. Health-related literature and reference materials are available at the Health Department office.

MATERNAL AND CHILD CARE: The Township administers a Child Health Conference and Immunization center in conjunction with Holy Name Hospital which is open to Teaneck residents by appointment. A Pediatrician and the Public Health Nursing staff see infants at appropriate intervals throughout the first year of life and periodically during the other pre-school years. In addition to routine physical examinations, mothers are provided with nutrition advice and routine child rearing questions are answered. Protective immunizations are administered under State guidelines to prevent Diphtheria Pertussis (Whooping cough), Tetanus, Polio and Mumps, Measles and Rubella (German measles, Haemophilus Influenzae and Hepatitis B. These inoculations are a prerequisite for children entering the Teaneck School system. Blood lead, hearing and vision tests are also performed at the appropriate ages. This service is provided to prevent disease and to maintain good health; sick children must be taken elsewhere for medical help. All Teaneck school-age children are also eligible for free immunizations as required for school attendance. Appointments can be made by calling 833-0275.

BI-ANNUAL "TAKE CARE-HEALTH FAIRS": The health fairs offer a wide variety of free health tests and consultations including hearing tests, eye examinations (for acuity and Glaucoma), dental checks (for oral cancer, malocclusion and caries), medical examination for male and female cancer including free pap smears, instruction on breast self-examination, blood tests for diabetes, sickle cell anemia and cholesterol, blood pressure checks, screening for colorectal cancer, consultation with a dermatologist, podiatrist, physical therapist and general medical consultant. The fairs are scheduled on Saturday in October and Sunday in May.

SOCIAL SERVICES/MENTAL HEALTH: The Social Services component of the department directs the Township programs which are designed to assist the unemployed, the homeless, and those who are emotionally and/or physically disabled.

SERVICES