Clinton County residents will soon have new, easier ways to access birth records and other public health services as the county health department expands online tools, outreach and partnerships across the community.
Health Department Highlights New Location and Mission
Clinton County Public Health Administrator Melissa Hodson-Ostler, BSN, RN used a recent appearance on WILO’s Party Line program to outline how the department has grown into a 10‑person operation focused on prevention, access and education. She emphasized that many residents still are not sure what the department does or where it is located. “One of the key functions we have is promoting wellness and helping people understand what the resources are, where we’re at, what we do,” Hodson-Ostler said. “I don’t know how many times I would hear, ‘Well, what do they do at the health department?’”
The department is based at 1234 Rossville Avenue, in the shared Healthy Communities/health department building along State Road 39 between Frankfort and Rossville. “If you see that illuminated LED sign with all the rotating data on it, that’s us,” she said.
Vital Records: More Access, New Online Tools Coming
Vital records – birth and death certificates – remain one of the first services people encounter when they walk in the door. The office’s volume has grown significantly because Indiana residents can now obtain certified copies of their Indiana birth records outside the county where they were born, although changes to records still typically must be handled in the county of birth. “One of the new things that’s really picked up our volume and our business is the fact that you can now obtain those records outside of the county that you were born in,” Hodson-Ostler said.
She noted the county has invested in an archivist who has been manually uploading historic records, some dating back to the 1800s, into digital systems so they are easier to find and share when requested. The department is also preparing to launch “Vital Direct,” an online service that will allow residents anywhere to request certified birth certificates with stronger identity verification and online payment. “Access is key when it comes to health care,” she said, adding that QR-code posters will be placed in libraries and township locations so people who cannot easily travel to Rossville Avenue can still complete requests online.
Immunizations, Measles Concerns and Travel Shots
Hodson-Ostler reported that the department administered more than 2,800 immunizations last year with a small nursing staff, including routine, school and travel vaccines. She said Clinton County is one of the few local places where residents can get yellow fever and malaria shots for international travel. “We can do it affordably, or we can get you right away, and people kind of like to just come here to Clinton County and do that,” she said.
While flu remains a year‑round concern, Hodson-Ostler pointed to measles as the disease drawing the most attention in emergency preparedness. She said national measles cases have climbed sharply after the disease had been nearly eradicated, driven in part by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation on social media. She stressed that the long‑used measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains safe and effective, and that multiple studies have found no link to autism. “It’s really important you choose who you take your medical advice from,” she said. “If any one of us gets told you have a brain tumor, I’m not going to social media to find out whether or not I should do it. I’m talking to my trusted neurosurgeon, my doctors, my family.”
Environmental Health, Food Safety and “Respiratory Etiquette”
Beyond nursing and records, the department’s environmental health and sanitation division monitors septic systems, food safety and vector‑borne diseases such as West Nile virus. Inspectors aim to visit restaurants and school cafeterias twice a year and also check break rooms and snack areas in local factories to ensure food is stored and handled safely. Hodson-Ostler said the department does not provide extermination services but does respond to situations where vermin and waste could spread infectious disease.
She also used the radio appearance to reinforce basic infection‑prevention practices she calls “respiratory etiquette.” That includes covering coughs in a sleeve, staying home when running a fever and frequent handwashing, especially around shared items such as serving tongs at buffets. “You touch so many things,” she said. “There are three ways viruses get in your body: they get in your nose, they get in your mouth, they get in your eyes. It’s a pretty easy protection system as long as you are mindful of that.”
Growing Role for Community Health Workers and Local Partnerships
Hodson-Ostler said community health workers are becoming a larger part of the county’s strategy to reach residents where they are, from restaurants and community events to schools. These workers can provide translation, help with insurance paperwork and connect families to resources for issues such as food insecurity, freeing school nurses and clinicians to focus on clinical care. “We already know there’s not enough doctors. We already know there’s not enough nurses,” she said. “So how else do we do that?”
She added that the health department now regularly collaborates with Healthy Communities, the Open Door Clinic, IU Health, the local critical access hospital, United Way, EMS, Coach Kids and other groups to coordinate services and referrals. The department also posts meeting agendas, minutes and restaurant inspection information on its website as part of its commitment to transparency. “We’re busy, and we’ve always been busy,” Hodson-Ostler said. “The question is how do we stand at the top of the roof and shout that and how do we show the good work?”
