WEDCO District Health Department

What WEDCO District Health Department does

WEDCO District Health Department is a state-chartered public district health department serving the residents of Harrison, Nicholas, and Scott Counties in Kentucky. Established during the Martha Layne Collins administration (1983-1987) and headquartered at 364 Oddville Avenue in Cynthiana, the organization is the sole statutory public health authority across its three-county district and holds Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) accreditation. It operates three county health center locations (Cynthiana, Carlisle, Georgetown) and delivers an integrated portfolio of clinical services, environmental health, community health, maternal-child health, vital statistics, and emergency preparedness programs.

The department's clinical platform covers immunizations (including the Vaccines for Children and Adult Vaccine Programs), STD/HIV/Hep C testing and treatment, TB screening, family planning, well-child exams, and physicals. Maternal and child health services include the WIC nutrition program, the KY HANDS home visiting program for new and expectant parents, safe sleep and pediatric head trauma prevention education, and the Beautiful Minds school-based mental health partnership with the University of Kentucky. Environmental health encompasses food establishment inspections (covering 142 sites across the district), septic system permitting, private water sampling, tattoo/body piercing studio registration, and inspections of swimming pools, hotels, and mobile home/RV parks. Community health programs include harm reduction syringe services, Freedom From Smoking cessation, CATCH My Breath vaping prevention, epidemiology and infectious disease surveillance, and preparedness coordination. The technology stack is built on standard public health information systems including the U-WIN portal, KY Immunization Registry, EPID 200/250/394 electronic disease reporting forms, a Community Health Assessment dashboard, and an online Food Scores portal.

WEDCO's revenue model is a hybrid of public funding and fee-based services. The operating budget is funded primarily through Kentucky Department for Public Health allocations and local fiscal court contributions, with secondary revenue from Medicaid and insurance reimbursements for clinical services, a sliding-fee scale based on Federal Poverty Guidelines for uninsured patients, and fixed fee schedules for environmental permits (septic permits $200-$420, tattoo/piercing studio certification $100-$400, home-based processor registration $50 annually), vital statistics certificates ($6-$10), rabies vaccinations ($5), and water sampling ($50 per sample). The go-to-market approach is direct-to-consumer and direct-to-business via three physical health centers, school-based programs, community outreach, home visitation, and online payment portals. Public Health Director Rachel Winkle leads a team of 11-50 employees.

Name

WEDCO District Health Department

Legal name

WEDCO District Health Department

Website

https://wedcohealth.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WEDCO District Health Department is a PHAB-accredited public district health department serving Harrison, Nicholas, and Scott Counties in Kentucky with clinical, environmental, maternal-child, and community health services delivered through three county health centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Services

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (92312), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Child & Family Health Departments (HLAJAAAK), Sexual Health & STI/HIV Prevention Health Departments (HLAJAAAL), Environmental & Occupational Health Surveillance Programs (HLAJANAI), Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Departments (HLAJAAAN), Communicable Disease Control Programs (TB, HIV/STIs, Hepatitis) (BPAIAJAH)

Keywords

• Public health services
• Environmental health inspections
• Maternal child health
• Immunization programs
• Disease surveillance

Headquarters

HQ city

Cynthiana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Public Health Funding: WEDCO District Health Department operates as a public district health department funded by government sources including the Kentucky Department for Public Health and local fiscal courts. The department enforces Kentucky Public Health Laws and Regulations.
2. Insurance and Medicaid Reimbursements: Many clinical services are covered by Medicaid and most major insurance plans. The department accepts insurance payments for services rendered at health centers.
3. Sliding Fee Scale Payments: For uninsured individuals or services not covered by insurance, WEDCO offers a Sliding Fee Scale based on income and Federal Poverty Guidelines. Some services such as childhood immunizations and communicable disease screenings are available for a small nominal fee set by the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
4. Environmental Health Permits and Fees: The department collects fees for various environmental permits including food service establishment permits, septic system permits (site evaluation $300, new construction $420, repair septic $220, existing functioning statement $200), tattoo/body piercing registrations ($100 artists, $400 studios), and home-based processor registrations ($50 annually).
5. Vital Statistics Services: Fees collected for vital statistics services including birth certificates ($10), death certificates ($6), marriage and divorce certificates after 1956 ($6). Applications are processed and forwarded to Frankfort.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WEDCO District Health Department is a public district health department serving Harrison, Nicholas, and Scott Counties in Kentucky. It delivers clinical preventive care (immunizations, STD/HIV/Hep C testing, TB screening, family planning, well-child and school physicals), maternal and child health programs (WIC, KY HANDS home visitation), environmental health services (food inspections, septic permitting, tattoo/piercing registration, water sampling, pool and hotel inspections), epidemiology/infectious disease surveillance, vital statistics, and community health education including harm reduction and tobacco cessation.

Product overview

WEDCO District Health Department is a public district health department serving Harrison, Nicholas, and Scott Counties in Kentucky, offering a portfolio of interconnected clinical, environmental, and community health service programs. The department's core Clinical Services platform provides preventive in-clinic care (immunizations, STD/STI/HIV/Hep C testing, TB screening, family planning, physical exams, well-child exams, and hepatitis C treatment) supported by the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Nutritional Program and the KY HANDS home visiting program for expectant and new parents. The Environmental Health division encompasses food safety inspections (Food Program), on-site sewage permitting, private water sampling, tattoo/body piercing registration, and inspections of swimming pools, hotels, and mobile home/RV parks. Community Health programs include Harm Reduction (syringe services), Tobacco Prevention and Cessation (Freedom From Smoking, CATCH My Breath), Preparedness planning, Health Education, and specialized Teen and Young Adult services. Maternal Child Health bundles Safe Sleep, Pediatric Head Trauma Prevention, Child Fatality Review, and Beautiful Minds (school-based mental health) programs. The department also operates Vital Statistics offices and provides online payment processing for both medical and environmental services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clinical Services In-clinic preventive and primary care services for residents of Harrison, Nicholas, and Scott Counties including immunizations, STD/STI testing and treatment, tuberculosis screenings, well-child exams, school/sports/CDL physicals, family planning, and hepatitis C testing and treatment. Covered by Medicaid and most insurance, with a sliding fee scale for uninsured patients.
• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program Special Supplemental Nutrition Program providing healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services for eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age five.
• KY HANDS Home Visitation Program Free voluntary home visiting program for new and expectant parents supporting families from pregnancy through the child's first two years of life, with parenting education, community resource connections, and support for healthy child development and safe home environments.
• Environmental Health Services Environmental health inspections, permitting, and enforcement of Kentucky Public Health Laws including food service establishment inspections, septic system permitting, private water sampling, tattoo/body piercing registration, swimming pool inspections, hotel inspections, and nuisance complaint investigations.
• Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Services Communicable disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and reportable disease enforcement under Kentucky Law 902 KAR 2:020. Includes EPID 200 disease reporting forms, animal bite reporting, and MDRO tracking for physicians, hospitals, and laboratories.
• Community Health Education Health education programs covering nutrition, physical activity, tobacco prevention and cessation, teen pregnancy prevention, and STD education, delivered by Health Educators strategically housed in each local health department to mobilize communities toward healthier choices.
• Harm Reduction / Syringe Services Program Anonymous and confidential syringe service program offered in Scott and Harrison Counties including STI testing and treatment referrals, overdose prevention education and Narcan distribution, access to sterile equipment, free HIV and Hepatitis C screenings, and vaccinations.
• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Tobacco prevention program offering the 8-week Freedom From Smoking program (American Lung Association partnership) and CATCH My Breath youth vaping prevention curriculum, with connections to Quit Now KY, My Life My Quit, and free Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
• Emergency Preparedness Emergency preparedness program coordinating with local emergency response agencies and the State Department for Public Health to develop plans for catastrophic events including infectious disease outbreaks, power outages, and potential terrorist attacks; maintains MRC and K-Helps volunteer workforce.
• Vital Statistics Vital records office providing applications for certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, paternity affidavit processing, birth registration from home deliveries, and legal forms for funeral homes, nursing facilities, and hospitals.
• Teen and Young Adult Services Confidential health services and resources for teens and young adults including clinic services (birth control, STD/HIV/Hep C testing, immunizations), mental health support and referrals, sexual health education, No-Home Contact privacy program, and injury/risk prevention programs.
• Maternal Child Health Programs Prevention-based services supporting families from pregnancy through childhood including Safe Sleep education (ABCDs of safe sleep), Pediatric Head Trauma Prevention education, Child Fatality Review, and Beautiful Minds school-based mental health partnership with University of Kentucky.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 3 counties with comprehensive public health services including preventive care, environmental health, and community health programs

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Kentucky Beautiful Minds ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEDCO partners with the University of Kentucky's Beautiful Minds Program to support students' mental health across all three counties. The partnership brings behavioral health screenings, suicide prevention, and bullying awareness straight into schools, focusing on early intervention and long-term emotional wellness.
• American Lung AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEDCO offers the Freedom From Smoking program in partnership with the American Lung Association. This 8-week, evidence-based program helps individuals quit smoking and stay smoke-free at no cost to Kentucky residents.
• Kentucky Department for Public Health - Food Safety BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe central office develops statewide retail food program plans, objectives, policies and procedures and helps local health departments carry out the food protection program in Kentucky. Certified evaluation officers trained by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provide training and guidance.
• National Universal Immunisation Programme (India)minorOthersWEDCO District Health Department (referenced in context of HPV vaccination campaign launch in Mysuru, India). The vaccination programme is being implemented under the National Universal Immunisation Programme, with eligible girls registered on the U-WIN portal.
• University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in developing regulations for home-based food processors, working alongside Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Farm Bureau, local health departments, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
• Local Schools and Community PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEDCO works with schools and community partners on various programs including CATCH My Breath vaping prevention, HANDS home visitation, and community health education initiatives across the district.
• Find Help Now KentuckyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to connect individuals with harm reduction resources, overdose prevention education, and Narcan distribution through the syringe services program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness: Municipal public health authority serving Louisville Metro (Jefferson County), Kentucky. Offers the same core clinical, environmental, and disease surveillance services as WEDCO at significantly larger scale, with PHAB accreditation and harm reduction programs that parallel WEDCO's portfolio.
• Barren River District Health Department: Kentucky district health department serving a multi-county region including Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Simpson, and Warren Counties. Directly comparable in scope, regulatory mandate, and service mix to WEDCO's three-county district model.
• Northern Kentucky Health Department: District health department serving Boone, Campbell, Grant, and Kenton Counties in Kentucky. Provides integrated clinical, environmental, and community health services under the same Kentucky public health statutory framework as WEDCO, making it a directly comparable multi-county district peer.
• Lake Cumberland District Health Department: Kentucky district health department covering Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Marion, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne Counties. Provides the same clinical, environmental health, and community health programs under Kentucky's district health department structure, comparable to WEDCO's rural multi-county footprint.
• Three Rivers District Health Department: Kentucky district health department serving Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Owen, and Pendleton Counties. Operates under the same Kentucky public health statutes as WEDCO with a comparable integrated service model — directly comparable district-level peer.
• Lexington-Fayette County Health Department: County-level public health department serving Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky. Operates clinical services, environmental health inspections, disease surveillance, and harm reduction under Kentucky public health law — directly comparable scope and mandate to WEDCO within a larger urban jurisdiction.
• Pennyrile District Health Department: Kentucky district health department covering multiple rural counties. Operates the same integrated model of clinical, environmental, maternal-child, and community health services under Kentucky Department for Public Health oversight — a close structural and operational match to WEDCO.
• Gateway District Health Department: Kentucky district health department serving Bath, Elliott, Menifee, Morgan, and Rowan Counties. Provides clinical, environmental health, WIC, HANDS, and harm reduction services under Kentucky Department for Public Health oversight — comparable rural district peer.

Others

• National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO): National membership organization representing local health departments including WEDCO's peer class. Not a direct operational peer but the principal industry association governing accreditation standards, advocacy, and best-practice frameworks relevant to WEDCO's operating model.

Regional players

• Kentucky Department for Public Health: State-level public health authority that oversees WEDCO and all other Kentucky district health departments. Sets statewide policy, distributes funding, and coordinates emergency preparedness — the parent regulatory and funding counterpart for WEDCO's operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WedcoHealth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrs3-uB9LEevfpGXwHKgvPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/WedcoHealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/wedcohealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wedco-district-health-dept

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about WEDCO District Health Department