History the Pettis County Health Center

The first public health services in Pettis County were provided in 1938 by Elizabeth Abney R.N.  She worked for about one year and retired to get married.  Public health returned in 1959 under the supervision of the County Court, now the County Commission.  Funding was provided through the county and by contracts with the Missouri Department of Health and Social Services.  The years of 1960 - 1961 provide the first reports of organized public health services. Early public health issues focused on communicable diseases, lack of immunization in children and children not attending school due to health problems. Public health services remained the responsibility of  the county commission until the current

organization of the Pettis County Health Center under Missouri statute Chapter 205 in 1986.  At that time, the voters of Pettis County passed a 10 cent tax levy to fund public health. The Pettis County Health Center is governed by an elected Board of Trustees that oversees operations of the Health Center.