81R14064 BPG-D
 
  By: Davis of Dallas H.R. No. 1079
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Zachary Thompson, director of the Dallas County
  Department of Health and Human Services, has received the 2009
  Health Care Award from the Interdenominational Ministerial
  Alliance of Greater Dallas; and
         WHEREAS, Dedicated to helping those in need, the IMA has
  served the Dallas community for more than 50 years; its Health Care
  Award honors individuals who work to maintain the well-being of all
  members of society, including the most vulnerable; and
         WHEREAS, The mission of the DCHHS is to protect Dallas County
  citizens through disease prevention and intervention and by
  fostering a healthy community and environment; in addition to
  conducting assessments, monitoring disease outbreaks, and
  providing health services and community education, the agency helps
  control the spread of disease through regulation; and
         WHEREAS, Under the direction of Mr. Thompson, the department
  has responded quickly to crises and undertaken numerous important
  initiatives, among them Point of Distribution training for area
  municipalities and large employers and hosting of a pandemic
  influenza tabletop exercise for representatives from the
  education, business, civic, law enforcement, and medical
  communities; the DCHHS Medical Reserve Corps received national
  recognition for its exceptional contributions during the response
  and recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and in
  2008, the DCHHS heat-related illness surveillance program was one
  of 25 local public health programs to receive a Model Practice award
  from the National Association of County and City Health Officials;
  and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson, who holds both a bachelor's and a
  master's degree in social work, became director in January 2004
  after eight years as deputy director; he has guided his department
  in protecting those in frail health through such endeavors as a
  weatherization program for low-income residents and the provision
  of air-conditioning units to the elderly and disabled; under his
  leadership, the DCHHS has received more than $4 million in grants to
  support its work; and
         WHEREAS, A caring and dedicated public servant for more than
  20 years, Zachary Thompson has executed the mission of the DCHHS
  with tremendous skill, and his commitment to the safety and
  well-being of all area residents has placed the agency at the
  forefront of public health preparedness; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
  Legislature hereby congratulate Zachary Thompson of the Dallas
  County Department of Health and Human Services on receiving the
  2009 Health Care Award from the Interdenominational Ministerial
  Alliance of Greater Dallas and extend to him best wishes for
  continued success; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Mr. Thompson as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.