Catherine A. Johnson Southren, Esq. Director, Housing/Rockland Codes Initiative Sr. PH Sanitarian, Rockland County Department of Health

• 30 years of service

Kate Johnson Southern exemplifies the best qualities of a public health servant. During her 30-year tenure at the Rockland County Department of Health she earned her law degree and worked her way through the ranks of the Environmental Health Division. During the December 2014 expansion of the Housing Program, later to become its own division, the Rockland Codes Initiative (RCI) was created to improve the safety of housing in the county. Mrs. Southern was tasked to develop the RCI, a complex, enforcement, compliance, and educational program. RCI staff inspect illegal housing, investigate lack of egress, and check for garbage, safety, utility, and fire issues. The work is complex and involves daily collaboration with outside agencies, interest groups, and all the town and village building departments within the county. Mrs. Johnson has accomplished all the goals set for her and continues to work diligently on this program, where morale is at an all-time high.

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