Jan. 10, 2012 -- Do you know a person or organization that has made a special effort to tackle a public health problem?

If so, the Westchester County Board of Health would like to consider them for the 2012 Distinguished Public Health Service Award. Nominations for this year's award will be accepted until Feb. 9.

The Distinguished Public Health Service Award is presented annually in recognition of Public Health Week in April to a person or community-based organization that exemplifies a commitment to public health and has served the community with distinction during the past year.

"Recipients of the Distinguished Public Health Service Award are all remarkable people who have made great impacts to public health in Westchester," said Dr. Douglas Aspros, president of the Westchester County Board of Health. "As individuals and community agencies, they have recognized the mission of public health and have responded with creativity and generosity to assist the Board of Health in accomplishing its mission to promote public health in Westchester."

Past recipients of the Distinguished Public Health Award have included: The Children's Environmental Health Center of the Hudson Valley, 2011; Westchester Jewish Community Services Young Parents Achieve Program, 2010; African American Men of Westchester, Inc., 2009; Reverend Hugh Farrish and the Port Chester/Town of Rye Council of Community Services, 2008; and the Rye YMCA Activate America Program, 2007.

For more information, or to obtain a nomination form, visit the Westchester County Department of Health's Web site at www.westchestergov.com/health  or call (914) 813-5000.