Gold Medal
For the second year in a row, Metro Health has earned an overall Gold medal rating from CityHealth. This is an initiative of the deBeaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente that advances evidence-based policy solutions for cities across the country.
San Antonio is one of eight major U.S. cities to earn an overall Gold Medal this year, and the only city in Texas to receive this top designation.
Read more about our Gold Medal from CityHealth.
Promising Practice Award
Also in July 2025, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) selected The Resource Center at Villa Coronado (RCVC) for a Promising Practice Award for community-driven solutions to address food insecurity.
The RCVC application underwent a rigorous peer-evaluation process and demonstrated an exemplary response to a local public health need. The application is featured in the Model Practices Database for other local health departments to review and replicate.
Read more about how we were honored with NACCHO's Promising Practice Award.
Model Practice Award
In July 2025, Metro Health was proud to be recognized as a 2025 NACCHO Model Practice Award recipient for an employee centered approach to establish a QI culture at a large local health department. This award highlights Metro Health’s commitment to engaging frontline staff in a leadership program and a staffed Quality Improvement Symposium that have strengthened workforce engagement, retention and program outcomes.
By centering employees as drivers of improvement, Metro Health has built a resilient, motivated workforce and a sustainable culture of quality that is now being shared nationally as a model for other health departments.
View the full list of recipients for the 2025 Model Practice Award.
It's Time Texas Challenge
Also in 2025, San Antonio received 1st place in the 2025 Healthier Texas Challenge, formerly known as It’s Time Texas, highlighting our dedication to advancing public health initiatives and enhancing the well-being of our community. This marks the 10th time San Antonio has received this award.
Through continued collaboration and focused efforts, Metro Health and the Mayor’s Fitness Council are proud to contribute to a healthier future for all Texans.
Learn more about It's Time Texas Community Challenge.
Culture of Health Leaders Institute for Racial Healing Program
We're excited to announce that two of our staff, Monica Avila and Angela Warren, have been selected to take part in the Culture of Health Leaders Institute for Racial Healing. This program aims to improve racial and health equity. They are the first from San Antonio to be chosen, out of 120 applicants nationwide.
The 18-month program uses the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) framework by empowering leaders in public health and criminal justice reform. This experience aligns with the SA Forward Plan (PDF) by addressing:
- healthcare access for marginalized communities
- supporting medically vulnerable populations
Promising Practice Award
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) selected UT Health San Antonio's Health Confianza and the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) for its Promising Practice Award for their work to improve health literacy in underserved areas in San Antonio.
Read more about how we were honored with NACCHO's Promising Practice Award.
Level 1 Foundational Trauma Informed Care Organizational Certification
The City of San Antonio proudly announces that it has received a Level 1 Foundational Trauma Informed Care Organizational Certification for the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health).
Read more about San Antonio departments who received the Trauma Informed Care Certification.
CityHealth Gold Medal
The City of San Antonio was recognized with an overall gold medal by CityHealth, an initiative of de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, for passing policies that improve the health and wellbeing of its residents by addressing health disparities across the most marginalized communities.
Read more about our Gold Medal from CityHealth.
CityHealth Bronze Medal
The City of San Antonio was recognized with an overall bronze medal by CityHealth for passing policies that improve the health and well-being of its residents and address health disparities across the most marginalized communities.
Innovation in Public Health
San Antonio Metro Health's COVID-19 Community Response and Equity Coalition (CREC) was chosen as a 2022 Innovative Practice Gold Awardee by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for their submission entitled Public Health as a Team Sport: COVID-19 Community Response & Equity Coalition.
Texas Department of State Health Services Model Practice Award: STD/HIV Prevention, Public Health Follow Up