County health departments (CHD) improve health status by preventing epidemics, protecting against environmental hazards, encouraging health behaviors, preparing for and responding to disasters, and assuring the quality and accessibility of health services.
County health departments are located in all of Florida’s 67 counties. Each county health department provides services that align with the four core pillars of public health, including infectious disease prevention and control, acute care and preventative services, environmental health, and preparedness and response.
Disease Prevention and Control
Services include surveillance, diagnosis and treatment, partner elicitation and contact tracing, and risk reduction education. CHDs are either directly or indirectly involved in the treatment and/or follow-up of the majority of reportable infectious disease cases in Florida.
CHDs provide services including immunizations, tuberculosis screening and treatment, sexually transmitted disease detection and control, and HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. CHDs also generate birth and death certificates.
Acute Care and Preventative Services
Services include treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, woman and infant clinical care, prenatal care, family planning, well child services, school-based health care, and dental health care.
Environmental
Public Health
Services include inspection and monitoring of group care living facilities such as day care centers, and nursing homes, as well as monitoring private water wells for contamination. CHDs work with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to guard against groundwater contamination and investigate sanitary nuisances and community hygiene issues. Additional services include regulation of tattoo, body piercing, and tanning facilities, as well as inspections of public swimming pools.
Preparedness and Response
Services include coordinating the availability and staffing of special needs shelters, supporting patient evacuation, ensuring the safety of food and drugs, providing critical incident stress debriefing, and providing surveillance and control of radiological, chemical, biological, and other environmental hazards.