4265 Department of Public Health
Program Descriptions

20 - PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The Public and Environmental Health program objectives are to prevent disease and premature death and to enhance the health and well-being of all Californians. These objectives are achieved by:
  • Working with local agencies that protect and enhance public health.
  • Monitoring the incidence, prevalence, and trends of infectious and of chronic non-infectious diseases.
  • Coordinating prevention-related programs to promote healthy environments and prevent and minimize the incidence, prevalence, and duration of infectious diseases, injuries, violence, and chronic diseases.
  • Regulating and developing partnerships with non-profit organizations and public and private businesses and industries to achieve and maintain a healthful environment.
  • Designing community and environmental health promotion, risk assessment, intervention, and treatment strategies, and evaluating their cost-effectiveness.
  • Promoting social norm changes to reduce risk factors for unhealthy behaviors including tobacco use, unhealthy eating, and physical activity.
  • Providing quality laboratory services for biomedical, bioenvironmental, forensic alcohol, and methadone drug analyses.
  • Supporting research into the causes, prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases.

20.10 - Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion:
This program works to prevent and control chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and diabetes; to reduce the prevalence of obesity; to provide training programs for the public health workforce; to prevent and control injuries, violence, deaths, and diseases related to behavioral, environmental, and occupational factors; to promote and support safe and healthy environments in all communities and workplaces; and to prevent and treat problem gambling. This program includes Chronic Disease and Injury Control, Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, and the Office of Problem Gambling.

20.20 - Infectious Diseases:
This program works to prevent and control infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, influenza and other vaccine preventable illnesses, tuberculosis, emerging infections, and foodborne illnesses. This program includes Communicable Disease Control, the Office of AIDS, and the Office of Bi-national Border Health.

20.30 - Family Health:
This program works to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in access to health care for low-income families, including women of reproductive age, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and infants, children, and adolescents and their families. This program is comprised of the Genetic Disease Screening Program; the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program; and the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program.

20.40 - Health Statistics and Informatics:
This program works to improve public health by developing data systems and facilitating the collection, validation, analysis, and dissemination of health information. This program includes Vital Records and Public Health Informatics.

20.50 - County Health Services:
This program supports county-based public health information and services including the Medical Marijuana Program and Refugee Health Services.

20.60 - Environmental Health:
This program works to protect and improve the health of all California residents by ensuring the safety of drinking water, food, drugs, and medical devices; conducting environmental management programs; and overseeing the use of radiation through investigation, inspection, laboratory testing, and regulatory activities. This program includes Environmental Management and Food, Drug, and Radiation Safety.