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www.doh.wa.gov
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Every Day in Washington State

More than 160,000 women and young children receive healthy food and nutrition education from the Women, Infant, and Children Program (WIC) in local communities.   More things we do

Washington State Department of Health
Working for a Safer and Healthier Washington

The Department of Health works with its federal, state and local partners to help people in Washington stay healthier and safer. Our programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide education to help people make good health decisions and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies.

• Essential programs for improving health
  Helping prevent illness is a cornerstone of public health. We work to improve health through disease and injury prevention, immunization, and newborn screening for prenatal disease programs.

• Information that works
  The Washington State Department of Health works with many partners to provide educational and training programs as well as health and safety information to help people make healthy choices.

• Working to protect you and your family every day
  By licensing health care professionals, investigating disease outbreaks and preparing for emergencies, we help ensure a safer and healthier Washington.

Use our organizational chart to find information about our programs
 

Washington's public health system

Along with the state Department of Health, Washington's public health system includes 35 local health jurisdictions (serving 39 counties), the Board of Health and other partners.

Washington State Department of Health: The Department of Health was formed in 1989 to promote and protect public health, monitor health care costs, maintain standards for quality health care delivery and plan activities related to the health of Washington citizens. The Secretary of Health is appointed by the governor. The statutory authority for the Department of Health is in the Revised Code of Washington 43.70.020.

Local Health Departments/Districts: Washington has 35 local health departments/districts. They are local government agencies, not satellite offices of the state Department of Health or the State Board of Health. Local health departments carry out a wide variety of programs to promote health, help prevent disease and build healthy communities.

Washington State Board of Health: The 10-member Board of Health provides a citizen forum for the development of public health policy. It recommends strategies and promotes health goals to the Legislature and regulates a number of health activities including drinking water, immunizations and food handling. The Board is housed with the Department of Health although it is an independent entity.

Public Health Partners: The Department of Health works with many health partners including the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine; American Indian Tribes and urban Indian health programs; hospitals and clinics; state and local community-based organizations, associations and coalitions. It also has close working relationships with federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health.

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Last Update : 01/05/2010 12:57 PM
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