Public Health Services

QUICK REFERENCE LINKS

• Advance Health Care Directives Information
• Healthcare 411 (news series produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
• HIPAA Compliance Information
• Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program
• Public Health Bulletins
• Public Health Forms
• Public Health Services Org Chart - Overview 

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The Environmental Health Services Division prevents exposure to toxic substances, diseases, unsanitary conditions, and other environmental hazards through education and enforcement. Programs include hazardous materials management, food safety, water quality, recreational water and swimming pool monitoring, and solid waste facility oversight.  

The Family Health Services Division provides preventive health clinical services such as family planning,  Immunizations , tuberculosis and sexually-transmitted disease control, Epidemiology , Communicable Disease Control and Prevention , Maternal Child Health Programs ,  Field Nursing Programs , California Children's Services , Child Health and Disability Prevention Program , Medical Therapy Program , Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program , Foster Care Program and outreach programs.  
Go to Family Health Services Webpage

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

The Emergency Medical Services Division coordinates and supports emergency medical services (EMS) throughout the county. The Emergency Medical Services Agency  develops countywide policies and protocols for prehospital patient care and operations and performs evaluation and oversight of local emergency transport providers and designated specialty care systems. The Agency certifies Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), accredits local Paramedics, and authorizes local Mobile Intensive Care Nurses (MICNs). The Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program mission is to protect the public and ensure that the local first responders and health care system are prepared to respond to public health emergencies in an effective and coordinated manner.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

The Health Care Services Division oversees the County-funded health care delivery systems including the County Medical Services Program and the Law Enforcement Medical Care Program. 

County Medical Services Program (CMSP) authorizes medical care for eligible county residents between the ages of 21 and 64 years old who do not qualify for MediCal benefits, or other public health care assistance programs, and who are unable to pay their medical care. The County subcontracts with Community Health Centers of the Central Coast to provide primary medical care for county residents enrolled in CMSP.

Law Enforcement Medical Care (LEMC)  provides medical care for juvenile wards while they are residing in the Juvenile Services Center and medical care for adults incarcerated in the County Jail.

HEALTH PROMOTION

The Health Promotion Division works within the community to promote healthy behaviors. Along with a focus on individual change in behavior, we encourage the adoption of community wide improvements that benefit public health. Our programs include:

Tobacco Control Program - Offers free cessation classes and free nicotine replacement therapies to the community. We also work with local jurisdictions on policies to restrict the use of tobacco.

Obesity Prevention Program - Works with community partners in the HEAL-SLO collaborative to reduce the rate of childhood obesity. We also offer workshops on certain nutrition topics.

Women Infants and Children (WIC) - Is a national program which offers nutrition education and food vouchers to low-income women and their children - from pregnancy to the age of 5.

Oral Health Program - Offers preventative oral care to the residents, with a focus on children 0-5 years of age. 

HIV/AIDS Program - The HIV/AIDS Program works to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS in the County and to provide care and support services to those affected by the disease.

Injury Prevention Program - The injury prevention program is in the planning stages and will most likely launch in August of 2012.

Other programs may be offered, based on funding availability.
Go to the Health Promotion Webpage

PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY

Provides high quality and timely testing services for communicable disease diagnosis, water quality and animal diseases including Rabies.
Go to the Public Health Laboratory Webpage