As the flagship of Ohio’s public health infrastructure, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) works with 130 local health departments to “protect and improve the health of all Ohioans.”

ODH impacts Ohioans from cradle to grave – from helping provide pre-natal care, to issuing your birth certificate, to perhaps providing your first immunizations, to offering family planning information, to performing nursing home inspections to issuing your death certificate.

ODH impacts Ohioans from sunrise to sunset – Going out to breakfast? An ODH-regulated program inspects that restaurant to ensure it meets food-safety standards. Hitting the beach with your family? ODH tested it to ensure bacteria levels are safe for swimming. If not, ODH recommends a sign be posted telling you just that. Going out for a nighttime summer concert? ODH reminds you to cover up with light-colored clothing and to wear repellant to protect yourself from mosquito bites and potential West Nile virus infection.

ODH is a cabinet agency, meaning the director reports to the governor. ODH is organized in three divisions – Prevention, Quality Assurance and Family and Community Health Services and each has its unique focus. Prevention is exactly what it says – the arm that works to prevent illness and injury and also conducts disease investigations. Quality Assurance is our regulatory section, while Family and Community Health Services works to provide access to care.  Governor Ted Strickland’s Healthy Ohio Program is also housed at ODH.

Healthy Ohio

Healthy Ohio – The State of Living Well – has three core program areas: health promotion, disease prevention and health equity. These areas work collaboratively with public and private partners and consult with the Healthy Ohio Advisory Council to create the changes in communities, worksites and schools that lead to better health for all Ohioans.

Division of Family and Community Health Services

ODH works hard to provide targeted health services to Ohioans. Many programs are designed to eliminate barriers to care and disparities in health outcomes, such as our infant mortality reduction initiative that aims to decrease mortality for African-American babies through the work of dedicated community health workers. The Women, Infants and Children program that provides coupons for formula and foods for mothers and their children. Our rural health clinics and Minority AIDS initiative also help increase access to care. Our dental sealant program helps protect children’s dental health. And dental health is Ohio’s No.1 unmet health care need.

Division of Prevention

ODH provides flu shots and other vaccines for local public health providers. ODH must calibrate Breathalyzer machines to ensure accurate tests and keep our roads safe? We do. Of course you know we wrote the enforcement rules for Ohio’s new indoor smoking ban, but did you know we also regulate radioactive materials in Ohio on behalf of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission? We do. Trailer park inspections? Check. DNA fingerprinting to link illnesses to food products? Check. Radon detectors? You bet. Fall prevention for seniors? Affirmative.

Division of Quality Assurance

If you need health care in Ohio, ODH is there. ODH regulates and inspects nursing home and residential care facilities.  ODH is in the hospital when a newborn is brought safely into the world. ODH is also involved when someone has open heart surgery. ODH protects some of Ohio’s most vulnerable residents by licensing adult care facilities and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded.  When you have an X-ray, ODH ensures the machine is properly calibrated to assure safety. When you have blood drawn, the laboratory is licensed by ODH.

ODH Strategic Plan