Alabama Department of Public Health
Encyclopedia
The Alabama Department of Public Health is the primary state health agency
of the government
of the U.S. state
of Alabama
. It provides a number of public health
services to Alabama residents.
"services for the improvement and protection of the public’s health through disease prevention and the assurance of public health services to resident and transient populations of the state regardless of social circumstances or the ability to pay."
s of the State of Alabama..." "The Medical Association of the State of Alabama is the State Board of Health. The State Board of Health and its administrative arm, the Department of Public Health, have central offices located in the state’s capital city, Montgomery, Alabama
." "The terms State Board of Health, State Committee of Public Health, State Department of Public Health, and State Health Officer are used interchangeably except where the context prohibits."
"The State Committee of Public Health meets monthly. Agendas are available to any interested persons not less than seven days in advance of the meeting, if available, in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. All meetings will be open to the public unless closed in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act." "Minutes of the Committee meetings are prepared and are available at the Board of Health offices for inspection during regular business hours."
is organized into offices, bureaus, divisions, and units. There are over 3,800 Alabama Department of Public Health employees, including central office staff, public health area officers and administrators, and county health department staff.
services and programs specific to the needs of each area.
s in all Alabama counties, as well as guidance and consultation to the two independent city-county health departments in Jefferson County, Alabama
and Mobile County, Alabama
. The State Board of Health provides supervision to the Jefferson and Mobile county health departments which are governed by their local county board of health.
s offer clinical, environmental, and home and community services to local residents. Certified birth, death, marriage, and divorce records/certificates for a vital event which occurred within the U.S. state
of Alabama
may be obtained from a local county health department for a fee. Services vary from health department to health department.
Clinical services may include but are not limited to: cancer screening
, family planning
, health insurance
for children, immunization
, WIC
, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV
/AIDS
testing and counseling, and tuberculosis
screening.
Cancer screening
services include but are not limited to: Pap smear
s, breast examinations, self examination instructions, and assistance in finding treatment for cancer if needed. Uninsured or underinsured women ages 40 to 64 with income eligibility at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines qualify for free services, including a pelvic examination
, Pap smear
s, clinical breast examination, mammogram, and diagnostic services such as an ultrasound
, colposcopy
, or biopsy
if needed, through the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP).
Family planning
services include but are not limited to: family planning methods, counseling
, and education, birth control
information, medical examinations, and distribution of supplies. Contraceptives are available to those in the childbearing age group.
Local county health departments provide information on All Kids, a low-cost health care coverage program for all eligible children under the age of 19. All Kids is the result of a partnership between The Alabama Department of Public Health, The Alabama Medicaid
Agency, and the Alabama Child Caring Foundation. Alabama was the first state in the nation to have a federally approved State Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP) plan. CHIP was added to the Social Security Act by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997
. The purpose of this program is to provide health insurance
to the country's uninsured children under the age of 19.
Immunization
to prevent polio, diphtheria
, tetanus
(lockjaw), pertussis
(whooping cough), measles
, mumps
, rubella
(German measles), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae
type B), and Hepatitis B are provided by the county health departments. A certificate of immunizations, known as the “blue slip,” is required for entry into all day care centers, Head Start, and public and private schools through grade 12. Vaccination
s for adults for measles
, pneumonia
, tetanus
, flu, and other diseases, including those required for overseas travel are also available.
Health assessments, supplemental food, and nutrition education are available to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to five years of age who qualify for WIC
, the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children.
Confidential testing, treatment, and counseling for most sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV
/AIDS
are available for anyone 12 years of age or older. Social work services, home care services, and referrals to other support services
in the community are available to clients with HIV or AIDS.
Tuberculosis
(TB) screening—Tuberculin skin test, sputum culture
/test, and X-ray (if indicated)—are available to anyone for tuberculosis diagnosis
and tuberculosis treatment
. Medication, if indicated and assistance in finding additional care are also provided.
Health education
is a primary component of every program. Some clinical health services require an appointment, while others are offered on a walk-in basis. Some clinical services may require a fee.
Home and community services include home health care and life care services, and elderly and disabled and HIV/AIDS Medicaid
waiver case management. Home health care services can include skilled nursing care, intravenous therapy
, diabetic care, cardiovascular care, post hospital assessment and teaching, and urinary catheter management; home care
health aide; medical social work
; physical therapy
to include postsurgical therapy; and occupational therapy
and speech therapy. Life care services can include personal care aide, companionship, skilled and unskilled homemaker and respite care
, and telehealth
biomonitoring
. Case managers for the Elderly and Disabled and HIV/AIDS Medicaid waiver programs aim to develop individualized care plans, based on the client’s ongoing care needs, to help maintain independence in a safe home environment.
The Alabama Department of Public Health and the local county health departments ensure standards in several environmental and health-related service areas to protect the public from injury
and the spread of disease
. These health protection activities include health regulations enforcement, complaint investigations, and permitting, licensing, and inspections for the following:
Some environmental services require a fee to be submitted prior to the service being performed.
, emergency preparedness, environmental services, family health, health care access, home and community health, injury prevention
, and regulation and licensure. The Department publishes over 90 health-related pamphlets available to Alabama residents. The topics range from injury prevention to environmental health, nutrition
and physical activity, tobacco prevention, emergency preparedness, sexually transmitted diseases, chronic disease, and communicable diseases.
State health agency
A state health agency , or state department of health, is a department or agency of the state governments of the United States focused on public health. The state secretary of health is a constitutional or at times a statutory official in several states of the United States...
of the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It provides a number of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
services to Alabama residents.
Purpose
The purpose of the Alabama Department of Public Health is to provide public healthPublic health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
"services for the improvement and protection of the public’s health through disease prevention and the assurance of public health services to resident and transient populations of the state regardless of social circumstances or the ability to pay."
State Board of Health
"The Alabama State Board of Health was constituted by Code of Ala. 1975, §2221, and is charged with the responsibility for safeguarding the public health through enforcement of the public health lawPublic health law
Law is an important public health tool that plays a critical role in reducing illness and premature death. Public health law examines the authority of the government at various jurisdictional levels to improve the health of the general population within societal limits and norms.Public health law...
s of the State of Alabama..." "The Medical Association of the State of Alabama is the State Board of Health. The State Board of Health and its administrative arm, the Department of Public Health, have central offices located in the state’s capital city, Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
." "The terms State Board of Health, State Committee of Public Health, State Department of Public Health, and State Health Officer are used interchangeably except where the context prohibits."
State Committee of Public Health
"The Board functions through the State Committee of Public Health as constituted by Code of Ala. 1975, §2224, which is composed of 12 members of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and the chairman of each of four councils provided for by statute. The 16 members function under the leadership of a chairman and a vice chairman elected by the membership for a term of four years.""The State Committee of Public Health meets monthly. Agendas are available to any interested persons not less than seven days in advance of the meeting, if available, in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. All meetings will be open to the public unless closed in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act." "Minutes of the Committee meetings are prepared and are available at the Board of Health offices for inspection during regular business hours."
State Health Officer
"The Committee of Public Health elects an executive officer who is known as the State Health Officer and who is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Board's activities." The Department of Public Health has a Public Health Administrative Officer and Assistant State Health Officers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emergency Response, and Personal and Community Health, who answer directly to the State Health Officer. The current State Health Officer is Dr. Donald E. Williamson, MD.Central Office
The Department of Public Health’s Central Office, located in the state’s capital city, Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
is organized into offices, bureaus, divisions, and units. There are over 3,800 Alabama Department of Public Health employees, including central office staff, public health area officers and administrators, and county health department staff.
Public Health Areas
The Department divides the state of Alabama into 11 Public Health Areas. Each Public Health Area Office is overseen by an Area Health Officer or Area Administrator. Area Offices are responsible for developing public healthPublic health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
services and programs specific to the needs of each area.
- Public Health Area 1 includes the following Alabama counties: Colbert County, AlabamaColbert County, AlabamaColbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present day Cherokee....
, Franklin County, AlabamaFranklin County, AlabamaFranklin County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer. As of 2010, the population was 31,704...
, Lauderdale County, AlabamaLauderdale County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.4% White*10.0% Black*0.4% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.4% Two or more races*2.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Marion County, AlabamaMarion County, AlabamaMarion County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Marion County was created by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818. The county is located in the northwestern part of the state, bounded on the west by the state of Mississippi. It encompasses . Marion County...
, Walker County, AlabamaWalker County, AlabamaWalker County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.Its name is in honor of John Williams Walker, a member of the United States Senate. As of 2010 the population was 67,023...
, and Winston County, AlabamaWinston County, AlabamaWinston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, formerly known as Hancock County before 1858.Its name is in honor of John A. Winston, the 15th Governor of Alabama. As of 2010, the population was 24,484. Its county seat is Double Springs....
. - Public Health Area 2 includes the following Alabama counties: Cullman County, AlabamaCullman County, AlabamaCullman County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel John G. Cullmann. As of 2010, the population was 80,406. Its county seat is the town of the same name, Cullman, Alabama. It is a "moist" county in terms of availablity of alcoholic beverages, which means...
, Jackson County, AlabamaJackson County, AlabamaJackson County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Andrew Jackson, general in the United States Army and President of the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 53,227. The county seat is Scottsboro. Jackson County is a prohibition or dry county,...
, Lawrence County, AlabamaLawrence County, AlabamaLawrence County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. It was named after James Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from New Jersey. As of the 2010 census, the population was...
, Limestone County, AlabamaLimestone County, AlabamaLimestone County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area. Its name comes from Limestone Creek, a local stream. In 2000, the population was 65,676. As of 2010 the county's...
, Madison County, AlabamaMadison County, AlabamaMadison County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is a major part of the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The county is named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America, and the...
, Marshall County, AlabamaMarshall County, AlabamaMarshall County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of John Marshall, famous Chief Justice of the United States. As of 2010 the population was 93,019...
, and Morgan County, AlabamaMorgan County, AlabamaMorgan County is the most populous county in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, and the second most populous county in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area in the U.S. State of Alabama. It was created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on February 6, 1818 from land acquired from the...
. - Public Health Area 3 includes the following Alabama counties: Bibb County, AlabamaBibb County, AlabamaBibb County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of William W. Bibb, the first Governor of Alabama. As of 2010 the population was 22,915. The county seat is Centreville...
, Fayette County, AlabamaFayette County, AlabamaFayette County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette , who aided General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. As of 2010 the population was 17,241...
, Greene County, AlabamaGreene County, AlabamaGreene County is the least populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene of Rhode Island. As of 2010 the population was 9,045...
, Lamar County, AlabamaLamar County, AlabamaLamar County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, member of the United States Senate from Mississippi. As of 2010 the population was 14,564...
, Pickens County, AlabamaPickens County, AlabamaPickens County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of 2010, the population was 19,746. Its county seat is Carrollton, and it is a prohibition, or dry county.-History:...
, and Tuscaloosa County, AlabamaTuscaloosa County, AlabamaTuscaloosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is named in honor of the pre-Choctaw chief Tuskaloosa. In 2010, the population was 194,656...
. - Public Health Area 4 includes Jefferson County, AlabamaJefferson County, AlabamaJefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
. - Public Health Area 5 includes the following Alabama counties: Blount County, AlabamaBlount County, AlabamaBlount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 57,322. Its county seat is Oneonta.Blount County is a dry county.-History:...
, Cherokee County, AlabamaCherokee County, AlabamaCherokee County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named for the Cherokee tribe. As of 2010 the population was 25,989. Its county seat is Centre and it is a prohibition or dry county.- History :...
, DeKalb County, AlabamaDeKalb County, AlabamaAs of the 2010 Census DeKalb County had a population of 71,109. The median age was 37.5. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 81.6% non-Hispanic white, 1.5% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander , 9.9% from some other race, 2.2% reporting two or...
, Etowah County, AlabamaEtowah County, AlabamaEtowah County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is from the Cherokee language, which means "edible tree". It is the center of the Gadsden Metropolitan Area which includes Etowah and Cherokee Counties. As of 2010 the population was 104,430. Its county seat is Gadsden...
, St. Clair County, AlabamaSt. Clair County, AlabamaSt. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St...
, and Shelby County, AlabamaShelby County, AlabamaShelby County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama and a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. It is named in honor of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. The county seat of Shelby County is Columbiana. As of 2010 U.S. Census the population was 195,085. Shelby...
. - Public Health Area 6 includes the following Alabama counties: Calhoun County, AlabamaCalhoun County, AlabamaCalhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Chambers County, AlabamaChambers County, AlabamaChambers County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Henry H. Chambers, who served as a United States Senator from Alabama. As of 2010 the population was 34,215. Its county seat is Lafayette...
, Clay County, AlabamaClay County, AlabamaClay County is a county of the US state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Henry Clay, famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. As of 2010 the population was 13,932...
, Cleburne County, AlabamaCleburne County, AlabamaCleburne County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Major General Patrick Cleburne, of Arkansas. As of 2010 the population was 14,972. Its county seat is Heflin.- History :...
, Coosa County, AlabamaCoosa County, AlabamaCoosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name derives from a town of the Creek tribe. As of 2010 the population was 11,539, but since that time it has lost the most population by percentage of any Alabama county...
, Randolph County, AlabamaRandolph County, AlabamaRandolph County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.Its name is in honor of John Randolph, a member of the United States Senate from Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 22,913. Its county seat is Wedowee...
, Talladega County, AlabamaTalladega County, AlabamaTalladega County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Talladega is a Muscogee Native American word derived from TVLVTEKE, which means "border town." As of 2010, the population was 82,291...
, and Tallapoosa County, AlabamaTallapoosa County, AlabamaTallapoosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. The name Tallapoosa is of Creek origin, and many Indian villages were along the banks of the lower river before the 19th century. As of 2010, the population was 41,616...
. - Public Health Area 7 includes the following Alabama counties: Choctaw County, AlabamaChoctaw County, AlabamaChoctaw County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was established on December 29, 1847 and named for the Choctaw tribe of American Indians. As of 2010 the population was 13,859. The county seat is Butler.- History :...
, Dallas County, AlabamaDallas County, AlabamaDallas County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander J. Dallas. The county seat is Selma.- History :...
, Hale County, AlabamaHale County, AlabamaHale County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Confederate officer Stephen Fowler Hale. As of 2010 the population was 15,760. Its county seat is Greensboro and it is part of the Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Lowndes County, AlabamaLowndes County, AlabamaLowndes County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of William Lowndes, a member of the United States Congress from South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,299...
, Marengo County, AlabamaMarengo County, AlabamaMarengo County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of a battlefield near Turin, Italy, where the French defeated the Austrians on June 14, 1800. As of 2010 the population was 21,027...
, Perry County, AlabamaPerry County, AlabamaPerry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was established in 1819, and is named in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry of Rhode Island and the United States Navy. As of 2010 the population was 10,591...
, Sumter County, AlabamaSumter County, AlabamaSumter County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.Its name is in honor of General Thomas Sumter of South Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 13,763. Its county seat is Livingston.-History:...
, and Wilcox County, AlabamaWilcox County, AlabamaWilcox County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Lieutenant J. M. Wilcox, who fought in the wars against the Creek tribe. As of 2010, the population was 11,670...
. - Public Health Area 8 includes the following Alabama counties: Autauga County, AlabamaAutauga County, AlabamaAutauga County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census the population was 54,571. Its county seat is Prattville.Autauga County is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Bullock County, AlabamaBullock County, AlabamaBullock County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel Edward C. Bullock of Barbour County. Living descendants of Colonel Bullock include prominent American cinema film actress, Sandra Bullock. As of 2010 the population was 10,914. In 1867, Union Springs...
, Chilton County, AlabamaChilton County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*84.1% White*9.7% Black*0.4% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.2% Two or more races*7.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Elmore County, AlabamaElmore County, AlabamaElmore County is a county of the State of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John A. Elmore. As of 2010 its population was 79,303. Its county seat is Wetumpka.This county is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Lee County, AlabamaLee County, AlabamaLee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the Confederate Army. As of 2010 the population was 140,247. It is part of the Auburn, Alabama Metropolitan Area. The county seat is Opelika, and the largest city is Auburn...
, Macon County, AlabamaMacon County, AlabamaMacon County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Nathaniel Macon, a member of the United States Senate from North Carolina. Developed for cotton plantation agriculture in the nineteenth century, it is one of the counties in Alabama within the Black Belt of the South.As...
, Montgomery County, AlabamaMontgomery County, AlabamaMontgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is the most populous county in the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area; its population in 2010 was 229,363 .- History :...
, Russell County, AlabamaRussell County, AlabamaRussell County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel Gilbert C. Russell, who fought in the wars against the Creek Indians. As of 2010, the population was 52,947...
. - Public Health Area 9 includes the following Alabama counties: Baldwin County, AlabamaBaldwin County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.7% White*9.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*4.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Butler County, AlabamaButler County, AlabamaButler County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Captain William Butler, who was born in Virginia and fought in the Creek War, and who was killed in May 1818. As of 2010 the population was 20,947...
, Clarke County, AlabamaClarke County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*54.5% White*43.9% Black*0.4% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*0.7% Two or more races*1.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Conecuh County, AlabamaConecuh County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*51.3% White*46.5% Black*0.3% Native American*0.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.0% Two or more races*1.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Covington County, AlabamaCovington County, AlabamaCovington County, Alabama, is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Brigadier General Leonard Covington of Maryland. As of 2010 the population was 37,765...
, Escambia County, AlabamaEscambia County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.1% White*31.9% Black*4.4% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*1.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Monroe County, AlabamaMonroe County, AlabamaMonroe County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States. As of 2010, the population was 23,068. Its county seat is Monroeville. It is a dry county, in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or...
, Washington County, AlabamaWashington County, AlabamaWashington County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. The county was named in honor of George Washington, first President of the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 17,581. Its county seat is Chatom. Washington County is a dry county.-History:The area was long inhabited...
. - Public Health Area 10 includes the following Alabama counties: Barbour County, AlabamaBarbour County, AlabamaBarbour County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of James Barbour, who served as Governor of Virginia. As of 2010 the population was 27,457. Its county seat is Clayton.-History:...
, Coffee County, AlabamaCoffee County, AlabamaCoffee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John Coffee. As of 2010 the population was 49,948. Its county seats are Elba and Enterprise....
, Crenshaw County, AlabamaCrenshaw County, AlabamaCrenshaw County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of a judge, Anderson Crenshaw. As of 2010 the population was 13,906. Its county seat is Luverne.-Geography:...
, Dale County, AlabamaDale County, AlabamaDale County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General Samuel Dale. As of the 2010 census the population was 50,251...
, Geneva County, AlabamaGeneva County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.3% White*9.5% Black*0.8% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*3.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Henry County, AlabamaHenry County, AlabamaHenry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Patrick Henry, famous orator and Governor of Virginia. As of 2010, its population was 17,302...
, Houston County, AlabamaHouston County, AlabamaHouston County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of 2010 the population was 101,547. Its county seat is Dothan.Houston County is part of the Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Pike County, AlabamaPike County, AlabamaPike County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General Zebulon Pike, of New Jersey, an explorer who led an expedition to southern Colorado and discovered Pikes Peak in 1806. As of 2010 the population was 32,899. Its county seat is Troy.- History :In 1819 the State...
. - Public Health Area 11 includes Mobile County, AlabamaMobile County, AlabamaMobile County[p] is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of a tribe of Indians, the Maubila tribe . As of 2011, its population was 415,704. Its county seat is Mobile, Alabama...
.
County Health Departments
The Department provides technical support and guidance to county health departmentHealth department
A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their own...
s in all Alabama counties, as well as guidance and consultation to the two independent city-county health departments in Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
and Mobile County, Alabama
Mobile County, Alabama
Mobile County[p] is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of a tribe of Indians, the Maubila tribe . As of 2011, its population was 415,704. Its county seat is Mobile, Alabama...
. The State Board of Health provides supervision to the Jefferson and Mobile county health departments which are governed by their local county board of health.
Services and Programs
County health departmentHealth department
A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their own...
s offer clinical, environmental, and home and community services to local residents. Certified birth, death, marriage, and divorce records/certificates for a vital event which occurred within the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
may be obtained from a local county health department for a fee. Services vary from health department to health department.
Clinical Services
Clinical services may include but are not limited to: cancer screening
Cancer screening
Cancer screening aims to detect cancer before symptoms appear. This may involve blood tests, urine tests, other tests, or medical imaging. The benefits of screening in terms of cancer prevention, early detection and subsequent treatment must be weighed against any harms.Universal screening, mass...
, family planning
Family planning
Family planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
, health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
for children, immunization
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....
, WIC
WIC
The abbreviation WIC can mean:*Walta Information Center, a news agency based in Ethiopia.*Dutch West India Company, a former trading cooperation that led to the establishment of some Dutch colonies....
, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
testing and counseling, and tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
screening.
Cancer screening
Cancer screening
Cancer screening aims to detect cancer before symptoms appear. This may involve blood tests, urine tests, other tests, or medical imaging. The benefits of screening in terms of cancer prevention, early detection and subsequent treatment must be weighed against any harms.Universal screening, mass...
services include but are not limited to: Pap smear
Pap smear
The Papanicolaou test is a screening test used in to detect pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal of the female reproductive system. Changes can be treated, thus preventing cervical cancer...
s, breast examinations, self examination instructions, and assistance in finding treatment for cancer if needed. Uninsured or underinsured women ages 40 to 64 with income eligibility at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines qualify for free services, including a pelvic examination
Pelvic examination
A pelvic examination, also pelvic exam, is a physical examination of the female pelvic organs.Broadly, it can be divided into the external examination and internal examination.It is also called "Bimanual Exam" & "Manual Uterine Palpation"....
, Pap smear
Pap smear
The Papanicolaou test is a screening test used in to detect pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal of the female reproductive system. Changes can be treated, thus preventing cervical cancer...
s, clinical breast examination, mammogram, and diagnostic services such as an ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is thus not separated from "normal" sound based on differences in physical properties, only the fact that humans cannot hear it. Although this limit varies from person to person, it is...
, colposcopy
Colposcopy
Colposcopy is a medical diagnostic procedure to examine an illuminated, magnified view of the cervix and the tissues of the vagina and vulva. Many premalignant lesions and malignant lesions in these areas have discernible characteristics which can be detected through the examination...
, or biopsy
Biopsy
A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically...
if needed, through the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP).
Family planning
Family planning
Family planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
services include but are not limited to: family planning methods, counseling
Pre-conception counseling
Pre-conception counseling is based on the medical theory that all women of child-bearing years should be pre-screened for health and risk potentials before attempting to become pregnant...
, and education, birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
information, medical examinations, and distribution of supplies. Contraceptives are available to those in the childbearing age group.
Local county health departments provide information on All Kids, a low-cost health care coverage program for all eligible children under the age of 19. All Kids is the result of a partnership between The Alabama Department of Public Health, The Alabama Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
Agency, and the Alabama Child Caring Foundation. Alabama was the first state in the nation to have a federally approved State Children's Health Insurance Program
State Children's Health Insurance Program
The State Children's Health Insurance Program – later known more simply as the Children's Health Insurance Program – is a program administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides matching funds to states for health insurance to families with children...
(CHIP) plan. CHIP was added to the Social Security Act by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997
Balanced Budget Act of 1997
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997, , was signed into law on August 5, 1997. It was an omnibus legislative package enacted using the budget reconciliation process and designed to balance the federal budget by 2002....
. The purpose of this program is to provide health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
to the country's uninsured children under the age of 19.
Immunization
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....
to prevent polio, diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
, tetanus
Tetanus
Tetanus is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani...
(lockjaw), pertussis
Pertussis
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough , is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. Symptoms are initially mild, and then develop into severe coughing fits, which produce the namesake high-pitched "whoop" sound in infected babies and children when they inhale air...
(whooping cough), measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
, mumps
Mumps
Mumps is a viral disease of the human species, caused by the mumps virus. Before the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine, it was a common childhood disease worldwide...
, rubella
Rubella
Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning little red. Rubella is also known as German measles because the disease was first described by German physicians in the mid-eighteenth century. This disease is...
(German measles), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae
Haemophilus influenzae
Haemophilus influenzae, formerly called Pfeiffer's bacillus or Bacillus influenzae, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic. A member of the Pasteurellaceae family, it is generally aerobic, but can grow as a facultative anaerobe. H...
type B), and Hepatitis B are provided by the county health departments. A certificate of immunizations, known as the “blue slip,” is required for entry into all day care centers, Head Start, and public and private schools through grade 12. Vaccination
Vaccination
Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop adaptive immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by many pathogens...
s for adults for measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
, pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, tetanus
Tetanus
Tetanus is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani...
, flu, and other diseases, including those required for overseas travel are also available.
Health assessments, supplemental food, and nutrition education are available to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to five years of age who qualify for WIC
WIC
The abbreviation WIC can mean:*Walta Information Center, a news agency based in Ethiopia.*Dutch West India Company, a former trading cooperation that led to the establishment of some Dutch colonies....
, the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children.
Confidential testing, treatment, and counseling for most sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
are available for anyone 12 years of age or older. Social work services, home care services, and referrals to other support services
AIDS service organization
AIDS service organizations are community based organizations that provide community support. While their primary function is to provide needed services to individuals with HIV, they also provide support services for their families and friends as well as conduct prevention efforts...
in the community are available to clients with HIV or AIDS.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
(TB) screening—Tuberculin skin test, sputum culture
Sputum culture
A sputum culture is a test to detect and identify bacteria or fungi that infect the lungs or breathing passages. Sputum is a thick fluid produced in the lungs and in the adjacent airways. A sample of sputum is placed in a sterile container and sent to the laboratory for testing...
/test, and X-ray (if indicated)—are available to anyone for tuberculosis diagnosis
Tuberculosis diagnosis
Tuberculosis is diagnosed by finding Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria in a clinical specimen taken from the patient. While other investigations may strongly suggest tuberculosis as the diagnosis, they cannot confirm it.-Diagnosis:...
and tuberculosis treatment
Tuberculosis treatment
Tuberculosis treatment refers to the medical treatment of the infectious disease tuberculosis .The standard "short" course treatment for TB is isoniazid, rifampicin , pyrazinamide, and ethambutol for two months, then isoniazid and rifampicin alone for a further four months...
. Medication, if indicated and assistance in finding additional care are also provided.
Health education
Health education
Health education is the profession of educating people about health. Areas within this profession encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health...
is a primary component of every program. Some clinical health services require an appointment, while others are offered on a walk-in basis. Some clinical services may require a fee.
Home and Community Services
Home and community services include home health care and life care services, and elderly and disabled and HIV/AIDS Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
waiver case management. Home health care services can include skilled nursing care, intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
, diabetic care, cardiovascular care, post hospital assessment and teaching, and urinary catheter management; home care
Home care
Home Care, , is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals Home Care, (also referred to as domiciliary care or social care), is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals Home Care, (also referred to as...
health aide; medical social work
Medical social work
Medical social work is a sub-discipline of social work, also known as hospital social work. Medical social workers typically work in a hospital, skilled nursing facility or hospice, have a graduate degree in the field, and work with patients and their families in need of psychosocial help...
; physical therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
to include postsurgical therapy; and occupational therapy
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is a discipline that aims to promote health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, and/or emotionally disabling condition by utilizing treatments...
and speech therapy. Life care services can include personal care aide, companionship, skilled and unskilled homemaker and respite care
Respite care
Respite care is the provision of short-term, temporary relief to those who are caring for family members who might otherwise require permanent placement in a facility outside the home....
, and telehealth
Telehealth
Telehealth is the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies. Telehealth could be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone or as sophisticated as doing robotic surgery between facilities at different ends of the...
biomonitoring
Biomonitoring
Aquatic biomonitoring is the science of inferring the ecological condition of rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands by examining the organisms that live there...
. Case managers for the Elderly and Disabled and HIV/AIDS Medicaid waiver programs aim to develop individualized care plans, based on the client’s ongoing care needs, to help maintain independence in a safe home environment.
Environmental Services
The Alabama Department of Public Health and the local county health departments ensure standards in several environmental and health-related service areas to protect the public from injury
Injury prevention
Injury prevention are efforts to prevent or reduce the severity of bodily injuries caused by external mechanisms, such as accidents, before they occur. Injury prevention is a component of safety and public health, and its goal is to improve the health of the population by preventing injuries and...
and the spread of disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
. These health protection activities include health regulations enforcement, complaint investigations, and permitting, licensing, and inspections for the following:
- Foodservice/retail/processors/temporary events
- Hotel/motels including hotel/motel pools/spas/hot tubs, and camps
- Jails/prisons
- Body art facilities
- Individual onsite small flow systems
- Subdivision large flow developments/systems
- Onsite sewage systemsSewage collection and disposalSewage collection and disposal systems transport sewage through cities and other inhabited areas to sewage treatment plants to protect public health and prevent disease. Sewage is treated to control water pollution before discharge to surface waters....
- Septic tankSeptic tankA septic tank is a key component of the septic system, a small-scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewage pipes provided by local governments or private corporations...
/grease trap/holding tankHolding tankA holding tank, also called a waste water holding tank or black tank, is a container for storing sewage in vehicles equipped with toilets. Vehicles that employ holding tanks include recreational vehicles , trucks or lorries , railroad trains, boats, aircraft, and even spacecraft... - Septic tank manufacturers/pumpers/land application
- Solid waste facilities/vehicles
- RabiesRabiesRabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
and vector controlVector controlVector control is any method to limit or eradicate the mammals, birds, insects or other arthropods which transmit disease pathogens. The most frequent type of vector control is mosquito control using a variety of strategies.-Methods of Control:...
/bite investigations/testing - Public health nuisance complaint investigations
- Community sanitation investigations
- Private water wellWater wellA water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
testing - Food safetyFood safetyFood safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards....
training classes - ServSafeServSafeServSafe is a food safety training and certificate program administered by the National Restaurant Association. The program is accredited by ANSI and the Conference for Food Protection....
food safety certification - State of Alabama Environmental Rules Training
Some environmental services require a fee to be submitted prior to the service being performed.
Programs and Services
The Alabama Department of Public Health’s Central Office is organized into bureaus that focus on a number of health-related issues, including disease prevention and control, emergency medical servicesEmergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
, emergency preparedness, environmental services, family health, health care access, home and community health, injury prevention
Injury prevention
Injury prevention are efforts to prevent or reduce the severity of bodily injuries caused by external mechanisms, such as accidents, before they occur. Injury prevention is a component of safety and public health, and its goal is to improve the health of the population by preventing injuries and...
, and regulation and licensure. The Department publishes over 90 health-related pamphlets available to Alabama residents. The topics range from injury prevention to environmental health, nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
and physical activity, tobacco prevention, emergency preparedness, sexually transmitted diseases, chronic disease, and communicable diseases.
Supporting Agencies
- Alabama Department of EducationAlabama Department of EducationThe Alabama State Department of Education is the state education agency of Alabama. It is headquartered at 50 N. Ripley Street in Montgomery....
- Alabama Department of Environmental ManagementAlabama Department of Environmental ManagementThe Alabama Department of Environmental Management is a state government agency charged with the enforcement of environmental policy in the U.S. state of Alabama...
- Alabama Department of TransportationAlabama Department of TransportationThe Alabama Department of Transportation is the government agency responsible for transportation infrastructure in Alabama. The department is divided into nine geographical divisions, with a central office located in Montgomery.-External links:...