The Health Department was established through a citizens referendum vote in November of 1944 and began operations in the old courthouse in Wheaton in March of 1945. At that time the population of DuPage County was 110,000 and there were no county wide ordinances regulating food handling, water supplies, sewage disposal and milk processing.

Today, the DuPage County Health Department protects the health and prevents disease for residents and visitors. Through services provided by the staff of the Environmental Health, Community Health Services, and Behavioral Health Units, we believe that we directly touch the lives and affect the safety of all of our residents.

The DuPage County Health Department :
Is certified as a local health department by the Illinois Department of Public Health and as such, must fulfill specified responsibilities and is eligible for certain grant awards by the state.

Is committed as a partner of the state to the mission of public health in Illinois - "to fulfill society's interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy."

Has major responsibilities for:
   preventing epidemics and the spread of disease
   protecting against environmental hazards and injuries
   promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors
   responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery
   assuring the accessibility of health services.

Health Department Services and Programs:

Environmental Health Services is responsible for ensuring clean and sanitary conditions in over 3,100 food establishments, 460 public swimming pools, 160 public spas, 287 schools, 234 day care centers, 28 forest preserves and eight hospitals. In addition, Environmental Health Services assists residents with Mortgage Surveys, assures safe Drinking Water Supplies, regulates Private Wells and Septic Systems, provides technical consultation on Indoor Air Quality, Lead, Asbestos, Radon, Tanning Regulations and, advise Hospitals and Nursing Homes about environmental sanitation surveys and food safety.

Community Health Services protects the health of DuPage residents through: immunizations for children and adults, including those traveling outside of the U.S., well child care, screening for chronic diseases (including oral health), diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection and health education.

Behavioral and Mental Health Services responds to psychiatric emergencies on a 24 hour basis, and provides outpatient psychiatric treatment to the children and adults of DuPage County with severe mental and emotional disorders. The Health Department is the only source in the county for psychiatric care that is based on clinical need, regardless of the ability to pay.

No other agency in DuPage monitors births, causes of death, and the spread of communicable diseases. The Health Department is the center for detailed health data and analysis in the county.

The Health Department offers education on nutrition, fitness, cardiovascular health, cancer prevention, smoking cessation, oral health, communicable diseases, women's issues, food safety, indoor environmental quality, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, family planning and sexuality issues to individuals and groups, including schools.

The Health Department's Health Education Referral System provides residents with one of the most extensive lists of health education resources, classes, speakers and experts in the county.

Through special programs and special expertise, the Health Department has:

• Enabled 92% of AIDS diagnosed clients to live independently and avoid nursing homes.
• Reduced adult admissions to the public psychiatric hospital.
• Reduced the number of DuPage children entering public and private psychiatric hospitals.
• Promoted one of the lowest infant mortality and teen birth rates in Illinois and the nation.