What we do

Animal Services

The mission of the Office of Animal Control is to enforce city and state codes, rules, and regulations and to investigate animal neglect and cruelty cases for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of Baltimore’s human and animal residents.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

The Baltimore City Health Department Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) is committed to preparing Baltimore City for public health emergencies such as large-scale disease outbreaks, bioterror events and other emergencies with an impact on the health of the community.

Food Access

As reported by the United States Department of Agriculture, consumer choices about food spending and diet are likely to be influenced by the accessibility and affordability of food retailers—travel time to shopping, availability of healthy foods, and food prices.  Some people and places, especially those with low income, may face greater barriers in accessing healthy and affordable food retailers, which may negatively affect diet and food security.

Baltimore City Health Department’s mission is to serve Baltimore by promoting health and advocating for every individual’s well-being to achieve health equity for all residents.  One way this is accomplished is through Baltimarket.

Health Clinics & Services

The Baltimore City Health Department offers and oversees services for: sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, family planning, maternal and infant health, immunizations, asthma, senior care, cancer screening, and lead poisoning prevention services, among others.

 

Environmental Health

 

The Bureau of Environmental Health is comprised of two programs: Environmental Inspection Services and Animal Services.  The Bureau uses regulatory and educational tools to minimize environmental health hazards and to ensure that the health standards set forth in city statutes, regulations, and ordinances are met. Environmental Inspection Services performs inspections of retail food establishments, school cafeterias, swimming pools, and other facilities and conducts investigations into environmental complaints. 

Chronic Disease Prevention

The Mission of the Office of Chronic Disease Prevention (OCDP) is to improve the health status of all Baltimoreans by reducing the incidence of chronic disease-related morbidity and mortality.

Maternal and Child Health

The Bureau of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) supports the health and wellbeing of pregnant women, children, and their caregivers in Baltimore City.

Neighborhoods

Where we live, work and play are significant factors that impact our health.  The Baltimore City Health Department is committed to working with communities, health care professionals, and other organizations and stakeholders to improve Baltimore’s neighborhoods through a Health in All Policies approach.

School Health

The Bureau of School Health (BSH) is the provider of record for school health services in Baltimore City public schools. The BSH delivers and coordinates health services in health suites and School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs). Services are provided to more than 84,000 students in more than 200 schools.

Office of Youth and Trauma Services

To combat the epidemic of violence among Baltimore’s youth and support traditional public safety strategies using a combination of public health and human service models to reduce violence.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

The Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) works with federal, state, and local government to develop plans and policies to prepare for and

Clone of Food Access

As reported by the United States Department of Agriculture, consumer choices about food spending and diet are likely to be influenced by the accessibility and affordability of food retailers—travel time to shopping, availability of healthy foods, and food prices.  Some people and places, especially those with low income, may face greater barriers in accessing healthy and affordable food retailers, which may negatively affect diet and food security.

Baltimore City Health Department’s mission is to serve Baltimore by promoting health and advocating for every individual’s well-being to achieve health equity for all residents.  One way this is accomplished is through Baltimarket.

Clone of Food Access

As reported by the United States Department of Agriculture, consumer choices about food spending and diet are likely to be influenced by the accessibility and affordability of food retailers—travel time to shopping, availability of healthy foods, and food prices.  Some people and places, especially those with low income, may face greater barriers in accessing healthy and affordable food retailers, which may negatively affect diet and food security.

Baltimore City Health Department’s mission is to serve Baltimore by promoting health and advocating for every individual’s well-being to achieve health equity for all residents.  One way this is accomplished is through Baltimarket.

Baltimore Clean Air Act

Pursuant to Title 8, Subtitle 1, Part II of the Baltimore City Health Code (“Baltimore Clean Air Act”), the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) is certifying entities to serve as Air Monitoring Contractors. Air Monitoring Contractors must be certified to be hired by regulated Commercial Solid Waste Incinerators within the City. 

Infectious Disease

The ACD Program’s mission is to reduce the incidence of acute communicable disease (other than TB, STDs, and HIV/AIDs) in Baltimore City through prevention, surveillance, investigation, and control of disease and outbreaks occurrences.

Public Health Campaigns

Don't Die

About 25,000 Americans die annually from an opioid overdose.

Lead

The Baltimore City Health Department seeks to reduce lead poisoning in the City of Baltimore through primary prevention and aggressive enforcement of the city's lead laws. Lead poisoning has decreased significantly since 2000.

Substance Use Disorder

Links have been provided on this page to resources and data related to substance abuse, addiction-related harm reduction, drug treatment, and other associated issues.

HIV/STD Services

The HIV/STD program strives to be as exhaustive, flexible, and comprehensive as possible in its efforts to intervene in the spread of sexually transmitted infection.

 

Community Risk Reduction

The Baltimore City Needle Exchange Program (NEP) seeks to reduce HIV, hepatitis C, and other infections by reducing the circulation of unclean syringes.