The purpose of the Florida Department of Health is to take responsibility for the state's public health system which shall be designed to promote, protect, and improve the health of all people in the state.

The department's activities include the following.

• Chronic Disease Prevention works toward reducing chronic conditions and diseases such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, and stroke.  
• Prevention, Safety, and Wellness programs seek to prevent a variety of harms to Floridians, including drowning, flu, sexual abuse and violence, human trafficking, older adult falls, and suicide. 
• Community Health programs support dental health; provide health services to refugees; work to improve access to health care services in rural communities; conduct community health assessments; and support department volunteer efforts throughout the state.
• Disability Determinations determine eligibility for Florida citizens who apply for disability benefits under the federal Social Security Act or the state's Medically Needy Program.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response provides information on preparing for disasters and disaster response resources; healthcare system preparedness to ensure that there is capacity and capability for provision of critical public health and medical services; preparedness training, education, and exercises to support Florida’s public health and health care partners to ensure each are properly trained; and guidance on environmental public health preparedness. 
• Infant, Child, and Adolescent Health provides a way to order birth certificates; administers the Early Steps program, which offers services to infants and toddlers who are at risk for developmental disabilities or delays; offers newborn screening for certain conditions and managed care services for children who are under 21 and have special healthcare needs; offers Healthy Start, which provides services to pregnant women, infants, and children up to age three, including home visiting; provides information on KidCare, a child health insurance program; offers a school health services program, which provides basic health services to all public school students; and provides information on the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, a federally funded nutrition program for women, infants, and children. 
• The Immunization Section promotes, monitors, and provides technical assistance to facilitate the completion of all immunizations.
• Licensing and Regulation provides information relating to professional, facility, and permit licensing. 
• County Health Departments provide public health services in partnership with county governments.

The funding information listed below is provided by Transparency Florida. Please contact the department for more information on its funding. Additional information about department funding and activities is available on the State of Florida Fiscal Portal.

Performance standards and measures for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

OPPAGA Reports and Presentations
A complete list of OPPAGA reports and presentations is available on our website. 

Other Reports
Florida Department of Health, Statistics and Data
A complete list of Florida Auditor General reports is available on its website.

Websites of Interest
Florida Department of Health, Press Releases
Florida Department of Health, Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Public Health Accreditation Board
United Health Foundation, America's Health Rankings
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Sections 20.43 and 20.435, Florida Statutes

Florida Department of Health Contact Website
Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32311-7840
(850) 245-4444
Website