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Programs
The African American Quality of Life Initiative focuses on preventing disease and promoting health by providing education, health screening, and basic needs in outreach events in underserved areas in the community.
Serving the Austin five-county area for nearly 17 years, the Austin Area Comprehensive HIV Planning Council (HIV Planning Council) is a federally mandated planning body authorized under Part A of the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act to carry out duties which support the local Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
The Office of Vital Records issues birth and death certificates. Birth records are confidential and available only to the person named on the record, immediate family, or legal representatives with appropriate documentation.
Businesses that are subject to public health rules and ordinances must meet certain requirements for operation, including those that involve Food Enterprises, Custodial Care (Childcare and Adoptive and Foster Care Homes), and Pools and Spas (public and semi-public).
The City of Austin and Travis County offer a child care program for low income families in Austin/Travis County that is operated by Workforce Solutions Child Care Services (CCS).
The Chronic Disease Program works to promote health and quality of life throughout Austin and Travis County by working with the communities to prevent and control disease.
Austin/Travis County has begun a community health assessment and improvement plan. A Community Heath Assessment (CHA) engages community members and local public health system partners to collect and analyze health-related data from many sources.
The 78744 Community Youth Development Program is a state funded program that provides an array of prevention services to support families and enhance the positive development of youth in the 78744 zip code.
The epidemiology and disease surveillance unit monitors the incidence of confirmed and probable cryptosporidiosis cases reported and issues periodic updates of the status of the investigations.
Need help? First Workers, the City of Austin Day Labor Center, is here to help. Open six days a week and offering quick drive-through service, First Workers' can provide you with laborers skilled in a variety of trades.
The Office of Vital Records issues birth and death certificates in the City of Austin. Death certificates are available only for deaths occurring within the city limits of Austin. Death records are confidential and are available only to the executor of the estate, immediate family, or legal representatives with appropriate documentation (notarized releases or court documentation.
The City of Austin adopted an ordinance on Feb. 23, 2009 prohibiting intentional feeding of deer.
Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body, and is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S.
Disease surveillance is an essential component of any public health system and is used to monitor disease trends over time, detect disease outbreaks, and increase our knowledge of risk factors contributing to disease development.
Food safety is a key element to protecting public health and preventing the spread of food-borne illnesses.
Food Handler registration with the City of Austin is required every two years for employees who work with un-packaged food, food equipment, food utensils, or food contact surfaces.
There are various ways to meet the requirements for training.
Food Manager Certification is recognition that an individual has received certification in the safe preparation and storage of food to prevent food-borne illnesses.
The Food Protection system promotes health and prevents disease through education, training, and regulation, in partnership with operators and employees of the nearly 5,000 food service establishments in Austin and Travis County.
The Graffiti Abatement program removes graffiti from private and public property anywhere in the City of Austin.
The Health Department provides many health screening services.
The Hepatitis Program provides free testing and vaccination clinics for people who are uninsured, under-insured, or Medicaid recipients.
The HIV Resource Administration Unit is responsible for procuring HIV/AIDS primary medical care, treatment, and health-related support services for the City of Austin-funded HIV Prevention and Care Services, as well as multiple federal grants, including Ryan White Part A and the Minority AIDS initiative, Ryan White Part C, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), a disease that destroys the body's ability to fight off infections.
The Homeless Services staff supports the City's Self-Sufficiency and Responsibility Initiative, a comprehensive approach that provides services to help homeless people get back on their feet.
Many communicable diseases among children are preventable. However, fewer than half the children in Texas receive the immunizations they need by age two.
The injury prevention program strives to improve public health by taking actions to prevent injuries before they happen. The program works with partners in the community to incorporate injury prevention efforts into their ongoing programs.
The Let’s Move campaign, started by First Lady Michelle Obama, has an ambitious national goal of solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that healthy children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight.
The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Program focuses on improving access to prenatal care. Our vision is to make Austin the place where the healthiest babies are born.
The Mayor's Fitness Council's (MFC) vision is for Austin to be the fittest, healthiest community in America. Its mission is to support and inspire people to improve their health by encouraging physical activity, improved nutition, and tobacco-free living.
The Neighborhood Centers provide a variety of social services to low- and moderate-income families in need.
There are three ways to get a certificate.
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new virus emerges and people have little or no immunity to the virus.
The epidemiology and disease surveillance unit monitors the incidence of confirmed and probable pertussis cases reported to the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department and issues periodic updates of the status of the investigations.
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department inspects and issues permits annually for semi-public pools and spas, public pools open to the general public, and competitive event pools. We do not inspect private pools or spas or those under the jurisdiction of state or federal agencies.
Preparing for public health emergencies is critical to protect everyone’s health and wellbeing. Public health emergencies include natural disasters, disease outbreaks like pandemic flu, as well as those related to homeland security, such as a biological or chemical terrorist attack.
Regulations and ordinances play a critical role in reducing illness and improving health in the general population.
Regulations and ordinances play a critical role in reducing illness and improving health in the general population.
Under a grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Refugee Health Screening Clinic provides services to refugees relocating to the Austin/Travis County area. Services are also provided to asylees (individuals who are allowed to stay permanently in safety in the United States), Cubans who enter the US under the Cuban Adjustment Act, and Certified Victims of Human Trafficking.
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department conducts the permitting and inspection of over 4000 food establishments in Austin, several local municipalities and rural Travis County.
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department (HHSD) offers a voluntary registry of restaurants allowing dogs onto outdoor dining areas in compliance with the Dogs in Outdoor Dining Areas Ordinance.
Walking and biking safely are the healthiest ways to get to school. The Safe Routes to School program encourages all children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bike to school.
The department provides comprehensive sexual health education and skill development presentations to youth, parents, service providers and/or any interested group in a variety of settings, including recreation centers, schools and churches.
The Smoking Ordinance prohibits smoking in most public places and work places unless listed as an exception in the Smoking Ordinance.
The STD program provides counseling and testing, outreach and education, case management, and HIV surveillance.
This program will help to make long-lasting changes that support tobacco-free living where people live, work, and play.
The Tuberculosis clinic provides evaluation of clients for latent and active TB disease. The clinic is equipped with complete X-ray facilities, an environmental isolation chamber for sputum collection, and a special ventilation system to protect people from infection while in the clinic.
Typhus prevention is directly related to flea control. Typhus has been reported in the Austin/Travis County area for the past several years, and is now endemic to this area.
The Vector Control program assists individual property owners with eradicating rodents and pests on their property.
WIC is the special supplemental nutrition program for pregnant women, new mothers, and young children. Participants learn about nutrition and how to stay healthy, and receive food certificates to purchase healthy foods. Services are free to those who are eligible. WIC is an equal opportunity provider.
