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Secure .gov websites use HTTPS LDH is moving forward with a plan to distribute food benefits on EBT cards tomorrow. If the USDA, who administers the SNAP program, is prepared and ready to move money into states’ accounts this evening, we will use federal dollars to fund SNAP recipients’ accounts. If they are not ready, LDH will proceed with our state-funded program to provide food assistance to the elderly, the disabled, and households with children through their existing EBT cards.
Office of Public Health
The LDH Office of Public Health is comprised of more than one thousand professionals across Louisiana who are charged with protecting and promoting the health of the communities of our state. The agency operates more than 50 programs with staff in 63 parish health units, three specialty clinics, nine regional offices, four centers, 15 bureaus, and nearly 600 contractual agreements. Engineers, doctors, chemists, biologists, nurses, sanitarians, clinicians, emergency preparedness experts and a host of other professionals work constantly to:
- monitor the food Louisiana's residents and visitors eat;
- keep our water safe to drink;
- fight chronic and communicable disease;
- ensure we are ready for hurricanes, disasters and other threats;
- manage, analyze and disseminate public health data
- ensure access to vital records like birth certificates; and
- offer preventive health services
Mission
The mission of the Department of Health (LDH) Office of Public Health (OPH) is to protect and promote the health and wellness of all individuals and communities in Louisiana. We accomplish this through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, preventing disease and injury, enforcing regulations that protect the environment, sharing vital information and assuring preventive services to uninsured and underserved individuals and families.
Vision
The LDH Office of Public Health, characterized by a trained and highly motivated workforce, will employ science-based best practices to ensure that all people in Louisiana have the opportunity to grow, develop, and live in an environment that promotes the physical, behavioral and social health of individuals, families and communities.
Public Health professionals are motivated daily by how individuals and communities are working together to improve their health. As custodians of the public's trust and money, we strive to stay connected to what's most important to improve the health of individuals and families.
Select your region to find services near you.
Office of Public Health Leadership
Tonya Joiner
Assistant SecretarySallie Guy
Senior Advisor to the Assistant SecretaryDr. Jullette Saussy
Chief Medical OfficerMeah Johnson
Director, Legislative & Regulatory AffairsCarol Walker
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Center for Environmental HealthElizabeth Adkins
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Center for Community and Preventive HealthJen Katzman
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Center for Finance and OperationsDr. Glennis Gray
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Center for Community Preparedness and Health Protection
Center for Community & Preventive Health
The Office of Public Health (OPH) Center for Community & Preventive Health coordinates programs and measures to improve public health.
This Center is comprised of the Bureau of Regional & Clinical Operations, Bureau of Family Health, Bureau of Infectious Diseases, and Bureau of Nutrition Services.
Center for Community Preparedness & Health Protection
The Office of Public Health (OPH) Center for Community Preparedness & Health Protection plans the state's response to public health emergencies.
This Center is comprised of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Healthcare Access, and Bureau of Community Preparedness.
Center for Environmental Health
The Office of Public Health (OPH) Center for Environmental Health is comprised of the Bureau of Sanitarian Services, Bureau of Engineering, and Bureau of Laboratory Services.
Center for Finance & Operations
The Office of Public Health (OPH) Center for Finance & Operations is comprised of the Bureau of Finance & Operations, Bureau of Vital Records & Statistics, Bureau of Health Informatics, and Bureau of Planning & Performance.
Featured Bureaus
Bureau of Sanitarian Services
Sanitarian Services team enforces laws, rules and regulations for maintaining and promoting community hygiene.
Bureau of Nutrition Services
The Bureau of Nutrition services, also known as Louisiana WIC, currently provides services to nearly 100,000 participants a month throughout 100 clinic sites.
Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention & Healthcare Access
The Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention & Healthcare Access, also known as Well-Ahead Louisiana, works with community leaders to improve our state’s health statistics in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, tobacco use and other chronic diseases.
Bureau of Community Preparedness
The Bureau of Community Preparedness (BCP) uses an all-hazards approach to integrate state and local public health jurisdictions for response to public health threats.
Bureau of Regional & Clinical Operations
The Bureau of Regional & Clinical Operations is responsible for health units that serve as the hub for each parish's public health needs. Services range from immunizations to reproductive healthcare, to infectious disease prevention and response, to STI services and WIC (Woman, Infants, Children).
Featured Programs
Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC)
LaPQC is a network of perinatal care providers, public health professionals, and advocates who work to improve outcomes for women, families and newborns in Louisiana.
Retail Food Program
The Retail Food Program's objective is to prevent and minimize food-borne disease outbreaks through consulting, monitoring, issuance of permits and regulation of food establishments.
Safe Drinking Water Program
The Safe Drinking Water Program provides comprehensive drinking water protection to the citizens and visitors of Louisiana, supervising over 1,300 public water systems for compliance with state and federal drinking water regulations.
STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program (SHHP)
The STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program (SHHP) administers statewide evidence-based public health services and interventions intended to prevent the transmission of STIs, HIV, and viral Hepatitis, and to ensure timely access to quality medical/treatment and supportive social services for those diagnosed with an STI, HIV, or Hepatitis.
News
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LDH announces state-funded emergency SNAP assistance distribution schedule, SNAP staff furloughs
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LDH announces state-funded assistance for vulnerable SNAP population
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LDH announces no new SNAP benefits will be available starting November 1