ABSTRACT
In 1954, the Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD) was created by state statute as an independent public health agency to provide Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County with services needed to protect the health of the community. This distinction as a city-county health department was made in order to recognize the unique health needs present in urban and rural populations. The board of nine professionals from the community governs the Health Department with varied backgrounds as doctors, dentists, educators, lawyers, directors of community-based service organizations, accountants, former state senators and those employed within the healthcare industry. OCCHD employs approximately 260 full-time employees and provides clinic-based services such as Communicable Disease and Maternal and Child Health, as well as populationbased services such as Health Promotion, Partnership Development, Epidemiology and Consumer Protection (Sanitation and Restaurant Inspection). The mission of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department is: Working with people, families and communities to protect health, promote health and prevent disease in Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County.
