Public health is the protection and improvement of community health. Public health includes preventive medicine, sanitation, tracking and treating disease, among other things. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is the state’s public health agency, an organization that promotes the health of all Texans. DSHS touches nearly every aspect of life in the Lone Star State, from birth certificates and immunizations to water and mosquito testing to disaster relief and infectious disease surveillance. 

Our agency’s eight Public Health Regions (PHR) are rooted across the state, from the deserts of West Texas to the Piney Woods, from the plains of the panhandles to the warmth of the Rio Grande Valley. In each of these regions, Texans can find community-based programing and care.

No matter where you live, you’ll find DSHS making communities healthier through programs that get Texans health care and dental services and help prevent chronic disease. Our agency also oversees important institutions that keep you safe throughout your life, like EMS services, radiation testing, and even seafood and milk inspections. 

No matter who you are or where you live, DSHS is in your community, working to make your life healthier and happier. 

Public health is just that – public. It takes partnerships with state and federal agencies, local providers, lawmakers, disaster services, and everyday Texans to solve real problems.

During events like fires, hurricanes, or tornadoes, DSHS works with emergency services and other state and national organizations to help the people of Texas recover and resume their lives. We also collaborate with partners on the state and federal level to help with disease prevention and during outbreaks.

• Visit our Public Health Regions.
• Search for Public Health Clinics in your area. (Link to new search tool)