Environmental and Health Services

Vital Statistics records and maintains official records of births and deaths that occur within the City. This office provides certified copies of birth and death certificates and maintains a database of birth and death statistics. Through electronic linkage with the state's database, birth certificates can be provided for births occurring anywhere in the state during certain years.

The Environmental Health Program is responsible for enforcing food safety regulations for all commercial food establishments and investigating reports of food-borne illness and other food-related concerns in an effort to provide Dallas citizens with optimum protection of public health. In addition, the Environmental Health Program is responsible for code enforcement activities related to air pollution control, smoking complaints, noise complaints, and vector control.

The Health Services Program provides primary prevention and education services designed to increase general awareness through the provision of various screening, counseling, and intervention activities. Services include early periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment; walk-in immunizations; special services for low birth weight infants; and high-risk case management. The program is aimed at achieving optimum outcomes and controlling the spread of communicable diseases.

Human Services provides a wide variety of social service programs through direct delivery of services at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, West Dallas Multipurpose Center, Office of Senior Affairs, Child Care Services, Homeless Management and the Day Resource Center, and the Social Services Unit. Human Services also administers numerous grants which augment child care, nutrition services for seniors, emergency social services, job training, and other educational programs.