Maryland Department of Health
Public Health Administration

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 Public Health Administration 

  • The Public Health Administration oversees vital public health services to Maryland residents including infectious disease control, environmental health programs, family health services, food safety, health care quality, vital records, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the State Anatomy Board, and the activities of the 24 local health departments in Maryland. 
  • MISSION : To protect, promote and improve the health and well-being of all Marylanders and their families through provision of public health leadership and through community-based public health efforts in partnership with local health departments, providers, community-based organizations, and pubic and private sector agencies, giving special attention to at-risk and vulnerable populations. 
  • VISION : A future in which all Marylanders and their families enjoy optimal health and well-being. 

Current Initiatives 

  • Diabetes Action Plan 

    • Diabetes has been identified as Maryland’s priority population health improvement goal as a new element of Maryland’s Total Cost of Care commitment.
    • The Maryland Department of Health, community-based organizations and health care partners have created the State’s inaugural 2019-2024 Diabetes Action Plan. 
    • The Diabetes Action Plan provides information on the disease burden in Maryland, and best practices for the State and its partners to implement to prevent and manage diabetes.
    • More information on the Diabetes Action Plan can be found here 

  • Community Health Workers

    • The Maryland Department of Health in collaboration with the Community Health Worker Advisory Committee and interested stakeholders are working to implement a no-cost voluntary certification program for Community Health Workers. 
    • On January 1, 2020, MDH began accepting applications for CHW training programs to apply for accreditation.
    • More information on the certification process and training program accreditation can be found here.​​ ​

  • Opioid Response 

    • The Maryland Department of Health was awarded a three-year Overdose Data to Action cooperative agreement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance data-driven actions at the State and local levels to prevent opioid overdose deaths.  
    • Local health departments who are sub-recipients of the Overdose Data to Action grant will expand the scope, reach and impact of opioid prevention efforts on the local level.