Minimum requirements for Establishing a County Health Department

There are few requirements for establishing a local health department. There are no minimum number of staff; there is no requirements for buildings and infrastructure; and there is no minimum size population to serve. The seven Oklahoma Counties that do not have established county health departments are provided minimum public health services by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Medical direction of a county health department is routinely provided through contract with a local physician. All professional staff must be licensed or certified, in their area of expertise, to be employed by a county health department. The population served includes all residents of the county in which the health department is based. For additional information regarding services provided contact your county health department.