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How public health protects communities in Virginia
Public health works to prevent illness, reduce health risks, and support healthier lives.
What Public Health Looks Like in Everyday Life
Public health in Virginia protects and improves the health of communities. This includes tracking disease trends, supporting vaccinations, ensuring safe food and drinking water, preparing for emergencies, and improving environmental conditions that affect health. This work is delivered through the Virginia Department of Health and its 32 local health districts, plus three independent districts, working with communities to connect people with services and support.
Examples of public health in action
Public health often happens behind the scenes. These examples show how it helps keep communities healthy every day.
- Monitoring disease trends and outbreaks
- Promoting vaccinations
- Inspecting restaurants and supporting food safety
- Monitoring shellfish waters for safe consumption
- Ensuring safe drinking water
- Preparing communities for emergencies and severe weather
- Ensuring safe private wells and septic systems and other environmental health protections
- Connecting families with health screenings and maternal and child health services
- Ensuring radiological health and safety
- Monitoring cancer trends and potential clusters
- Promoting health equity in public health programs and services
This video shows how public health work across Virginia protects health and supports communities.
This video shows how community health workers connect residents with services and support outreach in local communities.
How this work reaches communities
Public health services in Virginia are coordinated through the Virginia Department of Health and delivered in communities through local health districts. These districts work directly with residents and community partners to address local health needs and connect people with services and information.
Find your local health district to learn about available services, programs, and health initiatives in your community.
Public health services are available in every Virginia community.
Find Help and Public Health Services
Public health services and programs can help residents protect their health and find support in their communities. The options below help visitors quickly locate services, connect with local resources, explore opportunities to get involved, and learn about available public health programs.
Local health district services
Find services such as immunizations, screenings, and environmental health support in your community.
Community Resources Directory
Search for local health and social services available in communities across Virginia.
Public health programs and services
Learn about programs and services that help prevent illness, protect community health, and support healthy living.
Get Involved in Public Health
Residents and students can get involved in public health through internships, volunteer opportunities, and careers across Virginia.
Internships
Gain experience through paid internships with the VDH Internship Academy across Virginia.
Volunteer with MRC
Support public health preparedness and response efforts through the Medical Reserve Corps.
Public health careers
Explore careers that support public health programs and services across Virginia.
We’re listening
Share Your Experience with Public Health in Your Community
Your experience helps us understand what is working and where we can improve. We use community feedback to strengthen services, identify needs, and better support communities across Virginia.
Take the public health perception survey
Take a short survey to share your perspective and help us better understand public health needs across Virginia.
Connect with us
Have a question about public health in your community, want to request outreach or partnership, or share feedback? We welcome connections from residents and community organizations.
Community Engagement in Action
Public health work often happens in partnership with communities across Virginia. Outreach events, local initiatives, and partnerships help connect residents with services, information, and ways to support community health.
Help raise awareness about public health in your community.
Community members, partners, and organizations can use these materials to show how public health supports healthy communities across Virginia.
View and download “I Am Public Health” resources to share on social media.
Watch the Public Health Storyline video series.
These short videos show how public health work is making a difference in communities across Virginia through outreach, partnerships, and local engagement.
Recent community engagement activities across Virginia
These examples highlight outreach, partnerships, and engagement efforts taking place across communities throughout the Commonwealth.
VDH farmers market outreach
VDH staff share health resources and connect residents with public health services.
VDH Commissioner listening session
VDH Commissioner B. Cameron Webb, MD, JD listens during a statewide meeting with public health leaders.
ODU basketball public health awareness event
VDH leaders and partners stand on the court during an Old Dominion University women’s basketball game.
High school outreach
VDH staff connect students with information about careers and workforce opportunities in public health.
Canning for a Cause event
VDH staff support community food access efforts by preparing meals for local food pantry distribution.
VDH Internship Academy cohort 3
Students and recent graduates participate in hands-on learning experiences across VA public health programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Public Health
Find answers to common questions about public health.
Public health is the practice of protecting and improving the health of entire communities, not just treating illness after it occurs.
Public health efforts help prevent disease and injury, reduce health risks, and support conditions that allow people to live healthy lives.
In Virginia, public health includes monitoring disease trends, providing vaccination services, inspecting restaurants and drinking water systems, preparing for emergencies, and connecting families with health screenings and community health programs.
Health care focuses on diagnosing and treating individuals who are sick or injured. Public health focuses on preventing illness and protecting the health of communities before problems occur.
For example, a doctor treats a person with food poisoning, while public health helps reduce the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks by interviewing those with illness, inspecting food service establishments, determining sources of infection and supporting safe food handling practices. Both play important roles in helping people stay healthy.
You may want to contact your local health district if you need services or have specific questions.
Local health districts provide many public health services directly in communities across Virginia.
Common reasons for attending a local health department include:
- Immunizations or vaccination records
- Health screenings or maternal and child health services
- Environmental health concerns such as private wells, septic systems, or food safety
- Questions about disease prevention or community health programs
- Information about local public health initiatives or outreach events
You can find contact information and learn about available services by locating your local health district.
Public health services and community resources are coordinated through the Virginia Department of Health and delivered through local health districts, statewide programs, and community partners.
You can:
- Contact your local health district to learn about services available in your area
- Use the Community Resources Directory to find health and social services near you
- Visit Virginia Department of Health program pages to learn about specific services, prevention efforts, and health initiatives
These resources can help you access support, find reliable information, and connect with programs that promote health and well-being.
There are many ways to support public health efforts in your community.
Residents and organizations can:
- Join Virginia’s Medical Reserve Corps
- Participate in community outreach events and health education activities
- Help raise awareness about public health services and resources
- Find current job openings with the Virginia Department of Health
- Explore workforce development opportunities such as internships with the Virginia Department of Health
Virginia Department of Health
