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</div>  <div style="display:hidden"><input id="page_id" type="hidden" value="6638bcb8a74e01331199bca3dc6c4b44"/></div><div class="layout_3-11-0" id="content_container"><div id="fh_content_header"><div id="left_column"><div class="wysiwyg_content clearfix"><h5 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #ffffff;"><button style="background-color: #00a0af; padding: 10px 15px; border: none; border-radius: 5px;"><a href="patient-rights-and-safety/index.html" style="color: #ffffff;">Patient Rights and Safety</a></button></span></strong></h5></div><br/></div><div id="main_column"><div aria-label="Breadcrumbs" id="breadcrumb_nav" role="navigation"><a href="../index.html">Home</a><i aria-hidden="true" class="fas fa-angle-double-right"></i>About the Department of Health </div><h1 id="content_header">About Us</h1><div class="split_70-30 clearfix"><div class="split_70-30_right"><div id="chd_contact_widget"><h3>Contact: Florida Health</h3><ul class="fa-ul"><li><i class="fa-li fas fa-phone"> </i><a class="phone tel" href="tel:850-245-4444">850-245-4444 </a></li><li><i class="fa-li far fa-envelope-open"> </i><a class="email break_word" href="mailto:health@flhealth.gov"><span>health@flhealth.gov</span></a></li><li><i class="fa-li fas fa-location-arrow"> </i><p class="address">Mailing Address</p><p>Florida Health </p><p>4052 Bald Cypress Way </p><p>Tallahassee, FL 32399 </p></li></ul></div><div class="content_block"><p style="color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;">force line break in cascade</p></div><br/></div><div class="split_70-30_left"><div class="wysiwyg_content clearfix"><p>The Florida Department of Health (DOH) was established by the Florida Legislature in 1996, however public health has its roots in Florida dating back to 1888 with the creation of the Florida State Board of Health.</p><p>In 2007, the first-ever State Surgeon General was established to spearhead the efforts of DOH, thereby designating a health officer to oversee all matters of public health. The Surgeon General’s role is to be the state’s leading advocate for wellness and disease prevention. The State Surgeon General, who serves as the State Health Officer and is directly appointed by Florida’s Governor, and confirmed by the Florida Senate. DOH has four deputy secretaries that oversee all of its business and programmatic operations.</p><p>DOH comprises a state health office (central office) in Tallahassee, with statewide responsibilities; Florida’s 67 county health departments (CHD); 8 Children’s Medical Services (CMS) area offices; 12 Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) regional offices; 9 Disability Determinations regional offices; and 3 public health laboratories.</p><p>Facilities for the 67 CHDs are provided through partnerships with local county governments. These county health departments have a total of 255 sites throughout the state, providing a variety of services, and ranging from small to large in location size.</p><ul><li><a href="_documents/orgchart.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank" title="Opens in a new window. (PDF 44kb)">Organizational Chart</a></li></ul><p>DOH is accountable to the Florida Legislature, the Executive Office of the Governor, all residents and visitors in the state, and the federal government. We are responsive to <a href="priorities.html">priorities</a> identified by the Governor and Legislature in determining services, associated funding, and delivery mechanisms. </p><ul><li><a href="_documents1/doh-statement-of-agency-organization.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank" title="FDOH Statement of Agency Organization | PDF | open in new window or tab">Statement of Agency Organization</a></li></ul><hr/><h2>Florida Health is the brand name of the Florida Department of Health</h2><p>Florida Health represents the vision that health belongs to everyone and every group—not just a state agency. It takes individuals, families, communities, and partnerships with local and state-level policymakers, and stakeholders to create a culture of health in Florida.</p><p>While our agency is the spearhead for public health in the state, we are all stewards of health in Florida. Florida Health belongs to all of us.</p><p> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><input id="isGeneratedPage" type="hidden" value="false"/><input id="lastModifiedDate" name="lastModDate" type="hidden" value="Oct 11, 2024 4:29:27 PM"/><input id="lastReviewedDate" name="lastRvwDate" type="hidden" value="Oct 11, 2024 4:29:27 PM"/> <div aria-label="Useful State of Florida Common Links" class="clearfix" id="footers" role="contentinfo"> <div class="clearfix" id="social_footer_container"> <div class="clearfix" id="social_footer"> <div class="clearfix" id="social_media_container"> <p>Connect with DOH</p> <ul class="clearfix"> <li id="facebook"> <a class="fa" href="https://www.facebook.com/FLDepartmentofHealth" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">facebook</span> </a> </li> <li id="twitter"> <a class="fa" href="https://twitter.com/HealthyFla" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">twitter</span> </a> </li> <li id="youtube"> <a class="fa" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/fldoh" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">youtube</span> </a> </li> <li id="pinterest"> <a class="fa" href="https://www.pinterest.com/HealthyFla/" target="_blank"> <span class="sr-only">pinterest</span> </a> </li>  </ul> </div> <script>var isExternal = false;</script> <script>isExternal = true;</script> <script>  </script> <div class="footer" style="display:none;"> <p id="lastModifiedDateDisplay"></p> <p id="lastReviewedDateDisplay"></p> </div> </div> </div>   <div class="clearfix" id="main_footer_container"> <div class="clearfix" id="main_footer"> <div class="clearfix" id="featured_programs_container"> <div class="clearfix" id="featured_programs"> <p class="section_header">Featured Programs</p> <div class="healthiest_weight_logo"> <a href="http://www.healthiestweightflorida.com/" title="Healthiest Weight Florida - 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