Who We Are
The Anne Arundel County Department of Health, established October 1930, is the sole government agency responsible for improving the health of Anne Arundel County. By State and County authority, the Department of Health is charged with enforcement of certain federal, State and County laws and regulations.
What We Do
In addition to regulatory and enforcement work, the Department of Health directly provides mandated, delegated and locally-initiated public health services. The Anne Arundel County Council, which also serves as the County Board of Health; the County Medical Society’s Advisory Committee; and several advisory councils help the Department of Health establish its direction.
Nearly 700 Department of Health employees — physicians, nurses, social workers, sanitarians, counselors, therapists and other allied health and support personnel — bring compassion and commitment to their work and a concern for continually improving the quality of the Department’s services.
The impact of their combined effort is extensive. More than one out of every three County residents is directly served by a Department of Health program each year. More than 184,000 residents receive direct personal health or screening services through Department programs. Another 41,000 residents and businesses receive permits, inspections and other environmental services annually.
View Our 2023-2025 Strategic Plan
Vision, Mission and Core Values
Our Vision
A vibrant Anne Arundel County with healthy people in healthy communities.
Our Mission
The Department of Health’s mission is to preserve, promote and protect the health and well-being of all people by advancing health equity in Anne Arundel County.
Our Core Values
- Inclusion We acknowledge, accept and value every person we work with and serve, welcoming differences of perspective, backgrounds and abilities.
- Integrity We adhere to strict ethical standards in performing our duties, with a high level of professionalism, while treating constituents and colleagues with fairness and respect.
- Excellence We provide high-quality and efficient programs and services and hold ourselves accountable to the stakeholders and the people we serve.
- Collaboration We work jointly across the Department of Health and with other agencies and public organizations to deliver effective programs and elevate communities to improve their health.
- Innovation We will be creative, resourceful and evidence-based as we respond to the changes in the public health system and the larger environment in which we operate.
- Respect We are committed to treating each other and the people we serve with dignity and sensitivity, ensuring that all are treated fairly and equitably.
What Is Public Health?
Public health is the science of preserving and improving the health of entire populations through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, the prevention of diseases and injuries, and the control of infectious diseases. These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as large as an entire country or region of the world. Public health professionals implement educational programs, recommend policies, administer services and conduct research — in contrast to clinical health care providers who traditionally focus on treating individuals after they become sick or injured. Public health also works to limit health disparities by promoting health care equity, quality and accessibility.
Ten Essential Public Health Functions and Services
- Assessing community needs in partnership with the public and private sector
- Investigating public health problems and hazards in an era of globalization
- Maximizing the role of media in public health information dissemination
- Building viable and sustainable coalitions and partnerships
- Developing local policies and plans in the context of federal and state policies and plans to transform health
- Enforcing laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
- Ensuring access to clinical services in our local jurisdiction
- Building a robust public health workforce of the future
- Evaluating service delivery in a local jurisdiction
- Conducting research at a local health department