Public Health Programs in Your Community | Vermont Department of Health CLOSE Translations for you Public Health Programs in Your Community Local Health Across Vermont Local Health supports every Vermont community through a network of 12 Local Health offices statewide. Your Local Health office works to improve health in many ways, from supporting families through programs like WIC to creating healthier environments with tobacco-free public spaces Working locally and regionally, we partner with community groups, schools, businesses, and local leaders using public health data to energize communities and build readiness to implement public health best practices. Not sure which Local Health office serves your town? Find your Local Health office What Local Health Does Local Health works across a broad range of public health program areas. Click on a topic below for information on Local Health's role in each, along with helpful links. Chronic Disease Prevention Emergency Preparedness Family and Child Health Healthy Homes Immunization Infectious Disease Investigation School Health Substance Misuse Prevention Women, Infants and Children (WIC Program) Water Testing Drop Off Programs Important Links Find Your Local Health Office Find out what Public Health Jobs are open in your community Barre Local Health Office Bennington Local Health Office Brattleboro Local Health Office Burlington Local Health Office Middlebury Local Health Office Morrisville Local Health Office Newport Local Health Office Rutland Local Health Office Springfield Local Health Office St. Albans Local Health Office St. Johnsbury Local Health Office White River Junction Local Health Office 802Quits 802 Smiles VT Helplink You First My Healthy VT Help Me Grow Chronic Disease Prevention Health happens where we live, learn, work, and play. When the place where we live makes it easy for everyone to be physically active, eat well, and live tobacco and substance free fewer people will suffer from injury, cancer, diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Chronic disease work in Local Health offices: Local Health staff support health and well-being to make sure all people in Vermont have the resources they need to reduce their risk of chronic disease, disability, and premature death. Local Health works with community organizations, municipal and regional planners, schools, health care providers and residents to identify community priorities and offer health and wellness strategies to address them. Examples of this work includes: Creating public smoke-free spaces Making sidewalks, cross walks, and bike lanes visible, connected and safe Establishing farmers markets, community gardens, and transportation options to food resources Supporting worksite wellness activities Establishing age-friendly community spaces Providing oral health resources to schools, health care providers, and community members about oral health. If you are part of a community organization interested in working on projects in your neighborhood, contact your Local Health office Helpful Links Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention Healthy Community Design Worksite Wellness Emergency Preparedness All disasters are local. Resilience should be, too. All communities and individuals can prevent, protect against, respond quickly to, and recover from public health emergencies. Emergency Preparedness in Local Health offices: Local Health staff are trained and ready to respond to public health emergencies so people in our community can stay healthy and safe. We work with local, state, and federal partners to provide training to community partners, maintain and support the regional Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteer activities, support plans for distributing medicines and supplies in emergencies, provide resources for responder health and safety, and strengthen community information, alert, and warning systems. Helpful Links Public Health Preparedness OnCall For Vermont volunteer opportunities Family and Child Health Children thrive when families and health care providers are supported. Local Health supports the health and well-being of pregnant people, parents, children, and families across the lifespan. We work to make sure families can get the care and services they need. Staff provide education, resources, and support to health care providers and community partners to help families stay healthy and thrive. Local Health staff: Provide public health information that is specific to pregnant people, infants, children, and youth to health care practices and community members. Promote and support breast/chestfeeding best practices. Work with Family Services , medical and dental providers to make sure children who enter foster care have and maintain medical and dental homes. Helpful Links Strong Families Vermont Home Visiting Children, Youth & Families Healthy Homes Safe and healthy spaces start at home. Local Health connects families and other partners to resources that help keep a safe and healthy home environment, free from exposure to lead, radon, carbon dioxide, mold, pests and drinking water contaminants. Do you have a concern about health or safety issues in your rental housing? You can file a complaint and request an inspection with the Division of Fire Safety. Local Health staff: Support health care providers to perform lead testing for all children at the ages of 12- and 24-months. Educate families who receive WIC about the importance of lead testing and provide referrals to primary care when a child is identified as overdue. Educate people at increased risk and the public on approaches to healthy homes and lead poisoning prevention. Helpful Links Healthy Homes program page Lead Poisoning Prevention Guidance for Health Care Providers Immunization Protect yourself, your family and those around you from serious disease. Local Health works with health care providers and the community to help protect people in Vermont from vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunization Nurses in Local Health offices: Immunization nurses work closely with local families to increase access to immunizations and protect community health. We offer some immunizations at no cost for people under 65 who are uninsured, experiencing significant barriers to access, or are patients of medical practices that cannot receive vaccines through the Vermont Vaccines for Children & Adults program . We also support schools and child care facilities in meeting state immunization requirements. Call your Local Health office for more information about available immunizations and support. Helpful Links Flu, COVID & RSV Vaccines General information on immunizations For Health Care Providers We work with medical practices to help increase the percent of children and adolescents who are vaccinated on time. Local Health staff meet with health care practices throughout Vermont to share 2-year-old and adolescent immunization rates and discuss strategies to increase immunization coverage. Helpful Links For Health Care Providers Immunization Quality Improvement (IQI) Immunization & Health Care Professionals Infectious Disease Investigation Protecting people from the spread of infectious diseases. Local Health teaches and promotes healthy habits, such as washing hands, staying home when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes. Local Health staff: A member of our staff may contact you if you are diagnosed with a reportable disease. During this call, they will discuss your illness, potential exposures, and how to help prevent friends, family, and others in your community from getting sick. Helpful Links Immunizations & Infectious Disease Respiratory Illnesses For Health Care Providers Local Health staff investigate reports of infectious diseases, respond to outbreaks, and work closely with hospitals and health care providers. We help providers understand when and how to report diseases and we stay connected with community partners to support timely and accurate disease reporting. We support local providers who have patients with active tuberculosis (TB) by providing case management and directly observed therapy. Helpful Links For Health Care Providers How to report diseases and laboratory findings Reportable disease list School Health Healthy students learn better and achieve more. Local Health works to improve the health of Vermont’s school-aged children. We partner with school nurses, school staff, health care providers and community groups to support students and help them build healthy habits that last a lifetime. Local Health staff: Connect public health, health care providers and schools. Maximize Medicaid enrollment and student access to medical homes. Support schools as they invest in resources that improve the health of the school community and help students succeed. Share information about vaccination requirements, healthy school environments and school nutrition and physical activity policies. Support school nurses in helping students and families access health services. Help schools understand and use data to strengthen school health efforts. Helpful Links Healthy at School School Health Substance Misuse Prevention Preventing substance misuse to support healthy and thriving communities, families and individuals. Prevention consultants are experts in substance misuse prevention. They support regional community-led prevention efforts. Helpful Links Community Prevention Programs How to Get Help Prescription Drug Disposal WIC (Women, Infants and Children) WIC helps families get the healthy food they need to grow strong and stay well. WIC provides food benefits, nutrition education, breast/chestfeeding support, and referrals to other resources for pregnant people in Vermont, and parents and caregivers with infants and children under 5. Your Local Health office is your main contact for WIC services , and offers WIC activities in its offices or the community. Local Health Staff Help people join the WIC program and receive its benefits. Offer information and support to make the most of WIC benefits. Work in the community to increase participation through outreach, referrals, and retention activities. Provide nutrition education opportunities. Promote and support breastfeeding/chestfeeding through programs such as Promoting a Family-Friendly Workplace. Find your Local Health Office Check out local WIC activities Water Testing Drop-off Program Local Health offices participate in the Drinking Water Drop-Off Program where couriers will pick up your samples and bring them to the Lab for free. Drinking Water Testing Check Drop Off Location and Times Subscribe to Public Health Programs in Your Community April 1, 2026