What We Do - Promote and Protect the Health of Iowans

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) partners with local public health, policymakers, health care providers, business and many others to fulfill our mission of promoting and protecting the health of Iowans.

This page offers two ways to learn more about what we do at IDPH.

You can use the diagram below to begin a virtual tour of IDPH's vision, mission, goals, strategies, and programs.
Or, you can use the "IDPH's Organization" section below the diagram to learn more about our divisions, bureaus, and centers.

Click on a part of the diagram to learn more about IDPH's vision, mission, goals, strategies, and programs. Or, click on the text next to the diagram.

Go to Vision, Mission, & Guiding Principles

Go to Goals and Strategies

Go to Profiles of What We Do

IDPH's Organization

IDPH is organized into six divisions and the Director's office. Each link will take you to a different part of IDPH where you will find important information about the programs, services, activities, and resources IDPH uses to improve the quality of life for all Iowans.

Acute Disease Prevention and Emergency Response
Provides support, technical assistance, education, and consultation about infectious disease prevention and control, injury prevention and control, and public health and healthcare emergency preparedness and response.

Administration and Professional Licensure
Provides services for birth, marriage and death certificates, monitors and reports progress on health objectives and identifies emerging health issues, coordinates 19 licensure boards regulating the activities of more than 30 health professions, fiscal management of department revenues and contract administration, as well as software, network and computer support.

The Bureau of Professional Licensure licenses the following professions:

Athletic Training

Barber

Behavioral Science

Chiropractic

Cosmetology Arts and Sciences

Dietetic

Hearing Aid Dispenser

Sign Language Interpreters and Transliterators

Massage Therapy

Mortuary Science

Nursing Home Administrator

Optometry

Physical & Occupational Therapy

Physician Assistant

Podiatry

Psychology

Respiratory Care Practitioner

Social Work

Speech Pathology & Audiology

Behavioral Health
Promotes the prevention of substance abuse and problem gambling, secondary conditions among people with disabilities, and violent behavior, regulates substance abuse and gambling treatment programs.

Environmental Health
Provides both educational and regulatory services to ensure a safe and healthy environment for Iowans.

Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention
Promotes and supports healthy behaviors and communities, the prevention and management of chronic diseases, and the development of public health infrastructure and access to health care/services at local and state levels.

Tobacco Use Prevention and Control
Promotes partnerships among state government, local communities, and the people of Iowa to reduce tobacco use.

Department of Public Health Director’s Office
The director is the spokesperson and advocate for public health in Iowa and acts as a liaison to local boards of health, local public health agencies, health care providers, and consumers. The director also represents the department in a variety of national organizations and works with policymakers at the local, state, national and international levels.