Article Contents
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is a state agency responsible for a variety of public health programs.
The department coordinates efforts to control and prevent infectious diseases (epidemiology), regulates EMS and trauma systems, maintains vital records such as birth and death certificates, and maintains immunization records.
Structure and Leadership
The Texas Department of State Health Services is headed by a commissioner who reports to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. Both commissioners are appointed by the governor.
DSHS employs more than 3,500 personnel.
The department is supported by about two dozen advisory committees. These include a diabetes council, a child fatality review committee, a newborn screening advisory committee, border health task force, and more.
Divisions
DSHS has six programmatic divisions: Chief State Epidemiologist, Public Health Policy and Practice, Community Health Improvement, Consumer Protection, Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services, and Regional and Local Health Operations.
The Office of the Chief State Epidemiologist oversees the Center for Health Statistics and Data Governance, which analyzes and disseminates Texas health information such as health risk behaviors (e.g., smoking) vital events (e.g., causes of death), hospitalizations, etc.
The Center for Public Health Policy and Practice provides policy analysis and facilitates facilitates cooperation with academic institutions and other agencies.
The Division for Regional and Local Health Operations oversees regional public health offices and partnerships with local organizations. Additionally, the division runs a border health program and supervises the State Capitol Nurse.
The Division for Consumer Protection runs programs that identify and reduce health problems from exposure to radiation, food, drugs, and other environmental hazards. It also administers the state’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma Care System.
The Division for Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services provides laboratory services and disease surveillance. The division administers a system to immunize children and adults, provides laboratory analysis of specimens, including newborn screening for certain genetic disorders, collects and distributes data on infectious diseases, and responds to disease outbreaks
The Division for Community Health Improvement runs maternal and child health initiatives and tobacco programs, and oversees the vital events registration system for the state.
Mission and Goals
Mission: “To improve the health, safety, and well-being of Texans through good stewardship of public resources, and a focus on core public health functions.”
Goals:
- Improve health outcomes through public and population health strategies, including prevention and intervention.
- Optimize public health response to disasters, disease threats, and outbreaks.
- Improve and optimize business functions and processes to support delivery of public health services in communities.
- Enhance operational structures to support public health functions of the state.
- Improve recognition and support for a highly skilled and dedicated workforce.
- Foster effective partnership and collaboration to achieve public health goals.
- Promote the use of science and data to drive decision-making and best practices.
Regional Offices
DSHS divides Texas into eight public health regions, each served by a regional office and several satellite office.
- Region 1 – Lubbock
- Region 2/3 – Arlington
- Region 4/5 North – Tyler
- Region 6/5 South – Houston
- Region 7 – Temple
- Region 8 – San Antonio
- Region 9/10 – El Paso
- Region 11 – Harlingen
The regional offices (PHRs) provide health services for jurisdictions that lack a local health department and provide select or augmented public health services for jurisdictions with health departments.
Predecessor Organizations
DSHS was created by the legislature in 2003 by merging four previous state agencies: the Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Health Care Information Council, and the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Address and Contact
- Headquarters: 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX (map)
- Mailing Address: PO Box 149347, Austin, Texas 78714-9347
- Website: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/
- Phone: 512-776-7111 (main) | 888-963-7111 (toll free)
- Email: customer.service@dshs.texas.gov
