Our Work at the Public Health Commission
Learn more about the public health work we do every day to serve Boston's communities.
Boston Public Health Commission is the country’s oldest health department. We envision a thriving Boston where all residents live healthy and fulfilling lives. To accomplish this, we work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities.
We are an independent public agency governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by the Mayor of Boston.
About the Commission
As the nation's oldest health department, we provide and support accessible, high-quality community-based health services and programming, education and resources to build a thriving Boston.
Board of Health
Boston Public Health Commission has a governing board called the Board of Health. Six of the seven members are appointed by the Mayor of Boston.
Contact the Commission
Boston Public Health Commission is Boston's local health department and has a wide range of services, programs, and advocacy centered around health equity.
Data
Health Data and Dashboards
Explore public health data, reports, and dashboards. This information is analyzed by the Center for Public Health Science and Innovation.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Every other year, Boston Public Health Commission conducts phone interviews to evaluate the health of Boston’s residents.
Overdose Data to Action (OD2A)
We're using data to reduce overdoses and addiction-related disparities in Boston. We empower organizations with the tools and skills to prevent overdose in their communities, with a focus on populations disproportionately affected by opioid overdoses.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
We are Boston's municipal Emergency Medical Service, and one of three public safety agencies who respond to 9-1-1 calls.
EMS Community Initiatives
The Community Initiatives Division offers local programs that serve to educate the public on safety and lifesaving skills.
EMS Dispatch Operations
Learn about the people who answer 9-1-1 phone lines, provide pre-arrival instructions to callers, dispatch EMS units, and coordinate communication between pre-hospital providers and receiving hospitals throughout Boston.
EMS Field Operations
The Field Operations Division is responsible for delivering the 9-1-1 emergency medical response to the citizens and visitors of Boston.
EMS Special Operations
The Special Operations Division facilitates medical coverage and coordination of assets, resources, and logistics during special events and emergencies.
EMS Training
The Training Division is responsible for the education and development of all Boston EMS EMTs and Paramedics.
Environmental Health
Environmental Health and Hazards
Our Environmental and Occupational Health Division protects people from exposure to health hazards in homes, workplaces, and public spaces, prioritizing health equity and environmental justice.
Climate Change and Public Health
We work with city, state, regional and national partners to mitigate and adapt to climate change and promote health equity.
Healthy Homes, Businesses, and Environment
We protect and support residents from potential health hazards in homes, businesses, and public spaces. We work with residents and community partners to create a healthier environment where we live, work, and play.
Green and Clean Program
This program recognizes businesses that go above and beyond to ensure green and clean practices.
Safe Routes to School
The citywide effort promotes walking and biking to school, and supports neighborhoods and the community to work toward making walking to school safe, popular, and fun. We work to create safer streets and conditions for children to get to school safely.
Safe Shops
We help ensure safe practices at auto shops, nail salons, and hair salons through outreach and training.
Family Health
Children's Health
Our children’s health initiatives serve vulnerable infants, children, parents, and families.
Early Childhood Mental Health
We work to provide children and families with access to high-quality early childhood mental health services. Our services are trauma-informed, racially-just, and family-centered.
School-Based Health Centers
We provide health care services in eight Boston Public High Schools. We aim to address the medical and behavioral health of students.
Healthy Start Initiative
The Boston Healthy Start Initiative provides direct support to pregnant and parenting women, children, and families. It provides care coordination, connection to resources, health education, and advocacy.
Healthy Start in Housing
We help pregnant and parenting families with children under the age of 5 who have complex medical needs secure and keep housing.
Health Equity
Health Equity and Racial Justice
Learn about how we do this work and find tools to create systems of change in your organization and community.
Health Equity in All Policies
This initiative better equips City departments in addressing racial justice and health equity in their sectors.
Live Long and Well
Learn about Boston's first population health equity agenda and how we're helping residents live longer, healthier lives.
Homelessness
Homeless Services
We provide emergency shelter, social services, and housing search services to Boston’s homeless citizens. Our goal is to make homelessness in Boston rare, brief, and one-time.
Front Door Triage
Our Front Door Triage team works with new guests at our shelters to identify alternative housing opportunities or divert from entering shelter entirely.
Homeless Services Behavioral Health
Our social workers and case managers assess, support, and refer guests to services.
Homeless Services Harm Reduction
Our Harm Reduction team provides training to all Homeless Services staff on overdose prevention, including the use of Narcan, and responds to critical incidents in our shelters.
Homeless Services Job Training and Education
We provide paid employment and hands-on job-training to individuals experiencing homelessness every year.
Quincy Street Kitchen/Food and Nutrition
The CommonWealth Kitchen prepares meals each day for the guests at the Woods Mullen and Southamptom shelters, and programs at the Mattapan campus.
Infectious Disease
Infectious Diseases
The Boston Public Health Commission provides a wealth of information related to preventing and treating infectious diseases.
Education and Community Engagement
The Education and Community Engagement Division of the Boston Public Health Commission’s Infectious Disease Bureau has three programs: Education and Outreach, Boston EMA Ryan White Planning Council Support, and Case Management Training program.
Ryan White Services
We help people living with HIV receive medical care, medication assistance, and essential support services to stay in care.
Ryan White Part A Case Management Training Program
Resources for HIV Case Managers including information and support for individuals living with HIV.
Boston EMA Ryan White Planning Council
The Planning Council integrally works with the Boston Public Health Commission to select and prioritize HIV service categories and allocate Ryan White Part A HIV funding in our region.
Ending the HIV Epidemic
We help connect people living with HIV to resources and care in an effort to lower the amount of people living with HIV.
Physical Health
Physical Health and Wellness
This division focuses on prevention and management of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer through a focus on healthy eating, active living, early detection screening, and addressing social determinants of health.
Chronic Disease Prevention
Chronic Diseases are diseases that last a long time. Chronic diseases can be prevented and managed by lifestyle choices such as eating patterns, physical activity, and other health behaviors.
Injury Prevention Program
Preventing unintentional injuries in Boston residents of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, and economic statuses.
Cancer Health Ride Program
Coupons provide temporary transportation to and from cancer treatments.
Don't Burn It Campaign
The Don’t Burn It Campaign strives to prevent youth from tobacco initiation and use with cigarette prevention messaging.
Healthy Eating and Nutrition
Check out our nutrition education series "The Healthy Boston Speaker Series". This page also includes resources on nutrition and access to healthy foods.
Pink and Black Education and Support Network
The Pink and Black campaign focuses on health disparities for breast cancer outcomes in ethnic minority communities.
Safe Routes to School
The citywide effort promotes walking and biking to school, and supports neighborhoods and the community to work toward making walking to school safe, popular, and fun. We work to create safer streets and conditions for children to get to school safely.
Substance Use and Recovery
Recovery Services
Through outreach, engagement, advocacy, referrals, harm reduction, and recovery services, we help people access the support they need.
Entre Familia
Entre Familia is a 6-to-12-month residential substance use treatment program. We provide bilingual/bicultural support to pregnant and postpartum women and women with children under the age of 17.
Mobile Sharps Team
Mobile Sharps Team provides proactive sweeps in high volume areas. They respond to 311 calls for improperly discarded syringes in public areas.
Overdose Data to Action (OD2A)
We're using data to reduce overdoses and addiction-related disparities in Boston. We empower organizations with the tools and skills to prevent overdose in their communities, with a focus on populations disproportionately affected by opioid overdoses.
Transitions
Transitions is a 65-bed, evidence-based, short-term treatment program for adults focusing on relapse prevention, behavior modification, interpersonal and re-socialization skills.
Youth Prevention Program (Cope Code Club)
This program focuses on supporting youth, families, and stakeholders with educational materials and resources to prevent youth substance use.
Violence Prevention
Violence Prevention
The Office of Violence Prevention partners with communities to prevent and address violence and related trauma. Our goal is to provide support so that all residents and neighborhoods can thrive.
Dee Kennedy Family Justice Center (FJC)
The Center offers services to people impacted by gender-based violence like domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and more.
Safe and Successful Youth Initiative
SSYI utilizes a comprehensive public health approach to outreach, engagement, case management and service delivery to increase positive outcomes for adolescents and young adults ages 17-24.
Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (VIP)
We partner with Boston community organizations, service providers and residents to address and prevent multiple forms of violence and related trauma by supporting strengths and assets so all residents and neighborhoods thrive.