Virginia Beach Department of Public Health

Our Support

This page is published by employees of the Department to provide health information for the citizens of Virginia Beach. You will find information about the services we provide as well as health information and links to relevant sites on the World Wide Web. 

Our Vision

We are proud to be building the most, responsible, effective, progressive, and professional health department in the commonwealth of Virginia.

Our Mission

The VBDPH exists to promote and protect the health of our community. Community is defined as people and the environment.

The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health (VBDPH) is a state-city cooperative health service agency. We have over 115 full-time employees, 17 part-time employees and countless volunteers each year.  We are located at 4 different offices in Virginia Beach. 

Virginia Beach Department of Health Staff & Locations

Video About Us- A Healthy Day in Virginia Beach

Our Philosophy

As a government public health organization, our objective is to improve the health in populations as a whole by organized community action.

Partnerships for a Better Virginia Beach

The VBDPH has fostered positive relationships with various community, public, and private enterprises to provide health, education, protection and prevention services to citizens.

The Health Services Advisory Board is a citizen advisory group appointed by City Council to provide assistance and input into Department of Public Health district initiatives. Members include representatives from Virginia Beach General Hospital, Sentara Health Systems, Community Services Board, Tidewater Medical Group, the U. S. Navy, and Pediatrics at the Beach as well as local civic leagues, Virginia Beach Restaurant Association and the private business community. Professional Associations of the group include Board membership on the Ronald McDonald House, Lions Club, Philippine Nurses Association, Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club.

Health Professional Training activities include our alliances with local colleges and universities to provide public health training to health and administration, medical, dental, nursing, and nutritionist students.

Our Municipal Government Efforts includes agreements with the police force to provide training for referrals, agreements with the Parks and Recreations Department to provide "Healthy Life" courses on nutrition and exercise, and an alliance with Animal Control for the prevention of Rabies. Nursing staff work with the Mental Retardation Department for Part H Early Intervention services. Interaction with Department of Social Services includes efforts with Medicaid eligibility, Child Protective Services, and other programs. We are involved with the Comprehensive Services Act to identify services for those children most at risk of institutionalization/incarceration. VBDPH contracts with the Community Service Board to provide assistance to their population, and works with the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation to provide services to at-risk communities in Virginia Beach. We also provide input to the U. S. Navy for their "New Parents Support Group."

In the Private Sector, we have contracts to provide medical and dental services for Medicaid recipients. We interact with local hospitals through our maternity and child health, immunization and vital statistics programs. Support is provided to private obstetric and family practice physicians upon request. VBDPH issues a public health newsletter to the medical community with updated information on resources and programs. View ProACTIVE. We actively participate on a number of boards, community groups, memberships and public forums including: 

Maternal and Child Health

• Part H Early Intervention Services - coordination of services to children 0-2 years at risk of developmental delays.
• Project Link - coordination of services to women and their children at risk for substance abuse.
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) - coordination of volunteer efforts to support families involved in court services.
• Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH) - coalition of area's health providers of care to children with goal of improving health status of children.
• Resource Mothers - lay home visitor program that provides support and transportation to at-risk pregnant women.
• Virginia Beach Perinatal Coordinating Council - works with Regional Coordinating Council, through Eastern Virginia Medical School, to ensure women receive appropriate prenatal services.
• March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation - supports activities to foster healthy birth outcomes.
• Children's AIDS Network Designed for Interfaith Involvement (CANDI) - case management and support services for women and their children affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Health Families of South Hampton Roads - coalition targeting provision of health, financial and social services to women and their families.

Adolescent Health

• School Health Advisory Forum - facilitation of prevention focus regarding health behaviors of school children.
• Family Life Education Curriculum Committee - promotes acceptable and realistic methods to offer family life education to City's students.
• Better Beginnings Coalition - multi-disciplinary coalition with focus on preventing adolescent pregnancy through programs targeting adolescents and raising public awareness.
• Peer Mentoring Program - adolescent skill developing program aimed at developing peers with sufficient skills to work with peers to handle decision making appropriately.

Community/Professional Boards and Coalitions

• Community Awareness Resource and Empowerment (CARE) - neighborhoods and city agencies working together to strengthen and empower targeted neighborhoods.
• Beach Health Clinic - provides medical services to the City's underserved residents.
• Food Bank of Tidewater - coordinates delivery of needed food products to residents in need.
• Neighborhood Advisory Council for Community Policing - focuses on creating safer communities.
• Eastern Virginia Region AIDS Resource Center (EVRARC) - professional education and service delivery to citizens impacted by HIV/AIDS.
• Virginia Beach Medical Society - link to community physicians.
• Virginia Beach Response to Domestic Violence Task Force - Working together with City Police, Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, social services and local shelter to identify problems and find solutions.