About

Harris County Public Health (HCPH)

Throughout the years, HCPH has responded to public health issues such as rabies, mosquito-borne illnesses, air and water pollution, disease outbreaks, water and food-borne illnesses, natural disasters, tuberculosis, polio, and other communicable diseases. 
Public health is now battling new challenges. Each year brings new diseases, new chronic disease risks, and more natural and man-made disasters.

Latest from

Public Health

IN THE NEWS

Harris County invests over $300K for low-cost pet spay, neuter services to combat animal overpopulation

29 Apr, 26

Precinct 3 partnered with Harris County Public Health and animal welfare nonprofit PetSet to create a mobile clinic that will travel around unincorporated Harris County over the next several months. Leaders said on top of providing affordable pet care, the initiative aims to improve public safety by reducing strays around the county over time.

Swat Floods Harris County Criminal Courts Building After Mental Health Scare

23 Apr, 26

According to Harris County Sheriff's Office policy, deputies are trained to request Crisis Intervention Response Teams and other crisis-trained personnel to assist with behavioral-health incidents. The county also runs the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), a public-health-led program that has diverted nonviolent mental-health calls from law enforcement and expanded in recent years, as reported by Houston Chronicle. Those programs are designed to get clinical help to people in crisis while minimizing forceful interventions.

In Harris County, Black Maternal Health Isn’t a Statistic. It’s a Crisis Demanding Action

22 Apr, 26

For many families, pregnancy is supposed to be a time of anticipation and hope. But for Black women in Harris County, it is too often shadowed by risk. As Black Maternal Health Week comes to a close, the message from local leaders is clear: the work to address maternal mortality is far from over. The numbers are not just alarming. They are unacceptable. Nationwide, Black women are three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes. Here in Harris County, the disparity is even more severe. A 2024 report from Harris County Public Health found that between 2016 and 2020, Black women experienced a maternal mortality rate of 83.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is nearly double the national rate for Black women and more than four times higher than for white women.

PRESS RELEASES

May Highlights Health and Wellness in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities

05 May, 26

During AANHPI Heritage Month, Harris County Public Health recognizes the health needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and remains committed to making care and services easier to access for everyone.

Think Before You Sink: The New Essentials of Water Safety

05 May, 26

Summer is just around the corner! Swimming and splashing around in the pool, lake, or ocean is a great way to keep cool in Houston’s summer heat. However, if precautions are not taken, a young child can drown quickly and silently. In observance of National Water Safety Month this May, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) reminds you to take extra precautions to prevent your children from drowning accidents.

Growing Mental Health Concerns in Harris County Highlight a Need for Action to Protect Public Health and Maternal Well-Being

04 May, 26

Mental health is a growing public health priority, with increasing rates of anxiety,
depression, and maternal mental health conditions affecting community members in many
places. In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, Harris County Public Health (HCPH)
is raising awareness about the importance of prevention, early intervention, and access to care to
support overall well-being.