About Us

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

200 Maine Street Lawrence, KS 66044
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department Email

VISION: Leading change to advance health for all.

MISSION: Creating abundant and equitable opportunities for good health.

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Hours (Monday-Friday)

8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Office (2nd Floor)

  • Phone: 785-843-3060 
  • Fax: 785-843-3161

For full Clinic hours and contact please visit the clinic page.

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History

Public Health Presence

The Lawrence and Douglas County community has benefited from a strong public health presence for more than 120 years. The Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health's mission is to advance policies, practices and programs that promote health for all, prevent disease and protect the environment.

Health Department's Homes

Past

In 1885, the City of Lawrence hired its first Health Officer to control filth-borne epidemics. In 1942, Douglas County participated with the City of Lawrence in the creation of a joint city-county health department. Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health continues to serve as the local public health authority to this day.

Between 1885 and 1942, public health experienced significant growth. Noteworthy achievements include:

  • Establishment of a Kansas Board of Health in 1885
  • The formation of a U.S. Public Health Service in 1889
  • Expansion from a City of Lawrence Health Officer position to a City of Lawrence Health Unit in 1929
  • Sanitation programs commenced in the late 1920s

Collectively, these agencies helped the local public health authority respond to multiple epidemics of smallpox, typhoid fever, polio and most significantly the 1918 - 1919 Spanish Flu. Issues of sanitation and the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases dominated the era between 1942 and the 1960s. In the 1960s and 1970s, after considerable debate spurred by the development of the birth control pill, the Health Department’s philosophy was defined to focus on preventive health care and environmental health. The Health Department played a key role in establishing the Health Care Access Clinic for the medically uninsured; the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center; and the Visiting Nurses Association.

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Privacy Policy

At Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. We do not share or sell your mobile information, including phone numbers, to third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All other data categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. If you wish to opt out of receiving SMS communications or phone calls from us, you can do so by texting "STOP" in response to any of our messages, contacting us at 785-843-3060, or emailing info@ldchealth.org. Please allow up to 48 hours for your opt-out request to be processed.

Notice of Privacy Practices

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our patients' personal health information. In compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we are pleased to provide our Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP). This document outlines how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can access this information.

We encourage all our patients and website visitors to review our NPP to understand our practices regarding your personal health information. For your convenience, our NPP is available in both English and Spanish. Please click on the links below to view or download a copy of the Notice in your preferred language.