Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

125 Worth Street in 2013
Department overview
Formed	April 5, 1870; 154 years ago (1870-04-05)
Preceding agencies	Health Committee, 1793 New York City Board of Health, 1805 Metropolitan Board of Health, 1866
Jurisdiction	New York City
Headquarters	42-09 28th St Long Island City, NY 11101
Employees	7,185 (2020[update])[1]
Department executive	Ashwin Vasan, Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene
Child department	New York City Board of Health
Key document	New York City Charter
Website	nyc.gov/health

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (also known as NYC Health) is the department of the government of New York City^[2] responsible for public health along with issuing birth certificates, dog licenses, and conducting restaurant inspection and enforcement. The New York City Board of Health is part of the department.^[3][4] Its regulations are compiled in title 24 of the New York City Rules (the New York City Health Code). Since March 2022, the commissioner has been Ashwin Vasan.

History

The department was initially set up as the Health Committee (later Commission), a quasi-governmental public health group in response to a yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793. Governor John Jay made a proclamation on 13 September 1793 to establish this to regulate the ports of the city and ensure proper quarantines. Three days later, the city, under the leadership of Mayor Richard Varick, created a tandem committee that ensured both private and commercial needs would be addressed. New York would see additional epidemics in 1795, 1796, 1798, 1799, and 1800, which lead to the creation of the 'New York City Board of Health', which held its first meeting in 1805.^[5]

In 1866, the New York State legislature enacted a bill establishing the 'Metropolitan Board of Health', consisting of the four Police Commissioners, four Health Commissioners appointed by the Governor, and the Health Officer for the Port of New York.^[6] In 1870, the legislature replaced the Board of Health with the Department of Health, with additional responsibilities including street cleaning and sanitary permits.^[7][8]

As of December 1894, Charles G. Wilson was serving as President of the Board of Health.^[9]

As a result of its consolidation with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services, it was renamed the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on July 29, 2002.^[10] In 2021, Michelle E. Morse was named the first Chief Medical Officer of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.^[11]

Organization

NYC is organized into 30 health districts (sometimes referred to as health center districts), themselves composed of 354 health areas which are sets of census tracts. NYC is also organized into 17 mental health regions.

The departmental hierarchy is:

• New York City Board of Health
• Commissioner of Health
  • General Counsel
  • Chief Medical Examiner
  • Executive Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer
    • Deputy Commissioner for Mental Hygiene
      • Alcohol and Drug Treatment
      • Child and Adolescent Services
      • Mental Health
      • Developmental Disabilities
      • Systems Strengthening and Access
    • Deputy Commissioner for Disease Control
      • Communicable Diseases
      • HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control
      • Immunization
      • Public Health Laboratory
      • STI Prevention and Control
      • Tuberculosis Control
    • Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health
      • Environmental Disease Prevention
      • Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response
      • Environmental Sciences and Engineering
      • Environmental Surveillance and Policy
      • Food Safety and Community Sanitation
      • Poison Control Center
      • Veterinary and Pest Control
    • Deputy Commissioner for Epidemiology
      • Epidemiology Services
      • Vital Statistics
      • Public Health Training
      • World Trade Center Health Registry
    • Deputy Commissioner for Health Care Access and Improvement
      • Correctional Health Services
      • Primary Care Access and Planning
      • Primary Care Information Project
      • Information Technology Initiatives
    • Deputy Commissioner for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
      • Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control
      • District Public Health Offices
      • Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health
      • School Health
    • Deputy Commissioner for Administration
    • Deputy Commissioner for Finance
    • Deputy Commissioner and Chief Information Officer
    • Deputy Commissioner for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Security

On-site security services at the five New York City Health and Mental Hygiene clinics is provided by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Police. New York City Health and Mental Hygiene Police are Special Officers who have limited peace officer powers in connection with special duties of employment pursuant to New York State Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10(40). The exercise of these powers is limited to the employee's geographical area of employment and only while such employee is actually on duty as listed in Chapter 13 subsection (C):^[12]. DOHMH Special Officers are prohibited by New York State Law (Criminal Procedure Law) to use or carry a firearm.

Board of Health

The New York City Board of Health is part of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and consists of the commissioner of the department, the chairperson of the department's Mental Hygiene Advisory Board, and nine other members appointed by the mayor.^[4]