The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), the country’s oldest health department, is an independent public agency providing a wide range of health services and programs. It is governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by the Mayor of Boston.
Public service and access to quality health care are the cornerstones of our mission - to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The Commission’s more than 40 programs are grouped into six bureaus: Child, Adolescent & Family Health; Community Health Initiatives; Homeless Services; Infectious Disease; Recovery Services; and Emergency Medical Services. BPHC achieves this mission by providing and supporting accessible high-quality community-based health and social services, community engagement and advocacy, development of health promoting policies and regulations, disease and injury prevention, emergency services, health promotion, and health education services
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BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION BUREAUS
The CHILD ADOLESCENT AND FAMILY HEALTH (CAFH) Bureau supports the health of expecting mothers, promotes the role of fatherhood, works with teens to encourage healthy relationships and offers resources to at-risk youth and families affected by violence. CAFH’s children’s health initiatives strive to serve vulnerable children, youth, and families.
The COMMUNITY INITIATIVES BUREAU (CIB) addresses health issues affecting the entire community of Boston through community and home-based services. CIB supports the Commission’s commitment to environmental concerns, chronic disease prevention and management, access to health care and the enforcement of City-wide health regulations.
The EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) Bureau utilizes state-of-the-art technology to provide 24-hour, 365-day-a-year care for the people of Boston. The department’s 350 EMTs and paramedics respond to over 110,000 emergency calls each year and consistently receive excellent marks from the patients they treat.
The HOMELESS SERVICES BUREAU (HSB) provides a wide range of services, including emergency shelter, career counseling, job training, substance use prevention, and transitional and permanent housing support services.
The INFECTIOUS DISEASE BUREAU (IDB) strives to reduce the impact of infectious diseases, prevent morbidity associated with these diseases, and create healthier lives for the residents of Boston. Work within the Infectious Disease Bureau includes disease surveillance, investigation of cases and outbreaks, funding a continuum of HIV/AIDS-related education and care through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act, community and provider education related to other communicable diseases, and the operation of a tuberculosis (TB) clinic.
The City of Boston has a robust system of care for individuals, families, and communities affected by substance abuse. The RECOVERY SERVICES BUREAU (RSB) works to make sure this system is as easy to navigate as possible for those that need our support. In partnership with an excellent network of community-based providers throughout the city, Recovery Services offers programs and resources aimed at preventing addictions and supporting the treatment and recovery of those impacted by substance abuse.
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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES and PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE CENTERS
Administrative Offices include:
• The Executive Office
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Labor Relations
• General Counsel
• Operations
• Informational Technical Services (ITS)
• Property Management
• Public Safety
Public Health Services Centers (PHSC) include:
• Communications
• Consortium of Professional Development
• Office of Recovery Services
• Office of Public Health Preparedness
• Office of Performance Improvement
• Office of Racial Equity and Community Engagement
• Office of Research and Evaluation
