Who We Are

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is responsible for developing and operating state public health programs and activities for the citizens of Kentucky. The mission of DPH is to improve the health and safety of people in Kentucky through prevention, promotion and protection.

The department oversees programs designed to improve the lives of citizens and visitors through prevention of negative health outcomes, promotion of healthy lifestyles and protection from diseases, injury and environmental health impacts. DPH has almost 150 different programs to help Kentuckians become healthier in cooperation with its partners such as local health departments, universities, private providers, etc. To support many of these programs, the department relies on high-quality data to guide decision making at the state and local levels such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Immunization Registry and Office of Vital Statistics.

The department is organized into seven divisions with the Commissioner's Office providing oversight and support for the divisions and programs. The Office of Health Equity and the Public Health Nursing Office are located in the Commissioner's Office. More information about each division can be found on the links at the left of this page.

Programs &
Services

Prevention

Promotion

Protection

COVID 19 coronavirus outbreak
Keep up with the latest news and information at the DPH KY covid-19 page.

Administrative Regulations Notice

The Department for Public Health filed the following new administrative regulations with the Legislative Research Commission March 5, 2021. These new administrative regulations will be published on the LRC Website.

For the new emergency administrative regulations, written public comments may be submitted to the Office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs through April 30, 2021. An online public hearing on these new emergency administrative regulations will be held by Zoom April 26 at 9 a.m. Eastern time upon request to the Office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs. If a public hearing is requested, meeting log-in information will be forwarded prior to the hearing.

For the new ordinary administrative regulations, written public comments may be submitted to the Office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs through May 31, 2021. An online public hearing on these new administrative regulations will be held by Zoom May 24 at 9 a.m. Eastern time upon request to the Office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs. If a public hearing is requested, meeting log-in information will be forwarded prior to the hearing.

902 KAR 4:150E. Enhanced HANDS services in response to declared national or state public health emergency. This emergency administrative regulation continues enhanced HANDS services including tele-service delivery methods. Per guidance from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, states are encouraged to offer prevention and family strengthening strategies virtually and through other safe means during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 is ongoing, this emergency administrative regulation is needed pursuant to KRS 13A.190(1)(a)1. to address the imminent threat to public health and safety. This emergency administrative regulation will be replaced by an identical ordinary administrative regulation.

902 KAR 30:210E. Enhanced early intervention services in response to declared national or state public health emergency.

This emergency administrative regulation establishes actions that the Department for Public Health may take in response to a declared national or state emergency. These actions include enhancing early intervention services including tele-intervention delivery methods. The early intervention program must operate in compliance with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1434-1444. The Office of Special Education Programing has offered guidance to states on implementation of IDEA Part C service delivery in the current COVID-19 environment. This guidance includes the use of telephone and video conferencing methods for service delivery. Because the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 is ongoing, this emergency administrative regulation is needed under KRS 13A.190(1)(a)1 to address the imminent threat to public health. This emergency administrative regulation will be replaced by an identical ordinary administrative regulation.