Health Units

There are 36 public health units in Ontario. Health units administer health promotion and disease prevention programs to inform the public about healthy life-styles, communicable disease control including education in STDs/AIDS, immunization, food premises inspection, healthy growth and development including parenting education, health education for all age groups and selected screening services.

While there are minimum standards for public health programs and services that must be in place in all health units across Ontario, boards of health are expected to create and deliver public health programs and services in partnership with other sectors, agencies, and volunteer community groups and coalitions.

In addition, it is expected that boards of health will deliver additional programs and services in response to community needs. Therefore, the face of public health may differ from community to community. For more information on public health units across Ontario or to locate the health unit in your area click here