Health Department
Energy Saving Days
As a State agency, the Howard County Health Department is not affected by these Energy Saving Days. Our location at the Ascend One building will be open for normal operations.
Visiting Us
Hours of Operation: 8:00am-5:00pm Monday through Friday
(Program hours may vary. Confirm specific operating hours.)
Instructions for getting to the Health Department using public transportation.
Wearing a mask at the Health Department is not required but certainly welcomed for those wishing to wear them. Masks are strongly encouraged for anyone who is feeling sick, but not receiving in-clinic services. For more information about how to help prevent the flu and other respiratory illnesses, visit our Flu & Respiratory Illness page.
For more information or questions, contact 410-313-6300. For emergencies dial 9-1-1.
Interpretation services can be provided.
Tell Us How We Did
Let us know about your experience at the Health Department. Take our Client Satisfaction Survey.
Topics of Interest
New Rules for Medicaid Coming Soon
A new federal law, H.R. 1 adds new requirements for up to 320,000 Maryland Medicaid members. The Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Health Connection, Managed Care Organizations and community partners are working together to help Maryland families navigate these new changes and stay covered. Visit our Medicaid & Health Insurance page for more information.
Seasonal Flu Vaccine
The Health Department will offer free flu shots at multiple community events around Howard County starting in October. You can find the complete schedule on our Flu & Respiratory Illness webpage. The Maryland Department of Health and leading medical experts recommend that everyone age six months and older receive an annual flu vaccination to reduce the risk of serious illness from flu.
Childhood Immunizations
The Health Department follows the Maryland Department of Health Vaccine Guidelines. We encourage all parents to talk to their child's healthcare provider about questions related to their children being protected against vaccine preventable diseases. For more on Childhood Immunizations, visit our webpage.
Crisis Services:
- Grassroots 24/7 Crisis Hotline - 410-531-6677 (local) or 9-8-8
- Mental Health Walk-in Services - 24/7 at Grassroots Crisis Center
- Substance Use Walk-in Services - 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., 7 Days/Week at Grassroots Crisis Center
- Mental Health & Substance Use resources and referrals - 410-313-6202 at Howard County Health Department, Bureau of Behavioral Health
CAREAPP - connect to community programs and services
Our Programs
The Bureau of Access to Health Care Services facilitates enrollment into quality healthcare by: processing insurance applications for low income children under age 19 through the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP); assisting clients with applying for health insurance and providing services to help clients navigate the Medicaid system in the Administrative Coordination Care Unit (ACCU); and scheduling transportation for Medicaid recipients to receive necessary medical treatment with the Medical Assistance Transportation Program.
The Bureau of Behavioral Health works on the promotion of mental health, resilience, and wellbeing; the treatment of mental and substance use disorders; and the support of those who experience and/or are in recovery from these conditions, along with their families and communities
Approximately one out of every two American men and one out of every three American women will develop Cancer at some point during their lifetime.
The goals of the Cancer Control Program at the Howard County Health Department are to:
- Reduce cancer deaths in Howard County and to reduce the differences in cancer outcomes among whites and ethnic minorities.
- Increase breast and cervical cancer screening among the uninsured, low income women statewide and provide follow-up diagnosis
- Carry out public and professional education to assure the quality of screening services
- Provide early detection of Colorectal Cancer by increasing the number of Maryland adults screened and to decrease racial and ethnic health disparities
- Work with community partners, State agencies, healthcare entities, resource centers and other local health departments to implement proven strategies to protect Maryland residents from tobacco-related death and disease
The goal of the Community Engagement Team is to achieve health equity in Howard County by identifying and reducing health disparities through collaborative partnerships and building trusting relationships with the community.
The COVID-19 page provides information, resources and services related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The mission of this program is to prepare the County and its healthcare system to respond to natural and man-made public health emergencies including but not limited to: severe weather conditions, bioterrorism and disease outbreaks.
The Bureau of Environmental Health has three programs that address the physical environment. Programs include: Well & Septic, Food Protection and Community Hygiene.
The Immunization Program offers information and services for adult, adolescent and childhood immunizations
The IPC Program monitors, investigates, responds to, reports, and provides prevention guidance to limit the spread and duration of illnesses caused by infectious diseases.
The IPC Program does not perform immunizations. Please contact our Health Clinic at 410-313-7500 for more information about Immunization services.
The Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Program addresses those issues from preconception to teen years and beyond.
Howard County Health Department provides Sexual and Reproductive Health Services to Howard County women, men and teens and LGBTQIA+ communities. At our clinics there is no residency requirement, no one is turned away because of ability to pay, services are confidential, and there is no need for parental consent, regardless of age.
We have both onsite and telehealth services available and we always accept new patients. Call us for more information: 410-313-7500.
The goal of the Assessment Evaluation and Review Services (AERS) Program is to help county residents to remain safe at home by connecting them with services and supports that can encourage their independence and personal well-being. This often means that individuals can live at home longer without having to consider moving to a nursing home or other facility placement.
Learn more about, Nicotine Use Prevention & Cessation, Tobacco/Nicotine Retailer Education & Enforcement, and Legal & Safe Cannabis Use.
WIC is a federally funded program that provides healthy foods and nutrition counseling for pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children under age five.
Other Health Department Services
The Mission, Vision & Values of the Howard County Health Department
Birth certificates for those born in Maryland after 1939 are available from the Health Department Administrative Offices.
The Howard County Health Department has numerous programs and services that work to improve the health and well being of those who live, work, play and study in the County.
In order to accomplish this, we rely on a large group of dedicated and talented people. Our staff includes medical personnel, social workers, counselors, nutritionists, environmental health inspectors, as well as, administrative, clerical, fiscal and facilities staff.
The Health Department provides internship and volunteer opportunities.
Public Information Act (PIA) requests grant people the right to access to public records. To submit a PIA request to the Howard County Health Department, see below.
For Well & Septic, Food Service Facility or other Environmental concerns, use the Environmental PIA Form.
For Health Department records, media inquiries or other non-environmental informational requests, please email askhealth@howardcountymd.gov.
Note: If you have any questions, please email askhealth@howardcountymd.gov.
Public Health Accreditation is a voluntary national program developed to measure health department performance against an established set of nationally recognized, practice-focused, and evidenced-based standards. Public Health Accreditation is overseen by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Members, Meetings & Minutes for the Howard County Board of Health, the Howard County Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board, and the Howard County Overdose Prevention Team.
Howard County Health Department continuously monitors and evaluates health-related data to ensure a safe, healthy Howard County community. As part of this analysis, the Health Department produces periodic reports examining significant health factors to the community.
The HoCo Health Podcast: Unlocking the Secrets to a healthy community! Join us as we dive into fascinating conversations about public health. From innovative strategies to improve well-being to inspiring stories of individuals making a difference, we cover it all. Tune in and empower yourself with the knowledge to live your healthiest life!
The purpose of HCHD's social media accounts is to present matters of public interest to Howard County, including our many residents, businesses, partners, stakeholders and visitors. We welcome questions and concerns, either publicly, as private messages here, or via email at askhealth@howardcountymd.gov. However, they are not moderated online discussions. To reach our team most efficiently, we encourage you to email us directly.
We reserve the right to report or hide, at our sole discretion, public comments on these accounts that contain vulgar or threatening language; propose or promote illegal activity; include protected, personally identifiable information (doxxing); or that present misinformation.
We ask that you do not share protected, personally identifiable health information, such as your social security number, case number, or specific diagnoses, here.
By joining our groups, you agree to receive health updates, information and announcements from us. Our groups are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for medical advice.
Please note that, while we strive to be as responsive as possible, our accounts are not monitored 24/7. If you require immediate emergency assistance, please call 9-1-1 (24/7). If you or someone you love is in crisis, please call 2-1-1 Press 1 (24/7).
The content posted on these accounts by Howard County Health Department reflect the opinions and positions of the Howard County Health Department. Public comments or posts do not reflect the opinions and position of the Howard County Health Department or its officers and employees. If you have any questions concerning this account, please contact us directly at askhealth@howardcountymd.gov.
