Health Services

The Monterey County Health Department exists to enhance, protect and improve the health of the people in Monterey County. To accomplish this, the Department provides a wide variety of health-related services in the areas of public health, environmental health, behavioral health and clinic services.

Administration Bureau

Provides Budget and Finance, Human Resources, Planning/Evaluation/Policy, Information Technology, and Facilities functions in addition to oversight of the other Bureaus.

Animal Services Bureau

In partnership with Salinas City Animal Services, the Animal Services Bureau formed Hitchcock Road Animal Services. Services provided include animal control, animal licensing, pet adoption and shelter as well as other projects.

Behavioral Health Bureau

Links County residents who have mental health and addictive disorders to a continuum of behavioral health interventions such as inpatient hospitalization, crisis interventions, recovery programs, prevention services, supportive housing, wellness centers, and outpatient services

Clinic Services Bureau

Operates seven FQHC look-alike clinics providing comprehensive primary medical care, health promotion education and disease prevention services regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.

Emergency Medical Services Agency

Works with partners to provide medical care to pre-hospital emergency patients by maintaining an EMS system, paramedic/ambulance franchise, EMS training programs, and preparing disaster plans. This division plans, coordinates and evaluates emergency medical services to ensure that emergency medical care is available and consistent at the emergency scene, during transport and in the emergency room.

Environmental Health Bureau

Educates the public and enforces federal, state and local statutes covering consumer health, drinking water, environmental health reviews, hazardous materials, recycling and resources recovery, and solid waste management.

Planning, Evaluation, and Policy

The Administration’s Planning, Evaluation, and Policy (PEP) unit primarily works in three areas: facilitating the implementation of the Health Department Strategic Plan, aligning and monitoring the department’s performance standards with national public health accreditation requirements, and addressing social and environmental policies and practices that contribute to creating more equitable health outcomes.

Public Administration/Public Guardian

Controls and safeguards all property subject to loss, injury, waste, or misappropriation of Monterey County residents who died without leaving a will or apparent heirs, and also acts as a Representative Payee for Monterey County Residents who are incapable of managing their public entitlement benefits on their own behalf.

Public Health Bureau

Programs in the Bureau cover several essential public health services, including surveillance, disaster preparedness, diagnosing and addressing health problems, outreach and education, and mobilizing community partnerships to identify and