Health Department
The Miami-Dade County Health Department provides public health programs, clinical services, nutrition assistance, vital records, disease prevention, environmental health oversight, and emergency preparedness support. This article explains which services are available, how to locate an appropriate office, how to use official online systems, what information may be required, and which common mistakes can delay access to services.
Department Role and Responsibilities
The agency commonly called the Miami-Dade County Health Department is officially the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, also known as DOH-Miami-Dade. It operates as part of the Florida Department of Health while providing programs and services for residents of Miami-Dade County.
The department’s mission is to protect, promote, and improve public health through state, county, and community efforts. Its work includes immunizations, nutrition programs, maternal and child health services, infectious disease prevention and treatment, environmental health activities, emergency response planning, vital records, and population health assessment.
The official DOH-Miami-Dade website is the central starting point for county health services. It provides program announcements, disease reporting information, service locations, public health news, certificate ordering information, and notices such as water quality advisories.
Residents should distinguish DOH-Miami-Dade from unrelated county agencies, hospitals, private medical practices, and health insurance providers. The department offers public health services, but each program has its own eligibility rules, service locations, operating hours, and procedures.
Major Programs and Services
DOH-Miami-Dade organizes its work into several public health areas. The official programs and services directory provides an overview of the department’s clinical, nutrition, environmental, emergency, and disease-control programs.
Clinical and Nutrition Services
Clinical and nutrition services include maternal and child health support, nutritional counseling, immunizations, family planning, prenatal care, refugee health services, pediatric dental services, and testing or treatment programs for certain infectious diseases. Availability depends on the location because individual health department offices do not all provide the same services.
Residents should identify the exact program they need before traveling to an office. For example, an office providing Women, Infants, and Children services may not issue birth certificates or provide tuberculosis services. Similarly, a location offering immunizations may not provide prenatal care.
Women, Infants, and Children
The Women, Infants, and Children program, commonly called WIC, provides healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and family resources. Miami-Dade WIC serves more than 60,000 women, infants, children, and families in the county.
WIC is offered at numerous health department locations, including offices in Miami, Miami Gardens, Goulds, Hialeah, Naranja, North Miami Beach, and other communities. Because hours and available services vary by location, residents should confirm that a selected office provides WIC before visiting.
Immunizations and Preventive Care
Immunization services are provided at selected DOH-Miami-Dade locations. The department also operates broader preventive health programs, including family planning education, wellness workshops, maternal health services, and initiatives that encourage healthier lifestyles.
Not every health department site offers immunizations. The official location directory identifies offices where immunization services are available, including locations that may also provide family planning, refugee health, tuberculosis, or sexually transmitted infection services.
Infectious Disease Programs
DOH-Miami-Dade provides programs intended to prevent, detect, and manage communicable diseases. These programs include services related to HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections and diseases, and other reportable conditions.
Residents seeking testing, treatment, or disease-related services should select a location that specifically identifies the needed program. The department’s location information separates HIV/AIDS, STI/STD, and tuberculosis services so users do not mistakenly visit an office that only provides unrelated clinical or nutrition programs.
Diseases and conditions that must be reported can be communicated to the department through the disease reporting line at 305-470-5660. This number is separate from the department’s general contact number and should be used for reportable disease matters.
Health Department Locations
DOH-Miami-Dade operates multiple service locations rather than relying on a single countywide clinic. Each location may have a different schedule and a different combination of programs.
The health department location search allows users to search by address, identify nearby offices, and filter locations by service. The directory displays each office’s street address, telephone number, current hours, and available programs.
Choosing the Correct Office
The service filter is particularly useful because geographic proximity does not guarantee that an office provides the required program. Before making a trip, compare the requested service with the programs shown for that address.
Services identified in the location directory include:
Birth and death certificates
Family planning
HIV/AIDS services
Immunizations
Pediatric dental services
Prenatal care
Refugee health
Sexually transmitted infection and disease services
Tuberculosis services
Women, Infants, and Children services
Some addresses in the directory do not display a specific service category in the provided listing. Residents should not assume that every health department service is available at those offices. The department can confirm the appropriate location for a particular program.
Hours May Differ by Program
Office hours vary throughout the county. Some locations open at 7 a.m. or 7:30 a.m., while others begin service later. Closing times also differ. In addition, the department warns that programs operating at the same address may not follow identical hours.
Users should check the current location entry shortly before visiting. A building may be open while a specific program is closed, operating on a different schedule, or unavailable at that location.
Information to Prepare
Requirements depend on the service. The reference information does not establish one document list for every DOH-Miami-Dade program, so residents should rely on instructions for the specific program they intend to use.
Before contacting the department, it is useful to identify:
The exact program or service needed
The preferred health department location
The person who will receive the service
A working telephone number and email address
A clear description of the question or requested assistance
Any program-specific identification identified on the official program page
For programs with eligibility requirements, review those requirements before requesting an appointment. Do not assume that participation in one health department program automatically establishes eligibility for another.
Patient Portal Services
Patients receiving services at a local county health department may use Florida Health Connect, the Department of Health’s secure patient portal. The Florida Health Connect portal is free to people receiving services through a county health department.
The portal allows patients to communicate directly with their county health department providers. Available functions include sending secure messages, requesting prescription refills, asking questions about a plan of care, and reviewing health information.
Depending on the information in the patient’s account, the portal may provide access to:
Provider notes
Medication information
Laboratory and test results
Educational information about results and medical issues
Secure communication with the care team
Patients may also send a portal message identifying a preferred appointment date and time. Sending a requested time does not by itself establish that an appointment has been confirmed. Users should review the department’s response and any appointment details provided through the portal.
The portal is the appropriate system for secure patient communication. General email and public contact forms should not be used to transmit confidential medical details.
Birth and Death Certificates
The Bureau of Vital Statistics at the Florida Department of Health issues Florida vital certificates. DOH-Miami-Dade provides local access to eligible certificate services, including in-person and mail-based ordering options.
The Miami-Dade certificate ordering page explains the available ordering methods and separates birth, death, marriage, and divorce records by record type and date range.
Birth Certificate Coverage
Florida birth certificates are available for births occurring anywhere in the state from 1930 to the present. A person does not need to have been born in Miami-Dade County for the Miami-Dade health department to have access to an eligible Florida birth record within that date range.
Death Certificate Coverage
Florida death certificates are available for deaths occurring in the state from 2009 to the present. The date and location of death should be checked before selecting the health department as the record source.
Marriage and Divorce Records
The Department of Health can issue marriage certificates for Florida marriages occurring after June 6, 1927. Marriage records from before that date must be obtained from the Clerk of Court in the county where the marriage license was issued.
Divorce certificates are available through the Department of Health for Florida divorces occurring after June 6, 1927. Records for earlier divorces must be requested from the Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
Marriage and divorce certificates should not be confused with court case files, marriage licenses, or other documents maintained by a county clerk. Confirm the record type and event date before submitting an order.
Ordering Method Differences
Certificates may be ordered online, by phone, by mail, or in person under the options described by the Department of Health. Fees may differ depending on whether a person orders directly through the local health department or uses the department’s approved online and telephone ordering process.
Users should follow the instructions for the specific certificate type rather than applying birth certificate procedures to a death, marriage, or divorce request. Required information and eligibility restrictions can differ by record.
Special Medical Needs Planning
DOH-Miami-Dade supports residents with medical or physical needs during emergencies and disasters. The department coordinates medical and nursing support in Special Needs Shelters and works with Miami-Dade County emergency management agencies during evacuations.
The Special Needs program page explains registration and emergency evacuation assistance for residents who may require transportation or medical support during a hurricane or another local disaster.
Emergency Assistance Eligibility
The Emergency and Evacuation Assistance Program provides evacuation assistance and transportation to registered residents when county officials issue voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders. Transportation may be provided to a Special Needs Shelter when that level of assistance is appropriate.
People who may need to register include, but are not limited to:
People who use oxygen
People with feeding tubes, feeding pumps, or ostomies
People who use electric-powered scooters
People who need assistance moving around
People who depend on other electrical medical devices
Special Needs Shelters are intended for people with disabilities or medical care requirements that exceed basic first aid. Preregistration helps emergency officials plan transportation, staffing, equipment, and available shelter space.
Registration should occur before a hurricane or evacuation is imminent. Residents can register with the Emergency and Evacuation Assistance Program by calling 305-513-7700 or by using the registration methods provided on the official program page.
Cancer Screening Program
The Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast and cervical cancer screening services at no cost or reduced cost for people who satisfy the program’s eligibility requirements.
The breast and cervical cancer screening page provides program requirements, covered services, and appointment information.
Screening Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the eligibility conditions stated by the program:
Be between 40 and 64 years old
Have income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level
Be uninsured
Live in Miami-Dade or Monroe County
Have a picture ID
Meeting the age requirement alone does not establish eligibility. Income, insurance status, county residence, and identification requirements also apply.
Covered Screening Services
Program services include clinical breast examinations, mammograms, and Pap tests. Screening capacity is limited by available funding and is intended to reach approximately 5 percent of the population in need.
The program also provides care coordination for clients with abnormal examination results. Women screened through the program who receive a breast or cervical cancer diagnosis may be referred to the Florida Medicaid Program for an eligibility determination. Diagnostic funds are reserved for women who were screened through the program.
Residents can request more information or schedule an appointment by calling 305-470-5634. Because funding and eligibility affect access, callers should be prepared to discuss the program requirements before an appointment is arranged.
Environmental Public Health
Environmental Public Health programs monitor environmental conditions that may affect community health. Department activities include water sampling, facility inspections, food hygiene evaluation, and response to environmental health emergencies.
The department may publish public notices when testing identifies a potential concern, including water quality advisories. It may also announce when an advisory has been lifted. Residents relying on an advisory should review the latest department notice rather than relying on an older announcement.
Environmental health functions are different from clinical services. A person asking about water sampling, facility inspections, or food hygiene should select the relevant environmental program rather than contacting an immunization, WIC, or vital records location.
Community Health Data
DOH-Miami-Dade assesses and reports on county health conditions as part of its community health planning and statistics responsibilities. This work helps identify areas where public health improvement may be needed and supports the development of county health initiatives.
Community health statistics are intended for population-level assessment and planning. They should not be treated as an individual diagnosis or a substitute for communication with a health care provider.
Contact Form and Public Records
The department provides an official online contact form for questions and feedback. The form asks users to provide a name, preferred contact method, telephone number, email address, selected program or service, and a description of the assistance requested.
Florida has a broad public records law. Written communications to or from state officials concerning state business may be available to the public and media upon request. Email messages and contact-form submissions may therefore be subject to public disclosure.
Confidential or sensitive information should never be sent through ordinary email or the general contact form. Patients who need to discuss medical information with a county health department provider should use an approved secure method such as Florida Health Connect.
Common Service Mistakes
Many delays occur because users select the wrong location, confuse health department records with court records, or submit sensitive information through an inappropriate communication method.
Visiting the Nearest Location
The closest office may not provide the needed service. Review the location’s service list before traveling, especially for birth and death certificates, immunizations, prenatal care, refugee health, HIV services, STI/STD services, tuberculosis services, and WIC.
Assuming Uniform Office Hours
Hours vary by location and may also vary by program within the same building. A posted building schedule does not necessarily establish the schedule for every service operating there.
Using the Wrong Record Office
The Department of Health issues eligible Florida birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. Older marriage and divorce records may need to be requested from the Clerk of Court in the county connected to the event. Court filings and case documents are not the same as Department of Health certificates.
Sending Medical Details by Email
General email communications may become public records. Sensitive patient information should be sent only through secure systems or communicated using procedures provided by the relevant health department program.
Ignoring Program Eligibility
Some services are available only to people who meet specific requirements. The breast and cervical cancer screening program, for example, has age, income, insurance, residency, and identification requirements. Other programs may operate under different conditions, so eligibility should be reviewed separately for each service.
Waiting Until an Evacuation
Emergency evacuation assistance depends on advance registration. Residents who rely on oxygen, powered medical equipment, mobility assistance, or other medical support should not wait for a hurricane evacuation order before reviewing the Special Needs program.
Health Department Offices
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County
1350 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33125
305-575-3800
Health Department FAQs
How can I narrow the location search?
Use the official Miami-Dade health department location search to enter an address, use your current location, and review offices within 20 miles. Apply the service filter instead of relying only on distance. The results identify the programs assigned to each site, which helps prevent unnecessary trips when several offices are nearby but offer different services.
Can new patients immediately use Florida Health Connect?
Florida Health Connect is available at no cost to people receiving services from a local county health department. Access is connected to the patient’s county health department care, so someone who has never received services may need to establish care before account information becomes available. The Florida Health Connect patient portal provides user guides, terms, and frequently asked questions in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
Where are current water advisories posted?
Recent public health notices, including water quality advisories and notices that an advisory has been lifted, may appear on the DOH-Miami-Dade homepage. Check the publication wording carefully because an older advisory may remain visible near a newer lifting notice. Confirm that the notice names the same beach or affected area before relying on it.
How can patients provide service feedback?
People who recently received services can use the department’s official customer survey linked from its homepage. Feedback should describe the program used and the service experience without including confidential medical details. The survey is intended for evaluating service quality, while questions requiring assistance should be directed through the department’s designated program channels.