With an annual budget over $70 million and more than 900 staff, we are the largest local public health department in Virginia, serving 1.2 million residents from diverse ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds throughout Fairfax County, as well as the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and the towns of Herndon, Vienna and Clifton. With more than 120 years of leadership in the field, we are committed to protecting, promoting, and improving the health and wellbeing for all in our community.

Our work is far-reaching. We inspect food establishments, operate five health clinics and work at 13 health department sites and 221 schools. We provide vital records, like birth certificates and death records and work behind the scenes investigating and preventing the spread of illness. Our Epidemiology and Population Health division studies patterns of diseases in our communities to minimize the impact of new and emerging communicable diseases and other public health threats. Our public health laboratory provides quality clinical and environmental testing for the people of Fairfax County and across the Northern Virginia region.

Our community continues to face many health challenges that range from obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, to HIV/AIDS, environmental health hazards and the threat of bioterrorism. Health inequity remains a reality in our community. The Fairfax County Health Department is committed to mobilizing community partners to identify health disparities and identify policies and programs to close the gaps.

Accreditation

Fairfax County Health Department achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) in May 2016 and successfully maintained its national accreditation status in 2023. As the sole national accrediting body for public health in the U.S., PHAB supports state, local, tribal, and territorial public health departments to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and ultimately transforming agency quality, accountability, and performance. Fairfax County Health Department remains one of only 325 accredited local health departments out of nearly 3,500 nationwide. To maintain accreditation, Fairfax County Health Department demonstrated that it meets or exceeds a set of national quality standards and measures through a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process. Accreditation has advanced quality and performance within the Health Department, laying the foundation for improved protection, promotion, and preservation of community health. Visit PHAB to learn more.

Director of Health

Gloria Addo-Ayensu, MD, MPH is the Director of Health for Fairfax County. In this capacity she provides overall leadership and direction for public health programs in the county and serves as the official health advisor to Fairfax Board of Supervisors, Health Care Advisory Board and the Human Services Council. She has a passion for promoting community resiliency and creating innovative, practical and sustainable community-based approaches to public health challenges. She has led a number of regional and state public health initiatives in the areas of health literacy, emergency preparedness, obesity prevention and health equity, as well as served on a number of national committees, including NACCHO’s Public Health Preparedness Essential Services Committee and two Institute of Medicine committees on personal protective equipment for healthcare workers to prevent transmission of pandemic influenza or other viral respiratory infections. 

Focus

The Health Department has five core functions upon which service activities are based:

• Prevention of epidemics and the spread of disease. 
• Protecting the public against environmental hazards. 
• Promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors. 
• Assuring the quality and accessibility of health services. 
• Responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery. 

Health Department Strategic Plan

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) Strategic Plan FY 2023-2027 outlines goals and strategies across each of four priority areas – Health Equity in Action, Vibrant Community Relationships, Thriving Workforce, and Robust Organizational Infrastructure. These priority areas articulate the department’s commitment to 1) strengthening and improving our internal capacity and capabilities; and 2) enhancing our ability to support and partner with all communities to ensure opportunities for good health for all who live, work, and play in the Fairfax Health District. The plan is aligned with the 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHS) and Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) frameworks, which define public health services and provide the foundation for quality and performance improvement efforts nationwide. The plan also aligns with the Fairfax County Strategic Plan and includes a crosswalk that highlights where FCHD’s work supports the broader goals of the County.

Informed by lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Department’s Strategic Plan reflects the understanding that sustainable improvements in health require a commitment to addressing the economic, social, and environmental factors limiting health equity across all communities we serve. To be most effective at the community level, more and better data is critical for identifying trends in health disparities and understanding the systemic factors that contribute to ongoing inequity. FCHD is also committed to listening to and collaborating with residents to act on priorities they identify as most critical to their health and well-being. To support these goals, FCHD staff must have the skills and abilities necessary to build trust and address health issues in a cohesive, community-oriented way. Similarly, FCHD’s operational infrastructure (e.g., technology, performance management, policies, and systems) must be able to support both routine, day-to-day operations as well as adjust to new requirements – and pivot quickly – as needs change or during emergencies.

Having identified organizational priorities and strategic direction, the Health Department is better equipped to address the public health challenges of today and the future. Implementation is underway for many of the key actions in the strategic plan. The Health Department will monitor and report on implementation progress annually and update the plan as necessary to reflect changing needs and resources. By working together with our communities and across programs and sectors, the Health Department will further its mission to protect, promote, and improve health and wellbeing for all in our community.

Fairfax County Health Department Notice of Privacy Practices

The Health Department provides the Fairfax County Notice of Privacy Practices to clients who receive clinic and home based services. Additional information concerning our Privacy Practices may be obtained from the following:

Health Department Privacy Officer
10777 Main Street, Suite 203
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 703-246-2477, TTY 711

Fairfax County's HIPAA Compliance Manager
Fairfax County Government Center
12000 Government Center Parkway Suite 527
Fairfax, VA 22035
Phone: 703-324-4136, TTY 711