In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Douglas County Health Department

Ava, Missouri


Our Partners play an important role in assisting us with carrying out our mission and vision for

Douglas County


Our Partners help us

Prevent * Promote * Protect

Douglas County Health Department is responsible for protecting and promoting the health of its residents by assessing their health status and needs, developing policies and priorities, and assuring appropriate county response, thus ultimately improving health as measured by reduced communicable disease and increased life expectancy.


OUR VISION

Douglas County will be a county of healthy people, in a healthy and safe environment.



Our Mission

Our Workforce

Our Story

Our Partners

Since 1974, the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) has been providing public health to the residents of our county.  Public health is described as healthy behaviors, primary and preventive care, environmental health, deaths and births, at risk populations, resources, and access to care.  Depending on funding and assessed needs, the public health services we provide are constantly changing.  We work to prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, promote and encourage healthy behaviors, respond in disasters and assist in recovery.  As an agency, we strive to develop a variety of funding sources to strengthen our community.  Our health department has been progressive in obtaining grant funding through which we are able to educate the public, work with our school systems and plan interventions.  The Douglas County Health Department works with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services through contracts which provide needed services to our county.  A well-trained, competent workforce is employed; accounting consultation is enlisted; a community assessment is done periodically with gaps analyzed; and collaboration is done with other entities to attempt to fill the gaps.

During 2013 our staff participated in over 700 staff development training hours.  Currently we have eleven full-time employees, one part-time employee and two contracted employees.





The Douglas County Health Department is dedicated to providing ten essential services of public health.