The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health protects health, prevents disease, and promotes the health and well-being for all persons in Los Angeles County. Our focus is on the population as a whole, and we conduct our activities through a network of public health professionals throughout the community. Public health nurses make home visits to families with communicable diseases; epidemiologists investigate the sources of disease outbreaks; environmental health specialists ensure safe food, water, and housing; and all work with community coalitions to advocate for public policies to protect and improve health.