The mission of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is to protect the health and wellness of the people in Illinois through the prevention, health promotion regulation, and the control of disease and injury. In partnership with other state agencies, IDPH has over 200 programs which affect the lives and wellbeing of every resident and visitor in Illinois. IDPH promotes healthy living through education, science-based practice and by encouraging disease prevention and control. First organized in 1877, IDPH is one of the state’s oldest agencies with an annual budget of approximately $500 million, with headquarters in Springfield and Chicago and with seven regional offices, three laboratories and approximately 1,100 employees. Each office operates and supports many ongoing programs and is prepared to respond to emergency situations as they arise. Through a diversity of programs and services, IDPH touches virtually every age, aspect and stage of an individual's life and makes Illinois a safer and healthier place to live. These programs and services include: •Childhood immunization •Food, water and drug testing •Hospital and nursing home licensure •Infectious disease control •Chronic disease control •Vital records •Health statistics collection and evaluation •Newborn screenings for genetic disorders •Women’s health promotion •Emergency management system licensure •Emergency Preparedness •Workforce development Although IDPH is a centralized state health department, there are seven Regional Health Offices that assist in supporting the network of 96 certified Local Health Departments, 102 counties, and communities throughout the state. Through the Regional Health Offices, IDPH is able to in effect decentralize regulatory functions and mobilize technical assets to improve the health of Illinoisans.