California Area Office

Division of Environmental Health Services

Carolyn Garcia, Director

Carolyn.Garcia2@ihs.gov, Office: 916-930-3981 x21336

The Division of Environmental Health Services (DEHS), within the California Area Office of Environmental Health and Engineering, provides direct environmental health services and technical consultation to more than 80 federally recognized Tribes throughout California. Program activities are guided by the Indian Health Service (IHS) Indian Health Manual, Part 3, Chapter 11, and the IHS Technical Handbook for Environmental Health and Engineering, Volume VIII.

DEHS delivers comprehensive environmental health services across a broad range of program areas, including indoor air quality; drinking water; food safety; healthy housing; waste management; recreational water and water features; vector-borne and communicable disease control; community facilities and institutions; institutional environmental health (health care, industrial hygiene, and safety management); community injury prevention; mass gatherings and recreation; operation and maintenance of sanitation facilities; emergency management; and environmental sustainability.

Core program services include environmental health surveys and assessments; investigations and special studies; sampling, testing, and monitoring; technical assistance and consultation; training; policy development; and ongoing program support.

In addition, the program provides targeted technical and programmatic support to Tribes in specialized areas such as food safety and emergency management, helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, accidents, and other emergencies. The California Area DEHS also supports injury prevention initiatives through project funding opportunities and collaborative partnerships.