Division of Environmental Health Services (DEHS)
Related Information
Core Services [PDF - 106 KB]
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Portland Area DEHS Director
Point of Contact:
CDR Christopher Fish, MPH, CIH, REHS
The Division of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) program of the Portland Area Indian Health Service (IHS) provides comprehensive environmental public health services to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities through the work of environmental health professionals. The DEHS consults with Tribes, IHS service units, and community members to address their environmental public health concerns and develop plans for improvement.
The purpose of the DEHS is to address the wide range of environmental conditions in AI/AN communities that contribute to public health and quality of life. Healthy environments where we live, learn, work, and play are recognized as a vital factor in a person's overall health and well-being. To guide this purpose, the DEHS operates under the following mission statement:
Our Mission
Through shared decision making and sound public health measures, enhance the health and quality of life of all American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest possible level by eliminating environmentally related disease and injury.
Services and activities include the following:
- comprehensive monitoring and surveys of facilities and operations,
- community environmental health assessments,
- communicable and environmental disease surveillance and investigations,
- health communication and training,
- policy and code development,
- facility construction plan reviews,
- program and project evaluation,
- special studies and model practice development, and
- planning and systems management.
