Cook County public health phone numbers, services and local help routes
If you searched for the “Cook County Health Department,” the public-health agency you usually need is the Cook County Department of Public Health, or CCDPH. Its administrative office is in Forest Park and its jurisdiction covers most suburban Cook County.
The important local catch: CCDPH does not serve Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie or Stickney Township for local public-health jurisdiction. Those places have their own certified health departments, so use the address where the health issue, business, school or property is located.
What does the Cook County Health Department help with?
CCDPH is Cook County’s public-health agency for most suburban communities. It focuses on population health rather than operating like a regular doctor’s office. Its work includes communicable-disease control, environmental health, epidemiology, emergency preparedness, maternal and child health, lead prevention, public-health nursing, TB services, health equity and community-health programs.
Use CCDPH for public-health information, vaccination events, TB services, health programs, certain complaints, lead resources, naloxone and disease guidance.
Use Environmental Health for food permits, swimming pools and spas, cottage food questions, environmental complaints and related regulatory work.
Use Environmental Health for private wells, sewage-disposal systems, septic concerns and certain unincorporated Cook County environmental permits.
First make sure CCDPH actually covers your address
This is the most important Cook County-specific detail. CCDPH serves suburban Cook County but not every municipality inside the county.
Suburban Cook County communities that do not operate their own state-certified health department.
Use the Chicago Department of Public Health for city public-health matters.
Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie and Stickney Township have their own certified health departments.
Cook County Health Department phone numbers by task
| Need | Phone or route | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| CCDPH main office | 708-836-8600 | General public-health questions, program routing, jurisdiction help and department contact. |
| Urgent communicable disease after hours | 708-836-8600 · Option 2 | Urgent reportable-disease matters outside regular office hours. Not a replacement for 911. |
| Communicable Disease Unit | 708-836-8699 | Reportable disease, disease outbreaks and food-related illness reporting. |
| TB Clinical Services | 708-836-8601 | Tuberculosis clinical-service questions and routing. |
| Cook County Health appointment | 312-864-0200 | Make, change or cancel medical appointments; care coordination and referrals. |
| Cook County Clerk | 312-603-5656 | Birth, death, marriage and other Vital Records routing. |
| Illinois WIC | 1-800-323-4769 | WIC program and office-finder help. |
Cook County Department of Public Health services
CCDPH is broader than vaccines or restaurant inspections. Its official service directory is organized around applying, locating, reporting, requesting and looking up public-health services.
Disease surveillance, outbreak response, reporting guidance, vaccination resources and infection-prevention support.
Maternal and child health, hearing and vision screening, lead prevention, TB prevention and other nursing programs.
Food safety, pools, wells, sewage, lead, nuisances, body art, tanning, pests and environmental-health complaints.
Community preparedness, public-health emergency planning and response resources.
Epidemiology, health data, communicable-disease data and community-health planning.
Naloxone, tobacco-prevention information, maternal-child resources and health-promotion programs.
Back-to-school vaccines and immunization help
For the 2026-27 school year, CCDPH is running free back-to-school vaccination clinics for suburban Cook County children from 6 months through 18 years old. The department says the current program is available regardless of insurance or immigration status.
The current CCDPH back-to-school community clinics are advertised at no cost.
Registration is encouraged, but the county says walk-ins are welcome at listed clinic events.
CCDPH notes that additional clinic dates and locations may be added, so check the official schedule before leaving home.
Cook County WIC: use the healthcare network, not the CCDPH front desk
WIC is available in Cook County through Illinois WIC and participating Cook County Health locations. Cook County Health lists WIC assistance at several health centers, including Arlington Heights, Belmont Cragin, Cottage Grove, North Riverside and Robbins.
WIC supports eligible pregnant and postpartum people, infants and children under age five who meet program requirements.
Nutrition education, breastfeeding counseling, food benefits and referrals to health and social services.
Use the Illinois WIC office locator or call 1-800-323-4769 to confirm the right clinic and current appointment rules.
How to request Cook County medical or immunization records
CCDPH’s medical-records page makes an important distinction: records created by Cook County Department of Public Health or Cook County Health should be requested through the Cook County Health record process. CCDPH does not keep immunization records administered by unrelated healthcare providers.
If it was Cook County Health or CCDPH, use the Cook County Health records route. If another doctor, pharmacy or clinic administered it, contact that provider first.
If you need an Illinois immunization record that came from another provider, CCDPH points residents to the Illinois Department of Public Health Vax Verify system.
The Clerk handles legal vital records such as birth and death certificates, not vaccine records, lab results or hospital charts.
Medical-record release rules depend on whose record you are requesting and the provider that created it. Follow the official authorization process before submitting private information.
Tuberculosis and communicable-disease help
Call 708-836-8601 for CCDPH tuberculosis clinical-service routing.
Call the Communicable Disease Unit at 708-836-8699 to report reportable disease, outbreaks or food-related illness.
Call 708-836-8600 and choose Option 2 for an urgent communicable-disease matter outside regular hours.
Food safety, pools, wells, sewage and complaints
Environmental Health is CCDPH’s regulatory arm for many suburban Cook County public-health issues. Before filing a complaint or paying a permit fee, make sure the property is inside CCDPH jurisdiction.
Retail food establishment permits, cottage food resources, food safety concerns and foodborne-illness reporting.
Permits, construction requirements and complaints involving public or certain residential swimming facilities.
System evaluations, design-plan reviews, repair reviews, percolation testing and complaints involving septic failures.
Well and water-quality evaluations plus complaints about contaminated or abandoned wells.
Rodents, pests, standing water, garbage, weeds, indoor air concerns and other covered environmental complaints.
Complaints and environmental-health oversight for covered tanning, tattoo and piercing establishments.
Current private sewage and well fees worth checking before a property decision
If you are buying, building on or repairing a property that uses a private well or sewage system, verify the current CCDPH fee and required form before ordering work. The official permit page currently lists the following examples.
| Service | Published fee | When it may matter |
|---|---|---|
| Well and water-quality evaluation only | $150 | Private-well property evaluation. |
| Private sewage disposal system evaluation only | $200 | Existing private sewage/septic evaluation. |
| Combined well and sewage evaluation | $225 | When both systems require evaluation. |
| Septic repair plan review | $150 | Repairing an existing septic system. |
| Witnessed percolation test | $150 | Site suitability or system design work. |
| Alternative system design review | $375 | Alternative private sewage system design. |
Birth and death certificates come from the Cook County Clerk
Legal birth and death certificates are not the same thing as Cook County Health medical records. The Cook County Clerk maintains official birth and death records for Chicago and suburban Cook County.
The current Clerk form lists $15 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record.
The current Clerk form lists $17 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record.
Use 312-603-5656 for general Clerk routing. Specific Vital Records offices may publish their own direct numbers.
Cook County Department of Public Health administrative office
The CCDPH administrative office is listed at 7556 Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park, Illinois 60130. Published general office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What to prepare before calling or visiting
Which Cook County health route should you use?
Use Cook County Health and call 312-864-0200 rather than the CCDPH administrative office.
Check CCDPH’s current 2026 community vaccination schedule and confirm the event date before leaving.
Use the Illinois WIC locator or a participating Cook County Health WIC site.
Use Cook County Health records if CCH/CCDPH gave the vaccine, or Illinois Vax Verify for records from other Illinois providers.
Use CCDPH Environmental Health only if the location falls inside its suburban Cook County jurisdiction.
Use the Cook County Clerk Vital Records route, not CCDPH.
Official Cook County public-health links
Cook County Health Department FAQs
What is the Cook County Health Department phone number?
The main Cook County Department of Public Health phone number is 708-836-8600. General office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where is the Cook County Department of Public Health located?
The administrative office is at 7556 Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park, IL 60130.
Does CCDPH serve Chicago?
No. CCDPH serves suburban Cook County and specifically excludes Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie and Stickney Township because those areas have separate certified health departments.
Does Cook County offer free school vaccines in 2026?
Yes. CCDPH’s current 2026 back-to-school program offers no-cost immunizations to suburban Cook County children ages 6 months through 18 years regardless of insurance or immigration status, with registration encouraged and walk-ins accepted at listed events.
How do I get my Cook County immunization record?
If Cook County Health or CCDPH provided the vaccine, use the Cook County Health medical-records route. If another Illinois provider administered it, CCDPH directs residents to Illinois Vax Verify.
What is the Cook County TB clinic phone number?
The CCDPH contact page lists 708-836-8601 for TB clinical services.
Does Cook County Department of Public Health offer WIC?
WIC assistance is available through participating Cook County Health centers and Illinois WIC. Use the Illinois WIC office locator or call 1-800-323-4769 to find the correct site.
Who handles septic systems in suburban Cook County?
CCDPH Environmental Health handles private sewage-disposal system permits, evaluations, design reviews and complaints in areas under its jurisdiction. Verify jurisdiction and the exact application before paying a fee.
Does the Cook County Health Department issue birth certificates?
No. Certified birth and death certificates are handled by the Cook County Clerk Vital Records system rather than CCDPH.
How do I report an urgent communicable disease after hours?
CCDPH says to call 708-836-8600 and select Option 2 for an urgent communicable-disease matter outside regular office hours. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.