Decatur public health services, WIC, vaccines, dental care and local permit help
For Decatur, Mt. Zion, Forsyth, Argenta, Maroa, Warrensburg and the rest of Macon County, the Health Department at East Condit Street handles much more than vaccines. Residents use it for WIC, clinical nursing, STI and TB services, dental care for young people, maternal-child programs, senior and disability support, food safety, septic systems and private-well work.
This guide separates those services from Macon County Clerk vital records so you can call the right desk, show up during the right clinic window and bring the paperwork the program actually needs.
What does the Macon County Health Department in Decatur do?
MCHD is Macon County’s local public-health agency. It operates clinical nursing programs, maternal-child and WIC services, a youth dental clinic, environmental health, senior and disability services, emergency preparedness and community health programs from its Decatur office.
Vaccines, lead testing, STI testing, TB, communicable disease, travel health, provider-ordered blood draws and related public-health nursing services.
WIC, breastfeeding support, Better Birth Outcomes, Healthy Families Illinois and igrow home-visiting connections.
Food permits and inspections, private sewage systems, septic permits, private water wells, water sampling and mosquito-borne disease prevention.
Comprehensive preventive and treatment services for Macon County patients ages 0-20.
Care coordination, caregiver services, Medicare counseling, respite, Community Care Program and long-term-care information.
The County Clerk handles certified birth, death and marriage records. Hospitals and private providers handle the medical records they created.
Macon County Health Department phone numbers by service
| Service | Contact | Use this for |
|---|---|---|
| MCHD main office | 217-423-6988 | General public-health questions and department routing. |
| Clinical Nursing | 217-423-6988, press 2 | Vaccines, lead testing, STI, TB, travel health, blood draws and communicable disease. |
| WIC / maternal-child programs | 217-423-3764 | WIC appointments, walk-in clinic, breastfeeding and family-service questions. |
| Environmental Health | 217-423-6988 ext. 1134 | Food permits, septic, private wells, inspections and environmental-health questions. |
| Senior & Disability Services | 217-423-6550 | Starting Point, care coordination, caregiver support, SHIP and respite. |
| MCHD medical records | records@maconchd.org | Records created by MCHD Clinical Nursing programs. |
| Birth/death/marriage records | 217-424-1305 | Macon County Clerk certified vital records. |
| Provider after-hours disease report | 217-875-8567 | Emergency after-hours communicable-disease reporting by medical providers only. |
STI testing, TB, blood draws, communicable disease and travel health
MCHD now provides walk-in specimen collection when a healthcare provider has already ordered the laboratory testing. Bring the provider order and ask Clinical Nursing about the current test price.
The department investigates Illinois-reportable diseases and works to control illnesses such as hepatitis, pertussis, salmonella and other communicable conditions.
MCHD provides destination-related vaccine and antimalarial recommendations and is a designated Yellow Fever Immunization Center. Foreign-travel vaccine appointments are required.
STI Clinic
The current MCHD STI clinic operates in partnership with Crossing Healthcare on Wednesdays from 8:30-11:30 AM and 1-3:30 PM. Walk-ins are accepted first-come, first-served.
Current testing listed by MCHD includes gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis and trichomoniasis testing for women. The posted STI testing charge is $25. Call Clinical Nursing at 217-423-6988 and press 2 for appointment questions or PrEP routing.
Tuberculosis Clinic
TB screening is offered as a walk-in service on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30-11:30 AM and 1-3:30 PM. A tuberculin skin test must be read 48-72 hours after it is administered, so holiday weeks can change when testing is available.
Immunization clinic hours, walk-ins and insurance
MCHD offers vaccinations for children, teens and adults. Appointments are encouraged and preferred, but walk-ins are accepted when clinic capacity allows.
| Service | Current clinic window | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Immunizations | Monday-Friday, 8:30-11:30 AM and 1-3:30 PM | Appointments preferred; walk-ins depend on availability. |
| Lead testing | Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30-11:30 AM and 1-3:30 PM | Listed for children age 1 and older. |
| Foreign travel vaccines | Appointment required | Call well before international travel; MCHD is a Yellow Fever Immunization Center. |
Macon County WIC walk-in clinic, phone hours and eligibility
WIC provides supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals for eligible pregnant or postpartum women, breastfeeding parents, infants and children through age 4.
Call 217-423-3764. Current phone hours are 7:30 AM-4 PM.
The WIC office is closed Monday-Friday from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM.
MCHD says in-person WIC services are active and remote options are available for specific visit types. Ask staff whether your appointment qualifies.
2026 WIC walk-in schedule
Beginning January 5, 2026, MCHD lists a WIC walk-in clinic every Monday through Friday with starting times at 8:00 AM and 12:30 PM. Spots are first-come, first-served and can fill quickly.
Who can qualify?
Applicants must fit a WIC category, live in the state where they apply, meet applicable income rules and be found at nutritional risk. MCHD notes that participation in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid or TANF can establish automatic income eligibility.
MCHD dental care for children and young adults
The Macon County Health Department Dental Clinic serves Macon County patients from birth through age 20 and provides preventive and restorative care from the Decatur health department.
Dental cleanings, X-rays and fluoride application.
Fillings, extractions and referrals to dental specialists when appropriate.
The clinic accepts Medicaid and offers a qualifying self-pay scale. The current dental page says private insurance is not accepted for dental services.
Medical records, FOIA records and vital records use different offices
For records from Clinical Nursing services, the current medical-services page directs patients to records@maconchd.org.
FOIA requests are written public-record requests rather than private medical-record requests. The department contact page lists foia@maconchd.org.
Use the Macon County Clerk at 141 S. Main Street, Room 104 in downtown Decatur rather than the East Condit health department.
Certified Macon County birth certificate
The County Clerk currently charges $23 for the first certified birth certificate and $10 for each additional copy of the same certificate ordered at the same time. In-person requests require acceptable photo identification. Mail requests use the county’s specified documentation and payment instructions.
Certified Macon County death certificate
The current fee is $27 for the first certified death certificate and $14 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Eligibility is more restricted than for your own birth record and may require proof of family relationship or a personal/property interest.
Food permits, inspections, septic systems and private wells
Environmental Health enforces public-health and sanitation requirements across Macon County. Call 217-423-6988 ext. 1134 when you are dealing with a food business, onsite sewage system, private well or other regulated environmental-health issue.
MCHD issues and administers food permits and inspection requirements. Current permit forms include annual, temporary and mobile food-establishment applications.
Staff review plans, issue septic permits, inspect construction and installation, and monitor septic-pumping operations.
Staff review and permit private wells, monitor proper abandonment, sample non-community supplies and offer private-water testing.
What to do before septic or private-well work in Macon County
Explain whether the project involves a new septic system, replacement, alteration, new private well, well abandonment or water testing.
MCHD posts separate private sewage and well permit forms. Confirm which application and site documents apply before paying or scheduling work.
Septic systems require plan review, permitting and installation inspection. Do not treat a contractor quote as county approval.
An unused well can provide a direct contamination pathway into groundwater. MCHD monitors well abandonment and proper sealing.
MCHD offers private-well water testing for total coliform bacteria and nitrates. Ask how to collect, store and deliver the sample before taking it.
Starting Point, Medicare help, caregivers and long-term-care support
MCHD’s Starting Point program is Macon County’s Aging and Disability Resource Center. It serves people age 60 and older, adults age 18 and older with disabilities, and their families.
Residents 60 and older living in Macon County can request an assessment for comprehensive care coordination. The assessment itself has no income or asset guideline.
Caregiver Advisory Services provide information, counseling, training, support groups and assistance connecting to community resources.
Trained SHIP counselors help Medicare beneficiaries and families understand Medicare, Part D, savings programs and related insurance questions.
Consultations are available for people considering nursing-home placement or discharge. The consultation does not use a financial eligibility requirement.
Eligible Macon County residents age 60+ who live with a caregiver may qualify for respite support. The program has no financial eligibility rule, but funding is limited.
Programs help eligible seniors—and some private-pay clients—manage bills, budgets and financial tasks that can threaten independent living.
Small Macon County details that can save a second trip
What to bring to the Decatur Health Department
Medical emergencies and after-hours disease reporting
Call 911 for a life-threatening medical emergency. MCHD’s routine clinic line is not an emergency department.
MCHD’s current communicable-disease guidance lists 217-875-8567 for medical providers who need to make an emergency report outside regular business hours.
Use 217-423-6988 during normal business hours. Do not use an emergency disease-reporting number to check vaccine availability, a WIC appointment or septic permit status.
Official Macon County and MCHD links
Clinic schedules, insurance participation, permit forms, WIC capacity and fees can change. Use the official pages below before making a time-sensitive trip or payment.
Macon County Health Department Decatur Illinois FAQs
What is the Macon County Health Department phone number?
The main Macon County Health Department phone number is 217-423-6988. Clinical Nursing uses that number with option 2. WIC can be reached at 217-423-3764, and Senior & Disability Services at 217-423-6550.
Where is the Macon County Health Department in Decatur?
The main Health Department is at 1221 E. Condit Street, Decatur, IL 62521.
What are the Macon County Health Department hours?
Macon County’s official government page lists regular Health Department hours as Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding legal holidays. Individual clinics use narrower schedules.
Does Macon County Health Department accept vaccine walk-ins?
Appointments are encouraged and preferred, but the current MCHD immunization page says walk-ins are accepted based on availability. Immunization hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-11:30 AM and 1-3:30 PM.
What is the Macon County WIC phone number?
Call 217-423-3764. WIC phone hours are currently 7:30 AM-4 PM, with the office closed from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM for lunch.
Does Macon County WIC take walk-ins in 2026?
Yes. Beginning January 5, 2026, MCHD lists WIC walk-in clinic starting times at 8 AM and 12:30 PM every Monday through Friday. Appointments are first-come, first-served and can fill.
Does the Macon County Health Department issue birth certificates?
Certified Macon County birth, death and marriage records are handled by the Macon County Clerk at 141 S. Main Street, Room 104 in Decatur, not by the Health Department medical-record office.
How do I request an MCHD medical record?
The current Clinical Nursing page directs medical-record requests to records@maconchd.org. FOIA/public records use a different process.
Who handles septic and private-well permits in Macon County?
MCHD Environmental Health handles private sewage systems and private water wells. Call 217-423-6988 ext. 1134 before construction, replacement, abandonment or sampling work.
Does the Macon County Health Department have a dental clinic?
Yes. The MCHD Dental Clinic serves Macon County patients ages 0-20 and offers cleanings, X-rays, fluoride, fillings, extractions and specialist referrals. It accepts Medicaid and qualifying self-pay, while the current page states that private dental insurance is not accepted.