About Us
Introducing the delaware county health department
The Delaware County Health Department was launched in April of 2022 with a mission to build healthy and thriving communities. Health, after all, is the foundation for a thriving community.
For more information about our mission and our core values, please visit our Vision, Mission, Values page.
who we are
Melissa C. Lyon, MPH CPH, serves as DCHD's first Director for the entire Department of Health, and is supported by Deputy Director Lora Siegmann Werner, MPH.
The Delaware County Health Department consists of the Administration Division, Environmental Health Division, Personal Health Division, Population Health Division, and Epidemiology. Each division is staffed by hard-working, knowledgeable professionals dedicated to serving Delaware County residents.
Chris Walmsley, CFO
Marie Carbonara, Division of Environmental Health Administrator
Stephanie Reese, MBA, BSN,RN, Division of Personal Health Administrator
Dr. James E. Plummer, DMgt, MBA, MHL, Division of Population Health Administrator
Dr. Victor Alos Rullan, DMD, MPH, MS, Epidemiologist
building partnerships
Because the foundation for good health includes factors outside of hospitals and doctors' offices, the County's Health Department will bring together various partners and sectors to work together and implement change.
These partners include:
- The County's 16 school districts, as well as trade schools, colleges, and universities
- Businesses ranging from small, family-owned operations to major employers and industries
- Nonprofit organizations that work to ensure residents have fair and equal employment opportunities; a secure place to live, with utilities turned on and healthy, affordable food on the table; adequate clothing; safe and accessible places to congregate and recreate; advocates for policies that promote a thriving community; a spiritual home; and providers who tend to their physical, mental and behavioral health needs
- Other government agencies, such as planning, transportation, aging, mental health, municipal health entities, criminal justice and related services
- Healthcare providers and organizations
Each of us makes decisions that affect our health, and those decisions also impact the community. A solid foundation for a healthy community requires an authentic community voice, and the Delaware County Health Department will listen to those who live and work in the county and engage individuals in identifying solutions to the health issues that matter most.
office locations
The Delaware County Wellness Center at Yeadon
125 Chester Avenue, Yeadon, PA 19050
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
The Delaware County Wellness Center at Chester
151 W. 5th St, Chester, PA 19013
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Environmental Health Division
LICENSE, REGISTRATION AND PERMITTING
1510 Chester Pike Suite 700
Eddystone PA 19022
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
STAY IN CONTACT WITH US
Phone: (484) 276-2100
Email: DelcoWellness@co.delaware.pa.us
Follow us on social media:
DCHD on Facebook
DCHD on Twitter
DCHD on Instagram
PUBLIC HEALTH RELIES ON SCIENCE
Successful public health experts listen to the community and look for patterns in what is affecting public health. They use science to diagnose problems and bring together people who can stop health threats before they start. This critical role relies heavily on data.
It can be useful to think about data as a GPS system. GPS is a powerful tool for visualizing and navigating complex terrain. Given a set of parameters, it quickly and accurately maps out multiple routes, citing each one's pros and cons. Our public health professionals will serve this function, too. They will draw on a wealth of data to chart out routes from where we are as a community to where we want to be—identifying critical intersections, anticipating roadblocks, and adapting to changes as needed along the way. Most of all, they will put their data expertise to work to drive positive outcomes and move needed solutions forward.
CORE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES PROMOTE AND PROTECT HEALTH
The Delaware County Health Department will offer foundational public health capacities and services in the community to:
- Achieve health equity
- Control communicable diseases
- Promote healthy and safe lifestyles
- Support the health of moms and babies
- Maintain healthy environments
- Connect people with high quality health care
- Respond to public health emergencies
- Communicate about health issues and health risks
The new Delaware County Health Department recommendations will embody the principles of Public Health 3.0 (a national model for public health in the 21st Century), reflect the Foundational Public Health Services (a suite of capacities and programs that must be provided by public health departments everywhere for the health system to work anywhere), and meet the Pennsylvania Department of Health requirements for county public health departments.
Delaware County Health Codes
The purpose of Delaware County Health Codes is to provide for the protection and promotion of the health of the people of Delaware County, and to this end, these Health Codes are intended to embrace all matters to which the regulatory or police powers and duties of the Delaware County Health Department extend.
For a complete listing, visit our Delaware County Health Codes web page.
Delaware County Board of Health
The Board of Health is responsible for formulating rules and regulations for the prevention of disease, the prevention and removal of conditions that constitute a menace to health, and for the promotion and preservation of public health.
Rules and regulations formulated by the Board of Health must be approved by County Council.
For more information, visit the Board of Health web page.
