Health Care Agency
The Orange County CA Health Care Agency provides regional public health services designed to protect and promote the health of individuals, families, and the entire community. This article explains the agency’s major service areas, public programs, records and certification services, provider resources, health information systems, and ways residents can connect with the correct office through official county resources.
Role of the Health Care Agency
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) serves as a regional provider responsible for protecting and promoting individual, family, and community health through coordination of public and private sector resources. The agency manages a wide range of programs that support prevention, treatment, safety, and public health protection throughout Orange County.
Many HCA services focus on preventing health problems before they occur. These programs include food protection, hazardous waste regulation, water quality monitoring, pollution prevention, communicable disease control, immunizations, public health field nursing, and public health clinics. The agency also supports services related to mental health, substance use, aging, children’s health, and healthcare services for incarcerated individuals.
Residents can access information about programs, services, announcements, and agency updates through the official OC Health Care Agency website.
Major Service Areas
The Health Care Agency is organized into several service areas that provide direct community services and internal support functions. Each area focuses on specific public health responsibilities and programs.
Correctional Health Services
Director’s Office
Finance & Administrative Services
Medical Health Services
Behavioral Health Services
Public Health Services
Strategy & Special Services
These divisions work together to provide coordinated public health programs, improve access to care, and support community health needs across Orange County.
Public Health Programs
Public Health Services provide programs focused on preventing illness, improving community health, and protecting residents from health risks. The agency monitors health conditions, provides information, and supports programs designed for families, children, older adults, and individuals needing public health assistance.
Residents can review available programs through the Services and Programs section, which includes information about public health services, prevention programs, environmental health, mental health support, records services, emergency preparedness, and other agency programs.
Disease Prevention Services
The Health Care Agency provides disease prevention information and programs that help residents understand health risks and available county services. Public health activities include disease monitoring, immunizations, communicable disease control, and educational resources designed to help protect individuals and communities.
Environmental Health Protection
Environmental health programs help protect residents by addressing areas such as food safety, environmental conditions, water quality, and related public health concerns. The agency also provides regulatory services and information connected to environmental safety programs.
Behavioral Health Services
The Health Care Agency supports behavioral health programs that address mental health and substance use challenges. These services include prevention, crisis response, recovery support, and other behavioral health programs provided through the agency.
The agency’s OC Links service provides 24/7 information and connection to Behavioral Health Services programs through phone and online chat options. Residents seeking behavioral health assistance can access service information through the official agency website.
Mental Health Support Access
Behavioral health services help individuals and families connect with county programs related to mental wellness and substance use services. The agency works to provide services that support recovery, wellness, and community health.
Health Information Resources
The Health Care Agency provides public health information to help residents make informed decisions about their health and safety. Resources include information about disease prevention, healthy practices, pregnancy and newborn health, foodborne illness prevention, and physical activity resources.
The agency also publishes reports, factsheets, newsletters, and other materials through its official Health Information resources page.
Permits Certifications Records
The Health Care Agency provides several administrative services involving permits, certifications, and official records. These services support residents, businesses, healthcare professionals, and other users who need agency documentation.
Available services include:
Custodian of Records
Birth and Death Certificates
EMT Certification
Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program
Food Facility Plan Check
Public Pool Plan Check
Information about these services is available through the agency’s Permits, Certifications and Records page.
Records Requests
The Health Care Agency maintains records services for requests handled by the agency. Residents and organizations seeking records-related assistance should identify the type of record needed and contact the appropriate office listed by the agency.
Provider and Partner Services
The Health Care Agency works with healthcare providers, community partners, and organizations to support quality care and program compliance. Provider resources include information related to policies, procedures, education, training, records, emergency medical services, quality management, and other agency programs.
Healthcare providers and organizations can review available resources through the official Providers and Partners section.
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Services is one of the agency’s service areas and supports county emergency medical systems. The agency provides information and resources related to emergency medical services operations and programs.
Health Referral Assistance
The Health Referral Line helps residents connect with local providers or resources. The service provides assistance for individuals who need help identifying available health-related programs and services within the community.
Residents looking for general health service connections can use the Health Referral Line information provided by Public Health Services.
Agency News and Data
The Health Care Agency shares current information about public health events, reports, publications, and community data. These resources help residents stay informed about health issues affecting Orange County.
The agency’s News and Data section includes announcements, reports, newsletters, publications, public meetings information, and data resources.
Reports and Publications
HCA publishes reports, forms, factsheets, and planning documents covering areas such as public health services, behavioral health programs, emergency medical services, environmental health, and community health conditions.
Residents and organizations can review agency publications through the official Reports, Forms and Factsheets page.
Contacting the Correct Office
The Health Care Agency includes many specialized divisions, so contacting the correct office can help residents receive more direct assistance. Different programs handle different types of requests, including behavioral health, public health, records, emergency medical services, environmental health, and medical safety programs.
The agency headquarters provides general navigation assistance, while individual service areas provide specialized contact information for their programs.
Headquarters Services
The OC Health Care Agency headquarters provides general agency assistance and connects residents with appropriate county staff. General questions, suggestions, complaints, and compliments can be directed through the agency’s contact options.
Department Offices
OC Health Care Agency Headquarters — 405 W. 5th St., Santa Ana, CA 92701 — (855) 886-5400
Mental Health and Recovery Services & Clinics — Various locations — (855) OC-Links (625-4657)
California Children’s Services — 200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92701 — (714) 347-0300
Communications — 405 W. 5th St., Santa Ana, CA 92701 — (714) 834-2178
Correctional Health Services — Central Men's Jail/CHS Administration, 550 N Flower St., Santa Ana, CA 92703 — (714) 647-4170
Custodian of Records — 200 W Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 180, Santa Ana, CA 92701 — (714) 834-3536
Emergency Medical Services — 8300 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618 — (714) 834-3500
Environmental Health — Environmental Health Division, 1241 E. Dyer Rd., Suite 120, Santa Ana, CA 92705 — (714) 433-6000
Medical Safety Net — (714) 834-6248
Public Guardian — 1300 S Grand Ave., Building C, Santa Ana, CA 92705 — (714) 567-7660
Public Health Services Health Referral Line — 1725 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, CA 92706 — (800) 564-8448
Health Care Agency FAQs
How can I find the right Health Care Agency program for my needs?
Residents can use the OC Health Care Agency website to review available programs and identify services that match their situation. The agency provides information about areas such as screening, testing, treatment and care, wellness and prevention, disease prevention, environmental health, mental health support, and emergency preparedness. The Services & Programs page helps users explore available county services by topic.
Where can I get behavioral health service information?
People looking for behavioral health assistance can access OC Links, which provides 24/7 information and connections to Behavioral Health Services programs. Services include support related to prevention, crisis response, recovery, and other behavioral health needs. Information is available through phone and online chat options provided by the agency.
What health records, certificates, or permits can I request?
The Orange County CA Health Care Agency provides several administrative services through its permits, certifications, and records programs. Available services include Custodian of Records, Birth and Death Certificates, EMT Certification, Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program information, Food Facilities Plan Check, and Public Pools Plan Check. Details about these services are available through the agency’s Permits, Certifications & Records page.
How can healthcare providers access agency resources?
Healthcare providers and community partners can review information designed to support program compliance and quality of care. The agency provides resources related to policies and procedures, education and training, provider resources, emergency medical services, records, quality management services, and community partnerships through the For Providers & Partners section.
Where can I find current health updates and public information?
The agency publishes health announcements, reports, publications, newsletters, forms, factsheets, public meeting information, and data resources to help residents stay informed. The News & Data page provides updates and access to official health information released by the agency.