Professional Skills Development Support

The agency conducts public health investigations in the County of Los Angeles, performs enforcement activities, establishes standards of professional practice and performance, and handles special investigations and other functions that require specialized skills and knowledge. Services include AIDS/HIV control in the adult film industry, beach closure/water contact advisories, epidemic investigation, organizational consultation/technical assistance on public health issues professional skills development support on public health issues, sexually transmitted disease control, and water quality assurance for rural residents.

Services include responding to subpoenas and public records requests; providing noncontagious letters for funeral directors; conducting epidemic investigations in response to disease outbreaks or public health emergencies; inspection of commercial sex venues; investigation of homebirths; inspection and monitoring of Marine biotoxins which would result in water contact advisories.

Since the passage of Measure B (Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry) the department is responsible for the enforcement of safe sex practices on set at adult film shoots, which includes the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV infection. The Act authorizes the Los Angeles County DPH to take appropriate measures to enforce the Act, and requires the use of condoms and other safety precautions as a condition of any film permit issued by the County for the production of an adult film.

The agency also provides professional skills training for Public Health Investigators, and technical assistance in Public Health Investigation for the entire DPH workforce. The Custodian of Records Request for Public Records form provides information regarding environmental health inspections, including information regarding the inspection of the water quality of water wells in rural areas.