Records of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Abstract: This collection contains records from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The holdings contain several grant files for programs providing health services throughout the state, as well as environmental research, conservation, or construction projects. The health care services relate primarily to maternal and child services, migrant health services, and programs for the indigent.

Other series from the Division of Environment contain inspection records for factory pollution, air emissions, water quality, general waste disposal, and radioactive waste disposal to ensure compliance with state law. Many Division of Health records regard the licensing of professionals, such as nursing home administrators, childcare workers, dietitians, speech therapists, marriage counselors, and opticians. Series under the Division of Health also contain inspection records for adult care home facilities, medical clinics, and childcare centers.

Included in this record group are legal case files regarding complaints against the sanitary conditions of day cares and nursing homes, as well as complaints against environmental violations. Also included are agency annual reports, audit reports, subject files, state health and water plans, and general correspondence.

Because the KDHE is directly related to predecessor agencies such as the State Board of Health and the State Department of Health, the KDHE records series may contain records of its predecessors. Researchers may wish to consider searching the records of the predecessor agencies as well. In cases where the maintenance of a records series has spanned over the course of more than one agency, the most recent date was used in assigning provenance to a series. For example, a series with records dated 1966-1986 will be assigned to the KDHE based on the most recent date, and have the State Dept. of Health as a secondary agency, in order to aid finding these record series.

Administrative History: The Kansas Department of Health and Environment was created in 1974, replacing both the State Department of Health and its governing body, the State Board of Health. The current department's mission is "To protect the health and environment of all Kansans by promoting responsible choices." The department is currently divided into the Divisions of Health, Environment, and the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories.

The Division of Health "promotes and protect health and prevents disease and injury among the people of Kansas." The Division systematically collects, analyzes and publishes information on many aspects of the health status of Kansas residents. Assessment includes examining trends in health, disease and injury. The Division uses information from its assessments and other sources to develop policies needed to promote and protect health and prevent disease and injury among the people of Kansas. Public health policies incorporate current scientific knowledge about health and disease. Examples of such policies are new or improved service programs, regulatory changes, and recommendations to the Kansas Legislature and the Governor. The Division provides services that are needed to achieve state health goals. In some programs, services are provided by state employees. In other programs, public health services are provided by employees of local health departments or other community-based organizations, with financial and/or technical support from the state-level Division. Services may also be provided indirectly through activities encouraging individuals and organizations to become involved in serving the health needs of the people of Kansas.

The Division of Environment "is the protection of the public health and environment." The Division conducts regulatory programs involving public water supplies, industrial discharges, wastewater treatment systems, solid waste landfills, hazardous waste, air emissions, radioactive materials, asbestos removal, refined petroleum storage tanks, and other sources which impact the environment. In addition, the Division administers other programs to remediate contamination, lessen nonpoint pollution, and evaluate environmental conditions across the state.

The Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories' (KHEL) mission is to provide timely and accurate analytical information for public health benefits in Kansas and to assure the quality of statewide laboratory services through certification and improvement programs. KHEL information is used to diagnose and prevent diseases of public health interest which range from AIDS to childhood lead toxicity. KHEL surveillance information also guards the safety of public drinking water as well as ambient air and water quality.

[Information taken from Library of Congress authority records.]

[Kansas Department of Health and Environment. "The Division of Environment." http://www.kdheks.gov/environment/mission.html (accessed January 6, 2009.)]

[Kansas Department of Health and Environment. "The Division of Health." http://www.kdheks.gov/health/our_mission.html (accessed January 6, 2009.)]

[Kansas Department of Health and Environment. "KDHE Office of the Secretary." http://www.kdheks.gov/administration/index.html (accessed January 6, 2009.)]

[Kansas Department of Health and Environment. "The Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories." http://www.kdheks.gov/labs/index.html (accessed January 6, 2009.)]

Related materials: Records of the Kansas State Board of Health; Records of the State Department of Health.