The DuPage County Health Department was established through a citizens referendum vote in 1944. It provides disease prevention services and protects the health of residents and visitors. It offers services through the staff of environmental, community and behavioral health units. The department is certified as a local health department by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The DuPage County Health Department is responsible for preventing epidemics and the spread of diseases, protecting against environmental hazards and injuries, promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors, and responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery. It works to ensure clean and sanitary conditions in more than 3,100 food establishments, over 460 public swimming pools and nearly 160 public spas, as well as various schools, day care centers, forest preserves and eight hospitals. The department works under the government of Illinois.