Frequently Asked Questions

Dental FAQ
Nursing Services FAQ

How can I make this page easier to read?
What do I need to view these PDF files?
How do I find what I need on this website?
What is Public Health? How is it different from a medical clinic or hospital?
What is the relationship between the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Public Health Department?
How do I know if I qualify for services?
Where is Public Health?
How do I get there?
How much do Public Health services cost?
What if I can't afford it?
What if I don't have insurance?
Can I just walk in for services or do I need an appointment?
Where do I go to get WIC (Women, Infants & Children) services?
Where can I get tested for HIV or a sexually transmitted disease?
How is my privacy protected?
How do I get a pregnancy test?
How do I get dental care for my child?
Where can I get immunizations?
How can I get a vision and hearing screening for my child?
How do I get a flu shot?
How do I get a birth or death certificate?
I need a permit application for a food service. What do I do?
I want to drill a new well. What do I need to know?
I'm planning to install a private sewage system. What do I need to do?
What does Public Health do about the West Nile virus?
How do I get a Tuberculosis (TB) test?
Where can I find out when the C-U or the County Board of Health is meeting?
Are there any job openings at Public Health?
I want to quit smoking. Are there and programs to help me?

Send a question: Use our contact form.

How can I make this page easier to read?

On your web browser, click on View, Select Text Size, and increase the text to suit your needs.

What do I need to view these PDF files?

PDF files are Adobe Acrobat files. You will need either Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) or Adobe Acrobat. You can get the reader free for most operating systems. Clicking on the image at the right will take you to the Adobe site where you can download this software.

How do I find what I need on this website?

Go to the menu on the left side of the screen (on the dark green background). Click on the name of a Public Health division (Administration, Wellness & Health Promotion, etc.). After you click on it a drop-down menu of programs or services offered in that division will appear. If you click on one of these you will go directly to the program or service.

You may also search for a specific program or service on the Search page. First, click on the word "Search" near the top of the screen on the right (under the word, "Welcome" on the home page). Type the name of the item you want to find, and hit the button on the right labeled "Google Search." If you're looking for something on the Public Health website, be sure to select the "Search CUPHD" item under the search window.

What is Public Health? How is it different from a medical clinic or hospital?

Public Health is not a "full-service" medical facility. We do not offer primary medical care for adults or children. We do offer a range of medical and support services, however, some of which are also provided in doctors' offices. Our mission is to prevent disease and injury and to lessen the impact of disease. We strive to make our services accessible to anyone in Champaign County, and some of our services are available to people in other counties.

What is the relationship between the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Public Health Department?

The Champaign County Public Health Department was formed by a referendum of county voters in 1996. The governing body, the County Board of Health, funds, supports and directs the activities of the Central Illinois Dental Education and Services program, which serves the oral health needs of children living in Champaign County outside Champaign-Urbana. All other Public Health services to county residents are provided by the Health District.

How do I know if I qualify for services?

Any resident of Champaign County qualifies for services from Public Health. Some programs, such as the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program and HIV/AIDS Services and Support are also available to people from other counties. Some programs require that you meet income guidelines to qualify for services. Every website page that describes a specific program also gives details about eligibility requirements.

Where is Public Health?

Our main office is located at 201 West Kenyon Road. We also have an office in Rantoul. Go to the Locations page for details.

How do I get there?

Our Locations page includes maps and bus information.

How much do Public Health services cost?

Fees vary. Every website page describing a service includes the cost of that service. You may also visit the Fee page for a list of all Public Health fees.

What if I can't afford it?   What if I don't have insurance?

We can help you apply for FamilyCare or KidCare if you qualify. We will bill Medicaid (KidCare/FamilyCare) or Medicare whenever possible and we will hand you a bill at the time you receive the service. YOU WILL NOT BE TURNED AWAY FROM ANY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY.

Can I just walk in for services or do I need an appointment?

Some divisions (Dental Health, for example) require you to make an appointment. Others allow walk-ins. Please read the program description to find out if an appointment is required.

Where do I go to get WIC (Women, Infants & Children) services?

These services are available at our main office in Champaign and in Rantoul. Go to the WIC web page to learn how to access the services.

Where can I get tested for HIV or a sexually transmitted disease?

These services are available through our division of Infectious Disease Prevention & Management. Go to the HIV Testing page, or the Sexually Transmitted Diseases page for more details.

How is my privacy protected?

In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This act set in place certain rules regarding the disclosure of medical privacy policies.

HIPAA requires us to notify you about your privacy rights and how your information can be used. We must have and use a privacy policy for all patient/client records. We must train our employees so that they understand the privacy procedures and we must designate an individual to be responsible for seeing that the privacy procedures are adopted and followed. We are also required to store patient records containing individually identifiable health information so that they are not readily available to those who do not need them.

See the full Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Privacy Regulations. (PDF)

For answers to Frequently Asked Questions about HIPAA, see the Health and Human Services questions page.

How do I get a pregnancy test?

Several divisions offer pregnancy tests. You may be tested through our Maternal and Child Health Management Division, the Mobile Outreach Program or at the Urbana School Health Center.

How do I get dental care for my child?

If you live in Champaign or Urbana, call the Health District Dental Clinic to make an appointment for your child: (217) 531-4279. If you live in Champaign County outside C-U call the County Dental Access Program: (217) 384-1689.

Where can I get immunizations?

Adult immunizations are offered through the Infectious Disease Prevention & Management division and by Wellness & Health Promotion. Child Immunizations are available through the division of Maternal and Child Health Management.

How can I get a vision and hearing screening for my child?

These services are offered through the division of Wellness & Health Promotion.

How do I get a flu shot?

Adult flu and pneumonia shots are offered in the autumn by the division of Wellness & Health Promotion and the Infectious Disease Prevention & Management Division. Child flu and pneumonia shots are available through the division of Maternal and Child Health Management.

How do I get a birth or death certificate?

Vital Records can help you get birth or death certificates.

I need a permit application for a food service. What do I do?

Go to the Food Safety section of our website for information.

I want to drill a new well. What do I need to know?

Go to the Private Water Wells section of our website for information.

I'm planning to install a septic system. What do I need to do?

Go to the Private Sewage Systems section of our website for information.

What does Public Health do about the West Nile virus?

We monitor local populations of mosquitoes for West Nile infection. This helps us alert the public about areas that are more likely to contain infected mosquitoes. We also monitor state health department reports of West Nile infected birds.

How do I get a Tuberculosis (TB) test?

We offer TB skin tests every week and follow-up tests and treatment for those who test positive. Field TB testing is available for groups. A speaker is available to make presentations about TB.

Where can I find out when the C-U Board of Health is meeting?

Meeting schedules are available here.

Are there any job openings at Public Health?

Go to our Human Resources page for job openings.

I want to quit smoking. Are there and programs to help me?

Yes, our division of Wellness & Health Promotion offers classes.