Cambridge Public Health Department

Public Health Servicescambridgepublichealth.org

The Cambridge Public Health Department is a municipal government health authority administered via Cambridge Health Alliance that delivers communicable disease control, environmental health, clinical, and emergency preparedness services to roughly 120,000 Cambridge, Massachusetts residents under PHAB accreditation and city ordinance authority.

Company typePrivate
Founded1900
HeadquartersCambridge, United States
Headcount51–100
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What Cambridge Public Health Department does

The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) is a municipal government public health authority serving the roughly 120,000 residents of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded circa 1900 and administered through Cambridge Health Alliance, the department delivers the full suite of local public health functions: communicable disease surveillance and response, environmental health inspections, clinical services (immunization, sexual and reproductive health, tuberculosis and STI screening), emergency preparedness, health-equity programming, and chronic-disease prevention. It is one of the larger municipal health departments in Massachusetts by service breadth and is a member of a 60-community emergency preparedness coalition, positioning it among the more institutionally capable local health entities in the state.

The department holds Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) accreditation, first awarded in 2018 and subsequently renewed, signaling baseline conformance with national performance standards. Revenue is structurally non-commercial: CPHD is funded through the Cambridge city budget, Massachusetts Department of Public Health grants, federal categorical grants, opioid settlement abatement funds, and minor fee income (permits, vital records, licensing). It exercises delegated regulatory authority under multiple Cambridge municipal ordinances, including the city's distinctive Laboratory Animal Care ordinance (oversight of research-animal welfare at local institutions), bodywork establishment licensing (until mid-2025), and emerging animal-keeping regulations covering bees and hens. Notable recent programmatic activity has centered on opioid abatement work, school-based health, and post-pandemic emergency preparedness.

Operationally, CPHD functions as the monopoly provider of municipal public-health services inside Cambridge and is the sole local regulator for several ordinance-defined activities. It is not a private enterprise: there is no equity ownership, no commercial pricing model, no venture funding, and no proprietary product line. Performance is therefore evaluated on population-health outcomes, regulatory compliance, and budget execution rather than revenue growth or margin.

Cambridge Public Health Department firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Cambridge Public Health Department
Legal name: Cambridge Public Health Department
Website: https://cambridgepublichealth.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1900
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 51–100 employees
Short description: The Cambridge Public Health Department is a municipal government health authority administered via Cambridge Health Alliance that delivers communicable disease control, environmental health, clinical, and emergency preparedness services to roughly 120,000 Cambridge, Massachusetts residents under PHAB accreditation and city ordinance authority.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Cambridge Public Health Department industry classification

Industry

Product category: Public Health Services
NAICS: Administration of Public Health Programs (92312), Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)
SIC: Services-Health Services (8000)
akta.pro primary industry: City/Municipal Public Health Departments (HLAJAAAC)
akta.pro secondary industries: Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK), Government Public Health Grantmaking & Program Offices (HLAJALAA)

Keywords

Public health services
Disease prevention programs
Environmental health regulation
Community health programs
School health nursing

Where Cambridge Public Health Department is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Cambridge
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Cambridge Public Health Department business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

Government Funding: CPHD is a city department administered by Cambridge Health Alliance, funded through municipal budget allocations, state public health funding, and federal grants including PHAB accreditation support.
Opioid Abatement Funding: State opioid settlement funds managed by CPHD for implementing community-recommended programs including mobile van, recovery coaches, syringe redemption, and youth prevention.
Regulatory Permit Fees: CPHD collects fees for various permits including burial permits ($10), beekeeping, henkeeping, laboratory animals, laboratory biosafety, tattoo and body art establishments and practitioners, indoor ice rinks, and tanning beds.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
One time/ perpetual license	Pay-as-you-go	Burial permit fee

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Cambridge Public Health Department product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Cambridge Public Health Department is a city government department that protects and promotes the health of Cambridge residents through clinical services (school health nursing, public health nursing, oral health), population health programs (mental/behavioral health, youth engagement, healthy eating/active living, literacy), environmental health regulation, communicable disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and regulatory permitting (burial, beekeeping, henkeeping, tattoo/body art, tanning beds, laboratory biosafety, laboratory animals). Services are largely free to residents and funded through municipal budgets, state and federal grants, and modest permit fees.

Product overview

Cambridge Public Health Department is a city department administered by Cambridge Health Alliance that provides a broad portfolio of public health services organized into clinical services (Public Health Nursing, School Health Nursing, Oral Health), population health initiatives (Youth Engagement, Mental Health Promotion, Healthy Eating Active Living, Literacy Programs), environmental health and regulatory services (Laboratory Animals Oversight, Biosafety Permits, Beekeeping/Henkeeping Permits, Tattoo/Body Art Licensing, Tanning Beds, Indoor Ice Rinks), and emergency preparedness. The department's main focus areas include communicable disease prevention and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health, epidemiology, regulatory enforcement, and school health services. These services are delivered through multiple divisions and programs, many offered in collaboration with Cambridge Health Alliance, City of Cambridge departments, and community partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Cambridge Healthy Smiles: Oral health education program in Cambridge Public Schools administered by the Oral Health team.
Cambridge in Motion

Products and services

School Health Nursing Provides full-time health services to Cambridge Public School students grades K-12 including first aid, medication administration, chronic illness care planning, immunizations, and state-mandated screenings (hearing, vision, postural, SBIRT substance abuse screening).
Cambridge Healthy Smiles Free oral health education and screenings program for children in Cambridge Public Schools, administered by the CPHD Oral Health division.
Overdose Prevention Program Free monthly virtual Naloxone administration training offered with Somerville Health and Human Services; free Narcan distribution events targeting opioid users, families, and community partners.
Communicable Disease Surveillance and Investigation Monitors and investigates communicable diseases including COVID-19, flu, tuberculosis, pertussis, meningitis, and foodborne illnesses through public health nursing follow-up and treatment coordination.
Vaccination Services Provides free COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics citywide; annual flu vaccine distribution to medical providers; coordinates in-home vaccination programs with the state.
Sharps Disposal Program Provides safe disposal of needles and syringes through multiple drop box locations throughout Cambridge and education on proper sharps handling to prevent hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV transmission.
Medication Disposal Program Partners with Cambridge Police for safe medication disposal through permanent drop boxes, free mail-back services, deactivation pouches, and biannual Medication Takeback events.
Resilience and Emergency Preparedness Leads Cambridge's disaster preparedness for health emergencies including pandemic flu, foodborne illnesses, hazardous releases, and terrorism; CPHD is a member of the Metro Regional Preparedness Coalition covering 60 communities.
Burial Permits Issues burial permits for burial, cremation, or transportation of remains within Massachusetts or internationally; handles exhumation and reinterment permits for Cambridge. Fee: $10 per permit.
Beekeeping Permits Enforces the Cambridge beekeeping regulation and issues permits; requires annual site inspection and compliance with hive construction and pest management practices. Regulation revisions promulgated October 2024.
Henkeeping Permits Issues annual permits for henkeeping in Cambridge with requirements including hen house specifications, manure and pest management plans, and abutter notifications. Cambridge City Council amended the zoning ordinance in November 2023 to make henkeeping legal; CPHD then promulgated regulations.
Tattoo and Body Art Licensing Licenses tattoo and body art practitioners and establishments; requires annual renewal with inspections every six months; enforces Cambridge Body Art Regulations for practitioner competence and establishment safety.
Tanning Bed Permits Regulates commercial use of tanning beds in Cambridge; issues annual permits with site inspections ensuring compliance with Massachusetts safety requirements.
Laboratory Biosafety Permits The Cambridge Biosafety Committee issues permits for biological research and manufacturing involving recombinant or synthetic biological agents, Select Agents, or BSL-3 containment; permits issued year-round and renewed every January.
Laboratory Animals Oversight The Commissioner of Laboratory Animals reviews care and use of laboratory animals in Cambridge under a unique city ordinance, conducting annual program reviews and inspections of biomedical research facilities to ensure compliance with federal standards.

Quantifiable outcome

95% of accredited health departments said PHAB accreditation stimulates quality and performance improvement opportunities
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use Cambridge Public Health Department

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Cambridge Public Health Department technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Cambridge Public Health Department partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and secondary.

Healthcare for the HomelessmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2025Recovery coaches placed at Healthcare for the Homeless as part of opioid abatement funding implementation. Started fall 2025.
Bay Cove Human ServicesmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2024Mobile van fully operational in spring 2024, staffed and operated by Bay Cove Human Services providing supplemental services to the unhoused community. Funded through opioid abatement settlement.
Cambridge Health AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPHD is a city department administered by Cambridge Health Alliance, a regional health care delivery system. CHA includes two hospitals, a network of primary care and specialty practices, the CHA Foundation, and the Institute for Community Health. Dr. Assaad Sayah is CEO of CHA and also the city's Commissioner of Public Health.
City of CambridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPHD is a city department under the leadership of City Manager Yi-An Huang. The City of Cambridge is listed as a partner with CPHD on various initiatives.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassCALL3 grant funding from BSAS supports youth engagement and prevention work. State opioid settlement funds are managed by CPHD for community prevention programs.
Cambridge Community Television (CCTV)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CCTV's Youth Media Program to explore substance use issues through photography. Youth Wellness team collaboration on PhotoVoice project.
Massachusetts Department of Public HealthcoreOthersAfter hours disease reporting to MA DPH at 617-983-6800. Coordinates on biosafety, laboratory animals, and various public health regulations.
John Snow, Inc.secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPHD staff and Cambridge Public Schools partner with John Snow, Inc. to administer Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) every two years.
Metro Regional Preparedness CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPHD is a member of the state-funded Metro Regional Preparedness Coalition which fosters regional health and medical readiness for emergency events in 60 communities.
Somerville Health and Human ServicessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPHD partners with Somerville Health and Human Services to offer free monthly virtual overdose prevention and naloxone administration training.
Center for Families (Cambridge)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Center for Families for Cambridge Dads program (father engagement) and Pathways to Family Success program.
Cambridge Housing AuthoritysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pathways to Family Success two-year program designed for low-income Cambridge families with children in Pre-K through 1st grade.
Community Learning CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pathways to Family Success program supporting low-income Cambridge families.
East Middlesex Mosquito Control ProjectsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement with East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project for larviciding activities in city municipal storm drains and mosquito breeding areas.
Central Square Business Improvement DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour additional sharps disposal drop boxes provided in Central Square by the Central Square Business Improvement District.
Cambridge Police DepartmentsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for medication disposal initiative including permanent drop box at police station and biannual Medication Takeback events.
Cambridge Council on AgingsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts biannual Medication Takeback events with Cambridge Police Department and CPHD.
Cambridge Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool health services provided through agreement with Cambridge Public Schools. Partnership for SBIRT substance abuse screening and YRBS surveys.
Cambridge Community Safety DepartmentmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRecovery coaches placed at Community Safety Department as part of opioid abatement funding. Started fall 2025.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Cambridge Public Health Department competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Massachusetts Department of Public Health: State-level public health authority overseeing municipal health departments in Massachusetts, including CPHD. Relevant because MA DPH recently absorbed CPHD's bodywork therapy licensing and coordinates on disease reporting, biosafety, and grant funding. Functions as statewide regulator and indirect funder.

Direct peers

Boston Public Health Commission: Boston's independent public health authority providing clinical services, environmental health, and regulatory oversight to Boston residents. Closest comparable peer to CPHD given shared Massachusetts municipal context and similar service portfolio (school health, harm reduction, environmental health).
Chicago Department of Public Health: Municipal health department delivering disease control, environmental health, school health services, and regulatory oversight to Chicago residents. Comparable urban municipal health authority structure to CPHD, including PHAB accreditation and similar population-health focus.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: County-level public health authority delivering communicable disease control, environmental health, clinical services, and emergency preparedness to LA County residents. Shares CPHD's structure of clinical services, environmental health, epidemiology, and regulatory enforcement within a single governmental entity.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Large municipal public health authority providing disease control, environmental health, mental health promotion, and regulatory oversight across NYC. Directly comparable service mix to CPHD at much larger scale, including PHAB accreditation and harm-reduction programs.
Philadelphia Department of Public Health: City-level public health authority providing disease control, environmental health, harm reduction, and clinical services to Philadelphia residents. Operates similar permit, regulatory, and direct-service functions to CPHD within an urban municipal context.
San Francisco Department of Public Health: Municipal health authority providing clinical services, harm reduction, environmental health, and regulatory enforcement in San Francisco. Closely comparable urban public health department with progressive health-equity and harm-reduction orientation similar to CPHD.

Regional players

Somerville Health and Human Services: Adjacent-MA municipal health department that co-hosts free monthly virtual overdose prevention trainings with CPHD. Comparable in scale and service scope as a small-city health department, but in Somerville rather than Cambridge.

Others

Cambridge Health Alliance: Regional healthcare delivery system that administers CPHD and includes two hospitals, primary care, specialty practices, CHA Foundation, and Institute for Community Health. The CEO of CHA also serves as Commissioner of Public Health, making it the structural parent and operating partner rather than a direct peer.
Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB): National nonprofit that has accredited CPHD since 2018. PHAB is not a peer in service delivery but serves as the standards-setting body whose accreditation status defines CPHD's credential in the municipal public health ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Cambridge Public Health Department financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Cambridge Public Health Department leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Cambridge Public Health Department funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Cambridge Public Health Department M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cambridge Public Health Department

What does Cambridge Public Health Department do?

Is Cambridge Public Health Department a public or private company?

Cambridge Public Health Department is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was Cambridge Public Health Department founded?

Cambridge Public Health Department was founded in 1900. It employs 51 to 100 people.

Where is Cambridge Public Health Department based?

Cambridge Public Health Department is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.

How does Cambridge Public Health Department make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are opioid Abatement Funding and regulatory Permit Fees.

Who are Cambridge Public Health Department's main competitors?

Massachusetts Department of Public Health is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Boston Public Health Commission, Chicago Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Philadelphia Department of Public Health and San Francisco Department of Public Health. Somerville Health and Human Services is listed as a regional player. Others are Cambridge Health Alliance and Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

Does Cambridge Public Health Department have an API?

No public API is recorded for Cambridge Public Health Department.

What industry is Cambridge Public Health Department in?

Cambridge Public Health Department's product category is Public Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAAAC, City/Municipal Public Health Departments, with a secondary code of BPAIACAK, Local Public Health & Human Services Administration. Its NAICS code is 92312 and its SIC code is 8000.