Van Buren/Cass District Health Department

What Van Buren/Cass District Health Department does

The Van Buren/Cass District Health Department (VBCDHD) is a local government public health agency serving Van Buren and Cass Counties in southwestern Michigan under the statutory authority of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). It operates two physical offices — headquarters at 260 South Street, Lawrence and a second site at 302 S. Front Street, Dowagiac — delivering community health services (dental care, childhood and adult immunizations, vision and hearing screenings, TB and STI/HIV testing, lead poisoning prevention, and Children's Special Healthcare Services) and environmental health services (food service licensing and inspection, well and septic permitting, beach and pool water quality monitoring, mosquito and tick vector surveillance, hazardous-waste disposal, and body-art, campground, and housing oversight). Core technology is conventional public-health IT: MCIR for immunization records, the Michigan Immunization Portal, the MIWAI waiver-education platform, AllPaid for billing, and Accela Citizen Access for property and permit records.

The department is funded through a mix of federal, state, and local government appropriations, service fees and insurance billing (Medicaid, Healthy Michigan Plan, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield), and one-time environmental health permit and license fees (e.g., $300 well/septic new construction permit, $300 septic replacement, $200 short-term rental water/septic inspection, $15 TB skin test, $23 immunization administration fee capped at $69). Outreach is delivered through schools, childcare facilities, community events, and a bilingual (English/Spanish) website, with explicit sliding-scale and no-denial policies for inability to pay. Quantified throughput includes 545 food service inspections and 444 active food service licenses per year, 1,208 KOHA dental assessments, and 8 mosquito surveillance sites monitored with MDHHS.

Strategic partners include MDHHS, the CDC, EGLE (water/septic), MDARD (food/agriculture), Michigan Saves, MSU Extension, Bronson Health, Beacon Health System, United Way of Southwest Michigan, and Van Buren and Cass County Emergency Management. Governance rests with a seven-member Board of Health chaired by a Cass County Commissioner, with a Health Officer (Danielle Persky), Director of Nursing (Julie Beeching), and Environmental Health Director (George Friday) leading operations. The entity is a local government unit; it has no external equity investors, no parent company other than its MDHHS supervising authority, and no funding rounds.

Name

Van Buren/Cass District Health Department

Legal name

Van Buren/Cass District Health Department

Website

https://vbcassdhd.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Van Buren/Cass District Health Department is a local government public health agency serving the residents, businesses, schools, and licensed establishments of Van Buren and Cass Counties in Michigan, delivering community clinical care, environmental health regulation, and emergency preparedness from offices in Lawrence and Dowagiac.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Services

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (92312), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Funding, Reimbursement & Vaccines-for-Children (VFC)/Public Purchase Programs (HLAJAHAK), Local/County Public Health Laboratories (HLAJAIAC), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL), Community Health Centers (FQHCs & Look-Alikes) (HLAFAGAB)

Keywords

• Public health services
• Community health clinics
• Environmental health inspections
• Immunization programs
• Dental health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Federal, state, and local government appropriations and grants to support public health services for Van Buren and Cass Counties in Michigan.
2. Service Fees and Insurance Billing: Fees for dental services, clinical services, and immunizations. Accepts Medicaid, Healthy Michigan Plans, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and other insurance. Self-pay patients receive discounted rates.
3. Permit and License Fees: Fees for environmental health permits including well permits, septic system permits, food service licenses, body art licenses, campground licenses, and rental housing inspections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Van Buren/Cass District Health Department (VBCDHD) is a local public health agency delivering community health services (dental care, immunizations, STI/HIV and TB testing, lead poisoning prevention, vision/hearing screenings, Children's Special Healthcare Services) and environmental health services (food service licensing, water and septic permits, beach and pool safety, mosquito surveillance, hazardous waste disposal) to residents and businesses of Van Buren and Cass Counties in Michigan. Services are provided at two physical offices and through community outreach.

Product overview

Van Buren/Cass District Health Department (VBCDHD) is a public health agency serving Van Buren and Cass Counties in Michigan, offering a broad portfolio of community health and environmental health services rather than a single commercial product. The department operates community health services (dental, immunizations, vision/hearing screenings, lead poisoning prevention, TB testing, STI/HIV testing, Children's Special Healthcare Services) alongside environmental health programs (water and septic permitting, food service licensing, beach/pool safety, mosquito surveillance, hazardous waste disposal, housing, body art). Outreach programs include the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA) and flu immunization clinics. Services are delivered at two physical locations (Lawrence and Dowagiac) with online appointment scheduling, payment processing, and reporting portals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dental Services Community dental clinics in Dowagiac and Lawrence providing preventive, restorative, and prosthetic dental care for all ages. Accepts Medicaid, Healthy Michigan Plan, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and uninsured patients; sliding-scale fee program effective 2026.
• Children's Immunizations ACIP-guided immunization services for children from birth to 18 years, including VFC (Vaccines for Children) program for eligible families, COVID-19 vaccines, seasonal flu clinics, and non-medical immunization waiver education.
• Adult Immunizations Comprehensive adult immunization services following ACIP schedules, including the MI-AVP for high-risk and uninsured adults, COVID-19 vaccines, and seasonal flu vaccines at community and scheduled clinics.
• Childhood Vision and Hearing Screenings Free vision and hearing screenings for preschool and school-aged children in Van Buren and Cass counties, as mandated by Michigan law, delivered at schools, health department offices, and special clinics.
• Lead Poisoning Prevention Nurse case management for children with elevated blood lead levels, home testing guidance for pre-1978 housing, water testing recommendations, and community education for children under 6.
• TB Testing Tuberculosis skin tests (PPD) and TB blood tests at Dowagiac and Lawrence offices, with a $15 fee per skin test and a two-visit testing protocol by appointment.
• STI and HIV Testing Confidential STI testing for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV with rapid results, free condoms, High-Risk Hepatitis B vaccinations, and free at-home HIV mouth-swab test kits for ages 17+.
• Children's Special Healthcare Services (CSHCS) Michigan program assisting children and some adults up to age 26 with chronic health conditions, providing coverage referrals, family-centered support, and connections to specialists across over 2,600 qualifying diagnoses.
• Water and Septic Services Environmental health services including water well permits, sewage system construction permits, home loan and short-term rental inspections, Type II public water supply applications, and a Septic Replacement Loan Program in partnership with Michigan EGLE and Michigan Saves.
• Food Service Licensing and Inspection Licensing, plan review, and routine inspection services for fixed restaurants, mobile food units, and Special Transitory Food Units (STFUs), with 444 active food service licenses and 545 inspections across Van Buren and Cass counties in the past year.
• Beach and Pool Safety Beach water quality monitoring for E. coli and bacterial contamination at public beaches across Van Buren and Cass counties, plus public swimming pool licensing and inspection overseen by Michigan EGLE.
• Mosquito and Tick Surveillance Vector-borne disease surveillance at 8 sites in Van Buren and Cass counties in partnership with MDHHS, monitoring mosquito species for arboviruses including West Nile, Zika, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
• Hazardous Waste Disposal Safe disposal programs including the Red Med Box for unused medications at both office locations and a Sharps Collection Program with scheduled collection dates in 2026.
• Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Program (KOHA) Free dental screenings for kindergarteners in Van Buren, Cass, and Berrien counties during the 2025-2026 school year, with over 1,200 assessments completed, toothbrush distribution, and Certificate of Dental Screening form (MDHHS-6280) effective October 1, 2025.
• Flu Immunization Clinics Seasonal flu vaccination outreach clinics for ages 12 and older in Van Buren and Cass counties, offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously at Lawrence (Thursdays) and Dowagiac (1st and 3rd Wednesdays).
• School and Childcare Communicable Disease Reporting Weekly communicable disease reporting system for schools and childcare facilities in Van Buren and Cass counties, with online submission portals, CD team outbreak response, and MCIR/SIRS training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 545 food service inspections and 444 active food service licenses maintained
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Van Buren County Emergency ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Office of Domestic Preparedness works closely with VBCDHD to ensure community readiness for emergency situations.
• Cass County Emergency ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with VBCDHD to develop emergency plans and response strategies that keep residents safe.
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing vital health services and resources. VBCDHD participates in MDHHS programs including VFC vaccine program, MI-AVP adult vaccine program, and CSHCS.
• Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAddresses environmental health concerns including water quality, beach monitoring, septic systems, and hazardous waste disposal.
• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnsures food safety and promotes healthy agricultural practices. Oversees food service licensing regulations.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing guidelines, resources, and emergency preparedness coordination for public health.
• Michigan State University ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides outreach and educational resources for community health and agriculture.
• Bronson HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system in the region providing hospital and medical services to residents of Van Buren and Cass Counties.
• Beacon Health SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system providing medical services in southwest Michigan region.
• United Way of Southwest MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides resource guide and community support services for basic needs.
• Michigan SavesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Septic Replacement Loan Program in partnership with EGLE to provide low-interest financing for homeowners replacing failing septic systems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Berrien County Health Department: Neighboring Michigan county health department explicitly listed as a KOHA program partner, delivering the same mix of clinical, dental, and environmental health services under Michigan Public Health Code authority to a comparable rural population.
• Jackson County Health Department: South-central Michigan county health department delivering the standard mix of clinical services, environmental health permitting, immunizations, and communicable disease surveillance for a comparable mid-sized county.
• Barry-Eaton District Health Department: Michigan two-county district health department structurally identical to VBCDHD, delivering clinical, dental, environmental health, and emergency preparedness services under the same statutory framework.
• Calhoun County Health Department: Southwest Michigan county health department with overlapping clinical, dental, environmental health, and immunization programs, serving a similarly mixed urban-rural population under Michigan Public Health Code authority.
• Allegan County Health Department: Western Michigan county health department operating the same environmental health, immunizations, and clinical services model for a comparable rural-suburban county population.
• Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency: Multi-county Michigan district health agency operating under the same district-health-department model as VBCDHD, offering environmental health, immunizations, dental, and WIC services across three rural counties with comparable scope and staffing.
• Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services: Adjacent Michigan county health department providing the same portfolio of clinical services, environmental health permitting, and communicable disease control, with a comparable mix of fee-based and government-funded programs.
• Ottawa County Department of Public Health: West Michigan county health department operating the same clinical, environmental health, and immunizations portfolio under Michigan Public Health Code, with a larger but structurally similar service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Ingham County Health Department: Mid-Michigan county health department providing a broader array of clinical programs (including federally qualified health center operations) alongside environmental health, illustrating a more expansive operating model within the same regulatory framework.
• Kent County Health Department: Larger Michigan county health department in Grand Rapids offering a broader and more specialized portfolio of clinical and environmental health services, serving as a scale comparable for what a larger Michigan district operation looks like.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VBCDHD
• Xx.com/VBCDHD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/van-buren-cass-district-health-department

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Van Buren/Cass District Health Department