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TCEH Seeks Information About a Dog Bite at Taughannock State Park TCWH EH must locate a dog that bit a person on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at approximately 10:30AM, in the North Point area of Taughannock State Park (1740 Taughannock Blvd, Trumansburg). The person was bit as they assisted in capturing a dog that had escaped the dog’s sitter.
Breast Cancer Screening & Early Detection Saves Lives Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is sharing with the community about low or no-cost breast cancer screenings available in Tompkins County this month as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK: OCTOBER 20 - OCTOBER 26, 2024 For this year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW), Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) invites the community to join us for an educational event in partnership with Eco-Testing and the Ithaca ReUse Center. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 22, from 2:30 pm-5:00 pm at the ReUse Center’s downtown location (214 Elmira Road, Ithaca). This event is free and open to the public.
Health Alert: Say “Boo” to the Flu! Early Fall Vaccination Recommendat Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is alerting the community of the importance of prioritizing flu (influenza) vaccinations in early fall and invites the community to join us in saying “BOO to the FLU!” this year.
Pistol Permits
Climate Adaptation and Resiliency
Health Alert: Local Rise in Whooping Cough & Walking Pneumonia Cases (11/6/2024) Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is alerting the community to a recent increase in the number of people becoming ill from two different bacterial respiratory illnesses: Pertussis (commonly known as Whooping Cough), and M. pneumoniae (commonly known as Walking Pneumonia).
Health Alert: E. coli Outbreak Linked to Organic Carrots (11/19/2024) Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is alerting the community to a recall on multiple sizes and brands of organic whole and baby carrots which were sold at grocery stores in our region (including Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Tops and GreenStar Food Co-op). The carrots have been linked to an outbreak of E. coli from bagged organic whole and baby carrots from a single supplier.
Health Alert: TCEH Seeks Info About a Dog Bite (11/12/2024) Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) must locate a dog that bit a person on Monday, November 11, 2024, at approximately 3:15 PM, near the UPS Store at 407 College Avenue, Ithaca. The person was bit on their hand and ankle when they retrieved a glove they had dropped. EH seeks to verify the biting dog’s vaccination status.
TCWH Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of the C.A.R.E. Team (11/4/2024) In August 2023, the C.A.R.E. Team (Crisis Alternative Response and Engagement), a co-response partnership between Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, was launched as an effort to divert community members from the criminal justice system in response to crisis calls.
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
CAPS Evaluations and In Home Fall Safety Assessments
Youth and Family Services
Fair Housing
Find a Job
Emergency Assistance
Financial and Emergency Assistance
Temporary Assistance
Tompkins County Hotel Room Occupancy Tax
Food Assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Job Seeker Services
Children with Special Care Needs (CSCN)
Employer Services
Immunization & Vaccines
Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Program
911 Emergency Communications Center
Finance Department The Finance Department contains the Treasury Division, Accounting Division, and Purchasing Division.
Temporary Food Permit
Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) is a comprehensive recovery-oriented program for adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
Soil and Water Conservation District The Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is one of 58 Soil and Water Conservation District's located across New York State.
Property Taxes How to pay property taxes
Disability Services
Medicaid
Procedure for Obtaining a Permit to Construct an OWTS
Emergency Preparedness
Oral Health At Tompkins County Whole Health, we believe in the power of a healthy smile. Our mission is to improve your health by providing you with oral health tips, resources, and information about dental care providers and dental insurance options. Your smile matters, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Employment Opportunities Find the right career for you and be invited to apply for jobs based on your interest and experience
Youth Employment (Ages 14-24)
County Bridges
Construction and Hauling Permits
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Fire & EMS For Fire & EMS Training Schedule, please visit:
https://sites.google.com/view/tcemstraining/home
Highway Department The mission of the Highway Department is to provide highway and bridge construction, maintenance, and emergency services safely, effectively, and efficiently for our local and traveling public customers, while promoting self-esteem and growth as individuals.
Moms PLUS+ Moms PLUS+ — Parent Pregnancy & Lactation United Services — is a home visiting nurse program that provides maternal child health supportive services, free of cost, to residents of Tompkins County regardless of insurance status. Moms PLUS + is designed to improve equitable access to quality maternal child health care, increase lactation support for parents choosing to breast and chest feed.
Foster Care Recruitment & Retention, Adoption and Post-Finalization
Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Community Health Services Our Community Health Services Team works collaboratively to support the health and well-being of our community by providing multiple programs and services to Tompkins County residents.
Housing
Healthy Neighborhoods Program The Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP) provides free home safety visits to promote healthy homes. HNP is part of the Health Promotion Program at the Tompkins County Health Department, and is funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Mental Health Services The Mission of Tompkins County Mental Health Services is to meet the needs of the residents of Tompkins County in the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities, and chemical dependency by providing prevention and early detection, comprehensively planned care, treatment, and rehabilitation services.
Local Mental Health Resources Local mental health resources and providers support people in our community who are experiencing mental health crisis or mental health-related distress. Whole Health's Mental Health Services has compiled a listing of Mental Health Resources.
Child Care Assistance Program
District Attorney The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the promotion of public safety through the prosecution of criminal offenses defined under State law, committed within Tompkins County.
Public Health Preparedness
Assessment This office was consolidated in 1970 to provide the highest possible service at the lowest possible cost to the residents of Tompkins County. Our office is dedicated to ensuring that all properties are assessed at a uniform percentage of market value.
Water Resources
Sheriff's Office Stay informed about the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office and its commitment to community safety! Discover resources, crime prevention tips, and services designed to keep our community secure.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improves the health and nutrition of parents and their children during pregnancy and early childhood.
County Road Projects
Drinking Water
Transportation
Youth Services The Tompkins County Youth Services Department invests time, resources and funding in communities to enable all youth to thrive in school, work and life.
Whole Health Our mission is to build a healthy, equitable community in Tompkins County by addressing the root causes of health disparities and integrating mental, physical and environmental health.

News and Highlights

Health Alert: Cyclospora Infection Prevention and Food Safety Guidance

Published on July 20, 2026

TCWH is updating residents about cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, following an outbreak in several states. As of July 18, 2026, the FDA has not yet determined whether the recent outbreak is a result of contaminated iceberg lettuce; the investigation is on-going and more details will be provided when available. No confirmed cases in Tompkins Co.

Update: Confirmed Rabid Fox in Stone Quarry/Elmira Road Area

Published on July 16, 2026

(ITHACA, NY, July 16, 2026) – Tompkins County Whole Health (TCHW) is reporting a lab-confirmed rabid fox captured in the Stone Quarry/Elmira Road area.
On July 10, a fox was reported to have charged and bit a person and was acting erratically. The rabid fox that was captured and tested, is believed to be the same fox previously reported. The NYS Lab rabies-positive test was released July 16, 2026.

Naturalization Ceremony on July 23

Published on July 16, 2026

The Tompkins County Clerk’s Office will host this year’s second Naturalization Ceremony, welcoming new American citizens. The ceremony will be held at 11 am on July 23 at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Health Alert Update: Air Quality for Tompkins at Very Unhealthy Levels

Published on July 16, 2026

(Ithaca, N.Y., July 16, 2026) – Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is continuing to update the community about local air quality due to wildfires in Canada and the Western United States. As of the afternoon of July 16, the air quality in Tompkins County is “Very Unhealthy”, as defined by the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale.

Health Alert: Poor Air Quality for Tompkins and Surrounding Counties

Published on July 15, 2026

Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is alerting the community that Canadian wildfires are producing smoke that is impacting local air quality. As of the morning on July 15, the air quality in Tompkins County is forecasted to become “Unhealthy”, as defined by the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale.

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