July 28, 2009

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) has set a back-to-school schedule for August at community sites providing copies of birth certificates, required by most school districts upon a student’s initial enrollment.

Five HDHHS’ Bureau of Vital Statistics satellite sites will open from 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. at multi-service centers or health centers:

• La Nueva Casa de Amigos Health Center, 1809 N. Main, Lyons Avenue Health Center, 5602 Lyons Avenue, and the Northside Health Center, 8523 Arkansas, will open weekdays
• The Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star, will open Mondays and Fridays
• The Magnolia Multi-Service Center, 7037 Capitol, will open Tuesdays.  

The most convenient location for parents to obtain certified copies of birth certificates for their children is the nearest satellite site with a back-to-school schedule. The sites provide certificates for children born in Houston.

HDHHS offers full vital statistics services on weekdays from its main office at 8000 N. Stadium Drive. Birth certificates for children born in other Texas cities are available at the main office.

The Sunnyside, Acres Homes and Third Ward Multi-Service Centers, facilities that field a lower volume of birth certificate requests, will close their one-day-a-week vital statistics service during August.

Each copy of a birth certificate costs $23. Only checks or money orders are accepted at the health centers and multi-service centers.

HDHHS issues birth certificates only to parents, legal guardians and immediate family members such as sisters, brothers, grandparents and stepparents. Qualified applicants must present valid, official photo identification such as a driver’s license, military ID, state/city/county photo ID, current employment photo ID or some type of officially issued photo ID.

It is not necessary for a child to accompany a parent to obtain a birth certificate.

For more information, call 311 or 713-794-9050 for birth certificates.