THE THREE CORE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNCTIONS
And the Essential Public Health Services
Assessment
Monitor health status to identify community health problems
Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards
in the community
Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal
and population-based health services
Policy Development
Develop policies and plans that support individual and community
health efforts
Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.
Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems
Assurance
Link people to needed personal health services and assure the
provision of health care when otherwise unavailable
Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce
Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues
Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health
problems
2
Essential Service: Monitor health status to identify and solve
community health problems
Activities by state and/or local public health agencies
Determine and monitor water quality
Monitor water wells
Monitor wastewater treatment and disposal
Identification of water-quality problems
Mosquito surveillance
Immunizations
STD/HIV testing and counseling
Food-borne illness investigations
Bio-emergency preparation and coordination
Tracking of number of wells, abandoned wells
Screening for diabetes
Needs assessment
Collection of child oral health data
Child lead-poisoning surveillance
Essential service: Diagnose and investigate health problems and health
hazards in the community
Activities by state and/or local public health agencies
Medical examiners
Epidemiology
TB
HIV/AIDS
Investigation and evaluation of nuisance complaints
Wellhead assessments and site evaluations
Essential Service: Inform, educate and empower people about health
issues
Activities by state and/or local public health agencies