The three core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Public Health Services provide a working definition of public health and a guiding framework for the responsibilities of local public health systems.

The functions of Assessment, Policy Development, and Assurance help us to balance and focus our three core government public health responsibilities as we strive to provide essential population based services to our constituents.

All public or community health responsibilities (whether conducted by the local public health department or another organization within the community) can be categorized into one of the services.

These following 10 essential services serve as the framework of the local public health system assessment we are conducting.

1. Monitor health status to identify community health problems.
2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community.
3. Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues.
4. Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems.
5. Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts.
6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.
7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
8. Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce.
9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.
10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.

Watch this brief video to see how public health works in the community.

Use this link to forward the above video to others: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8EfkSAQ3JA