Public Health 101

Understanding the Importance of

Public Health

[Insert your name and title]

[Insert LHD name]

Objectives

Understand the definition of public health

Understand the role of public health in [INSERT jurisdiction]

Describe the key functions of public health

Provide an example of public healths impact in Lawrence-Douglas County,

Kansas (replace Lawrence-Douglas County with the name of your county
if using a story from your county refer to Slide 14 for additional
context)

What is Public Health?

The activities that ensure conditions in which people can be healthy. These
activities include community wide efforts to identify, prevent, and combat threats
to the health of the public.
- Institute of Medicine Definition of Public Health

Public Health: Past, Present and Future

Achievements of the 20th century:

Emerging threats of the 21st century:

Vaccinations

Chronic diseases

Improved sanitation

H1N1

Fewer deaths from heart disease and stroke

New and re-emerging infectious diseases

Healthier mothers and babies

Natural disasters

Reduction in tobacco use

[List challenges specific to your community]

What public health means to everybody

Making the Invisible More Visible

The 10 Essential Public Health Services

1. Monitor the health status of the community.
2. Investigate and diagnose health problems and hazards.
3. Inform and educate people regarding health issues.
4. Mobilize partnerships to solve community problems.
5. Support policies and plans to achieve health goals.
6. Enforce laws and regulations to protect health and safety.
7. Link people to needed personal health services.
8. Ensure a skilled, competent public health workforce.
9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility and quality of health services.
10.Research and apply innovative solutions.

How is [INSERT LHD] providing the Essential Services?

[LIST specific examples of how your LHD provides the 10 Essential Services]

The Taylor Family: A Public Health Success Story

We have benefited from the health department through the

years sometimes we utilized it purposely, other times we
used it and didnt even know it was benefiting our familys
health.
- Barbara Taylor, Lawrence-Douglas County Resident

Public Health

THANK YOU!!
[Insert your contact information on this slide.]