What Public Health Professionals Really Do

The mission of public health is to promote physical and mental health and prevent disease, injury and disability among population groups. Public health professionals prevent epidemics and the spread of disease; protect against environmental hazards; prevent injuries; promote and encourage healthy behaviors; respond to disasters and assist communities in recovery; and assure the quality and accessibility of health services.

The 10 Essential Public Health Services are:

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

State of Nebraska Office of Public Health

Nebraska State Office of Public Health website.