Functions of Public Health
Core Functions of Public Health and How They Relate to the 10 Essential Services
This page and graphic show how the ten essential environmental health services align with the three core functions of public health (assessment, policy development, and assurance).
Assessment
- Monitor environmental and health status to identify and solve community environmental health problems
- Diagnose and investigate environmental health problems and health hazards in the community Policy Development
- Inform, educate, and empower people about environmental health issues
- Mobilize community partnerships and actions to identify and solve environmental health problems
- Develop policies and plans that support individual and community environmental health efforts
Assurance
- Enforce laws and regulations that protect environmental health and ensure safety
- Link people to needed environmental health services and assure the provision of environmental health services when otherwise unavailable
- Assure a competent environmental health workforce
- Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based environmental health services
- Research for new insights and innovative solutions to environmental health problems
