Public Health 101 Understanding the Importance of Public

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 health’s 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 20 th century: Emerging threats of the 21 st century: • Vaccinations • Chronic diseases • Improved sanitation • H 1 N 1 • 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 didn’t even know it was benefiting our family’s health. ” - Barbara Taylor, Lawrence-Douglas County Resident

Public Health…

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