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 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 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 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 the effectiveness, accessibility and quality of
personal and population-based environmental health services
- Conduct research for new insights and innovative solutions
to environmental health problems and issues