Have you ever wondered exactly what the Iowa Department of Public Health does? Or why there are local boards of health?
According to the National Association of Local Boards of Health, there are 10 essential public health services. They are:
- Monitor health status to identify community health problems.
- Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community.
- Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues.
- Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems.
- Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts.
- Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.
- Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of healthcare when otherwise unavailable.
- Assure a competent public health and personal healthcare workforce.
- Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.
- Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.
Having a local board of health means that these matters are in the hands of people who will themselves be impacted by the policies, plans and services.
The Dallas County Public Health exists to protect, inform and serve you. Contact your Board of Health at 515-993-3750.
Ann Cochran is the health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
