Mission Statement 

Our Vision

To build upon our tradition of excellence, leadership and compassion in promoting the highest standards of public health practice in order to protect and assist our community using the best available science.

Our Values

We value:

• The practice of prevention
• Ongoing learning and assessment of the strengths and health needs of our community
• Research and its application to public health practice
• The pursuit of innovative solutions to public health problems
• Adherence to ethical principles in the workplace
• Courteous and respectful treatment of all people
• Excellence in all areas of public health practice
• Cultural sensitivity
• Participatory decision-making
• Encouragement of staff to develop to their full potential
• Independent problem solving
• Community service and volunteerism
• Public and private partnerships
• Written policies to administer our daily operations

We adopt these values and the ten Essential Services to guide our commitment to the ideals of public health practice:

The Ten Essential Services of Public Health

1. Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems (e.g., community health profile, vital statistics, and health status)

   
   

2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community (e.g., epidemiologic surveillance systems, laboratory support)

   
   

3. Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues (e.g., health promotion and social marketing)

   
   

4. Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems (e.g., convening and facilitating community groups to promote health)

   
   

5. Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts (e.g., leadership development and health systems planning)

   
   

6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety (e.g., enforcement of sanitary codes to ensure safety of environment)

   
   

7. Link people to needed personal health services (e.g., services that increase access to health care)

   
   

8. Assure competent public and personal health care workforce (e.g., education and training for all public health care providers)

   
   

9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services (e.g., continuous evaluation of public health programs)

   
   

10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems (e.g., links with academic institutions and capacity for epidemiologic and economic analyses)

Various Department of Health pictures were provided by webperson.com

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