10 Essential Functions for Health Departments:

• Monitor health status and understand health issues facing the community.

• Protect people from health problems and health hazards. 

• Give people information they need to make healthy choices. 

• Engage the community to identify and solve health problems.

• Develop public health policies and plans.

• Enforce public health laws and regulations.

• Help people receive health services.

• Maintain a competent public health workforce.

• Evaluation and improve programs and interventions.

• Contribute to and apply the evidence base of public health.