Foundations of Public Health Services and U.S. Public Health System

Vocabulary flashcards covering FPHS/EPHS, foundational capabilities, governance, public health agencies, and key organizations mentioned in the lecture.

Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS)

Core public health activities that must exist in every public health system, including foundational areas such as communicable disease control, chronic disease prevention, environmental public health, maternal/child health, and linkage with clinical care.

Essential Public Health Services (EPHS)

System-wide public health services that complement FPHS and describe the broad capabilities of the public health system.

Foundational capabilities

Key capacities required for a cohesive public health system: surveillance, community partnership development, equity, organizational competencies, policy development and support, accountability and performance management, emergency preparedness and response, and communication.

Surveillance

Systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health data to monitor health status and guide action.

Community partnership development

Building and maintaining collaborations with communities and stakeholders to support public health goals.

Equity

Fair and just distribution of health resources and opportunities to reduce health disparities.

Organizational competencies

Skills and capacities of public health organizations, including leadership, governance, and workforce development.

Policy development and support

Creating and sustaining policies, laws, and regulations that promote population health and enable program success.

Accountability and performance management

Systems to measure, report, and improve the performance and outcomes of public health programs.

Emergency preparedness and response

Planning and actions to prevent, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies and disasters.

Communication

Timely and accurate information dissemination to the public and stakeholders to support health actions.

Social determinants of health (SDOH)

Conditions in the environments where people live, learn, work, and play that influence health outcomes (e.g., housing, food, income, education, safety).

Health disparities

Differences in health outcomes among populations driven by social, economic, and environmental disadvantage.

Public health governance

The structure and authority by which public health is organized and exercised across federal, state, and local levels.

Centralized governance

State-level final authority over public health decisions, with local entities implementing state policy.

Decentralized governance

Local health departments have autonomy to make decisions and implement programs.

Mixed/shared governance

A governance model combining centralized and decentralized authority across multiple levels (state, local, federal).

Jacobson v. Massachusetts

1905 Supreme Court case upholding state vaccination mandates, establishing that population health can supersede individual rights.

Surgeon General

The top public health official in the U.S. Public Health Service; appointed by the president; serves as the nation’s leading voice on public health matters.

U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS)

Federal public health service comprising officers and agencies that implement public health activities, including disaster response.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Federal agency responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak response, prevention, and public health guidance.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

U.S. agency that ensures safety, efficacy, and security of drugs, biologics, medical devices, and food products.

Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

HHS office coordinating medical surge and stockpiles for public health emergencies.

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

HHS agency funding and administering programs to promote the welfare of children and families.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Agency advancing quality, safety, and effectiveness of health services through research and evidence-based practice.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Federal agency providing health coverage through Medicare and Medicaid; sets requirements and payments to providers.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Agency improving access to health care for rural, geographically isolated, or medically vulnerable populations.

Indian Health Service (IHS)

Federal health program serving American Indians and Alaska Natives; historically underfunded and facing trust issues.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Biomedical research agency foundational to vaccine development and broader disease research; instrumental in public health advances.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Agency setting standards for mental health and substance abuse treatment and leading behavioral health policy.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Agency that investigates environmental hazards and protects the public from exposure to toxic substances.

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

Non-governmental association supporting state and territorial public health officials with advocacy and resources.

National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)

Association supporting local health departments with advocacy, resources, and training.

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)

Organization advancing epidemiology capacity and informing public health policy.

American Public Health Association (APHA)

Professional association that convenes, advocates, and builds capacity in public health.

Wraparound services

Integrated supports (housing, food, employment, etc.) connected to health care to address social determinants and improve health outcomes.