The Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) define a minimum package of public health capabilities and programs that no jurisdiction can be without. The FPHS framework was updated in 2022 to assure it reflects the evolving nature and modernization of governmental public health.
The FPHS framework outlines the unique responsibilities of governmental public health and can be used to explain the vital role of governmental public health in a thriving community; identify capacity and resource gaps; determine the cost for assuring foundational activities; and justify funding needs. However, to best serve their communities, health departments will provide additional services and may require additional capacity in different areas.
2022 revision highlights include:
The FPHS factsheet contains high level definitions of the public health infrastructure and programs required for health departments to provide basic protections to the communities they serve. The operational definitions provided detailed definitions that can be used to assess capacity and cost towards the FCs and FAs.
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Building a Strong Foundation of Public Health Infrastructure
Health departments provide public health protections in several areas, including preventing the spread of communicable disease, ensuring food, air, and water quality are safe, supporting maternal and child health, improving access to clinical care services, and preventing chronic disease and injury – these are also known as the Foundational Areas. Additionally, public health departments provide local protections and services unique to their community’s needs – these are known as Community-specific Services.
The infrastructure needed to provide these protections strives to provide fair opportunities for all to be healthy and includes eight capabilities – known as the Foundational Capabilities – include:
Practically put, health departments must always be ready to serve their communities. This requires access to a wide range of critical data sources, robust laboratory capacity, preparedness and policy planning capacity, and expert staff to leverage them in support of public health protections.