About Public Health

Strengthening Communities Through Health and Wellness

What is Public Health?

Public health supports healthy, thriving communities through data-informed, innovative, and locally-relevant approaches. In Minnesota, governmental public health focuses on five key foundational areas:

  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention
  • Environmental Public Health
  • Maternal, Child, and Family Health
  • Access to and Linkage with Clinical Care

These foundational areas ensure consistent and effective public health services tailored to the unique needs of each community.

Community health team working together to improve public health programs

Foundational Capabilities

The success of public health relies on foundational capabilities—the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to implement core public health services effectively. These capabilities support communities in staying healthy and resilient.

Explore more about public health and its impact by visiting the Minnesota Department of Health’s website.

Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) partnership graphic