What is public health?

The State of Kansas has a decentralized public health system consisting of the state health department, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and 100 local health departments serving all 105 counties in Kansas.

Under Kansas law, health departments report to the local Board of Health, which in most cases is comprised of the local County Commission.

The 10 Essential Services of public health are (1) Monitor the health of the community, (2) Diagnose and Investigate health problems, (3) Inform, educate, and empower people, (4) Mobilize community partnerships, (5) Develop policies, (6) Enforce laws and regulations, (7) Link to/provide health services, (8) Assure a competent workforce, (9) Evaluate quality, and (10) Research for new insights.

Health departments provide a broad array of services to their communities which may include, but are not limited to disease surveillance and investigation, immunizations, emergency preparedness, infant and maternal health programs, health promotion and prevention programs, administration of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition assistance program, home health services, child care facility inspection, and so on.

Kansas Local Health Department Web Pages

KALHD’s role in supporting public health

While the size and scope of health departments across the state varies dramatically, all share common goals, issues, and challenges. The value of a statewide association is that it can act as the unified voice for all members, helping to advance shared goals and objectives, while also educating about shared issues and challenges. This is the main objective of KALHD.

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