Public health is a field within the health sector that helps prevent disease and promotes the health of whole populations through educational programs, policies and regulations, services, and research. Public health does not include providing medical or health care services; it involves mostly government-affiliated initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles, improve access to health care, control infectious diseases, and reduce environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse, and injury (see Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health). In 2009, federal, state, and local governments invested $76.2 billion in public health programs nationwide. It is worth noting that this figure represents only 3 percent of the $2.5 trillion spent on health care in the United States in 2009.
Unlike community development, public health is an academic discipline and an accredited field, typically involving environmental scientists, health educators, medical professionals, and others (see the American Public Health Association for a full list). In contrast to community development, public health is focused not only on low-income communities but the public at large. That said, public health professionals focused on population health—a subset of public health concerned with social determinants of health—tend to work in and for low-income communities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (an operating agency of the Department of Health and Human Services) is the nation’s leading public health institution, often funding health-promotion programs for county and state health departments.
For more read Community Development Moves the Needle on Health Equity
