9.5 Community and Public Health

Notes

Public health focuses on protecting and improving the health of whole communities.

• Public health agencies include the local health department, state agencies and the CDC. They track diseases, run vaccination programs and inspect restaurants.
• Community protections: clean water, sanitation, food safety rules, seat belt and helmet laws, tobacco laws and emergency services.
• Health promotion uses education and campaigns to encourage healthy habits.
• Health disparities are differences in health outcomes between groups, often caused by income, location or access to care. Communities work to reduce them with clinics, transportation and school meals.
• You can help your community: volunteer, join a clean-up, share accurate information, follow public health guidance and vote.
• Example: A city's free vaccine clinic at a school helps families who have trouble getting to a doctor.