Prevention. Promotion. Protection.

Public Health in Alaska

Mission | Vision | Values | Core Principles | Essential Services

The Mission of Public Health

To protect and promote the health of Alaskans

The Vision of Public Health

Alaskans enjoy optimum health and safety through achieving greater public, community and personal responsibility for healthy conditions and choices.

The Values of Public Health

  • Accountability – We are committed to responsible use of human, financial and environmental resources.
  • Respect – We provide services without discrimination or judgment.
  • Human Potential – We are committed to developing each Alaskan’s potential as a healthy individual, as well as fostering strong, healthy communities.
  • Integrity – We are honest and ethical in all we do.
  • Scientific Excellence – We are committed to adding to and contributing to the body of scientific knowledge and using the best available knowledge and data to set public health policy.

The Six Core Principles of Public Health

  • Prevent epidemics and the spread of disease
  • Protect against environmental hazards
  • Prevent injuries
  • Promote and encourage healthy behaviors
  • Respond to disasters and assist communities in recovery
  • Assure the quality and accessibility of health services

The Ten Essential Services of Public Health

  • Monitor health status to identify community health problems
  • Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community
  • Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues
  • Mobilize the community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
  • Develop policies and plans that support individual and community efforts
  • Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
  • Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable
  • Assure a competent public health and personal health workforce
  • Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-b ased health services
  • Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

For information on these essential services, please consult CDC's recommendations for assessments on the local, state and goverance levels.