We asked our student ambassadors to explore what a health department actually does and how health departments connect to public health.
Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student
According to the Marion County Public Health Department, health departments focus on promoting “physical, mental, and environmental health, prevent and protect against disease, injury, and disability.”
Health departments protect their local community by advocating, education, and offering resources. They disseminate and communicate current public health knowledge and research. Our health departments are key to furthering the mission of public health!
Lucy Khatib, Epidemiology student
Health departments tie together facets of physical, emotional, and environmental health to better their communities. This department is key as it involves those who work in environment health, population health, and public health administration.
All of these departments are paths here at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health! The work done in our health departments are often overlooked, but their work affects everyone’s everyday life. Here is an infographic about the many facets that are the responsibility of those in the health department:
Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student
Promote. Protect. Improve.
The Indiana Department of Health and other local Indiana Health Departments have a lot of core functions and requirements! Departments of health keep food and physical environments safe, prevent the occurrence and spread of disease, and prepare and respond to disasters and emergencies.
Schools, churches, businesses, and nonprofits are all partners who have an interest and role in maintaining a healthy community. Health departments serve at the core of coordinating these collaborations.
The Indiana Department of Health envisions every Hoosier reaching optimal health regardless of where they live, work, learn, or play by promoting, protecting, and improving health and safety.
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