National Public Health Performance Standards: are they a means of evaluating the local public health system?

The organizations, agencies, and entities within a community that contribute to the health of the public through the delivery of essential public health services define the body of the local public health system. These public, private, and voluntary entities have differing roles, relationships, and interactions within the system and for the population served. Combining the Genesee Valley Network and the Livingston County Community Health Partnership in the Year 2000 formed the Genesee Valley Health Partnership, Livingston County, New York, consisting of 30 organizational members. In the spring of 2001, this partnership utilized the 10 Essential Services outlined in Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships's Local Public Health System Assessment to measure the capacity and performance of Livingston County's local health system. Through a process that asked two basic questions, "What are the components, activities, competencies, and capabilities of our local public health system?" and "How are the Essential Services being provided to our community?" the Partnership determined the following: (1) in 8 out of the 10 Essential Services, the system met the standard by more than 50 percent; and (2) the system excelled in five of the Essential Services. The Partnership concluded that many valuable programs and services were conducted throughout the community; however, partners did not know what services were available, how to access those services, or how to coordinate with each other. The NPHPS provided a standard measurement for the local public health system and identified gaps in the system.