The operational definition of a functional local public health agency: the next strategic step in the quest for identity and relevance.

In 2002, the National Association of County and City Health Officials embarked on a quest to clarify, in a uniform way, the functions of governmental local public health agencies. Over the next 3 years, a diverse group of local health department officials and their partners developed an Operational Definition of a Functional Local Health Department, which included 45 standards matched to the 10 Essential Services. These standards serve as the first comprehensive and uniform articulation of local health department activities for which 250 prototype metrics have subsequently been developed. This article articulates the historical and policy significance of the Operational Definition, the methodological development of the recently published prototype metrics, and presents ideas for use of the metric tool especially in light of current accreditation and quality improvement initiatives.