About Schuyler County Public Health

What is Public Health?

Public health works to promote and protect “the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play.” We work to prevent injuries and illness and use science-based solutions to improve people’s quality of life. ¹  

Public health also saves money. Some studies have found a return on investment as high as $67 to $88 for every $1 spent on public health departments. While the exact return on investment dollar amount varies between studies, with some estimating a smaller return, studies consistently show that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".²

The 10 Essential Public Health Services provide a framework for public health organizations to protect and promote the public's health. They include:

1. Assess and monitor population health status, factors that influence health, and community needs and assets
2. Investigate, diagnose, and address health problems and hazards affecting the population
3. Communicate effectively to inform and educate people about health, factors that influence it, and how to improve it
4. Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships to improve health
5. Create, champion, and implement policies, plans, and laws that impact health
6. Utilize legal and regulatory actions designed to improve and protect the public’s health
7. Assure an effective system that enables equitable access to the individual services and care needed to be healthy
8. Build and support a diverse and skilled public health workforce
9. Improve and innovate public health functions through ongoing evaluation, research, and continuous quality improvement
10. Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health

Learn more about the 10 Essential Public Health Services by clicking here.

Schuyler County Public Health's Mission and Vision

Our mission is to protect and empower our community to be safe, healthy and prepared. Our vision is a connected community of healthy people and safe places. 

Our Values

• Accountability: We value the professionalism of our team and the quality of our work. 
• Fairness: We value equity and meeting people where they are. 
• Honesty: We value transparency and accuracy. 
• Improvement: We value the use of evidence to advance performance and address needs. 
• Innovation: We value novel and idea-driven solutions. 
• Respect: We value partnership and trust with our stakeholders and the community. 
• Health: We value the wellbeing of our community.