Local Public Health Program
The Local Public Health Program of the Bureau of Community Health Systems provides coordinating activities between the state health agency, local health departments and other public health community partners.
The staff members focus on improving the public health system in Kansas through the following major goals:
- Increasing the capacity of public health agencies to perform essential public health services
- Increasing the capacity of the public health workforce to achieve core competencies for public health. These goals are accomplished through provision of technical assistance to local health departments and other public health system partners, along with promotion of comprehensive public health education and training for the public health workforce, in collaboration with academic and other partners.
- Increasing the capacity of the public health workforce to perform community health assessments, quality improvement processes and prepare for national public health accreditation.
Registration is now open for the 7th Annual Spring Public Health Conference: Brochure. The conference will be held April 23-25, 2012 at the Marriott Wichita. Public Health Conference Create Account Information. (pdf)
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What is Public Health?
Public Health is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention. Public health professionals analyze the effect on health of genetics, personal choice and the environment in order to develop programs that protect the health of your family and community. This Orientation to the Public Health System for Participants and Spectators guide is to educate the public and public health professionals on the three Core Functions and ten Essential Services of public health. This useful tool will assist in providing a basic working knowledge of the mission of public health and how we as public health professionals work to fulfill the mission in the daily performance of their duties and responsibilities. What Does Public Health Look Like in Kansas?
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Accreditation Performance Standards |
Aid to Local |
Core Public Health Course |
 In order to improve the health of the public, the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) has developed a national voluntary accreditation program for state, local, territorial and tribal public health departments.Accreditation Performance Information |
 The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) makes federal and state funds available to local units of government and other eligible agencies to support public health services in local communities.To apply/review application requirements For more information about the Aid to Local grant procedures e–mail BCHS at BCHS@kdheks.gov |
 The Core Public Health Program is a comprehensive one-year training in public health for working public health professionals. The focus of this program is to provide training across the 10 essential services in public health, which parallel the PHAB accreditation domains.For more details on the program |
Essential Public Health Services |
Kansas Public Health Directory |
Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute (KPHLI) |
 The Essential Public Health Tool was developed in efforts to strengthen public health in a variety of ways: by defining public health, measuring the performance of public health entities, setting public health goals, establishing the direction of public health policy and determining how best to staff and fund public health activities.Essential Tool Information |
To view the directory or view the map |
 The Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute provides essential, competency-based leadership training to Kansas workers in public health and allied fields in order for them to increase core public health and leadership competencies, strengthen social capital and encourage collaboration between diverse health systems.For more information about KPHLI |
KS–TRAIN Learning Management System |
KU–The Community Toolbox |
Public Health Connections Newsletter |
 KS-TRAIN is a portal to learning for professionals who protect the public´s health and safety.To navigate to KS–TRAIN click here |
 The Community Toolbox provides practical, step-by-step guidance in community-building skills for developing partnerships, conducting community health assessments, strategic planning, advocacy and much more.Community Toolbox |
 Public Health Connections is a monthly e–newsletter prepared by the Local Public Health Progream of the Bureau of Community Health Systems. The publication is distributed to public health and safety partners.To review current or past editions To receive Public Health Connections e–mail: BCHS@kdheks.gov |
Public Health Core Competencies |
Public Health Performance Standards Program |
Public Health Resource Manuals |
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The following links are to “sample” public health policies and forms. These sample documents will need to be edited to meet the legal/procedural requirements for your local public health agency. |
Quick Start Guide for Public Health |
Regional Public Health Meetings |
Resources for Public Health Data |
 Do you remember your first six months on the job? Did you feel like you were drowning in a sea of information? This two-page guide can be used in the initial orientation of public health personnel.To learn more visit the Quick Start Guide for Public Health. |
 The Local Public Health Program facilitates quarterly regional local public health meetings.Dates, times and locations For more information e–mail BCHS@kdheks.gov |
Looking for public health and community data? |
The Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals is a set of skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for the broad practice of public health. The list was originally adopted by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice in 2001. On June 11, 2009, the Council on Linkages adopted a revised version of the Core Competencies. 
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Public Health Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP) is a National Partnership initiative that has developed National Public Health Performance Standards for state and local public health systems and for public health governing bodies.