20 Sep preparing and responding to emergencies

The government must assure an adequate local public health infrastructure. This means that the public health infrastructure should have the capability to maintain the basic capacities that are conducive to a well-functioning public health system such as data analysis and utilization; health planning; partnership development and community mobilization; policy development, analysis and decision support; communication; and public health research, evaluation and quality improvement.

Additionally, promoting healthy communities and healthy behaviors is crucial. This refers to promoting activities that improve health of the U.S. such as investing in healthy families; engaging communities to change policy, systems or environments to promote positive health or prevent adverse health; providing information and education about healthy communities or population health status; and addressing issues of health equity, health disparities, and the social determinants of health

Finally, and most importantly, preparing and responding to emergencies should always be at the forefront. The U.S. must engage in activities that prepare public health departments to respond to events and incidents and assist communities in recovery, such as providing leadership for public health preparedness activities within a community; developing, exercising and periodically reviewing response plans for public health threats; and developing and maintaining a system of public health workforce readiness, deployment, and response.