Defining Public Health Practice: 25 Years of the 10 Essential Public Health Services

As public health practice and political context continues to change, and new public health threats emerge, it is critical to have a common understanding of what public health is, what public health professionals do, and how they do it. For 25 years, the 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHS) have provided that definition and guidance, and the framework is widely recognized and respected as the authoritative description of public health’s role. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the EPHS and recognize their significance in public health, this environmental scan aims to describe the history of the development and use of the EPHS and to highlight the scope and breadth of their impact on public health and beyond.