Which of the following are considered core functions of public health?

The core functions of public health encompass three essential components: assessment, policy development, and assurance. These functions work together to protect and improve the health of communities and populations.

Assessment involves the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data to understand health issues within a community. This information is crucial for identifying public health problems, determining health needs, and recognizing the resources available to address these issues.

Policy development refers to the process of creating policies and plans that promote health based on the data gathered during the assessment phase. It involves making informed decisions regarding the allocation of resources and establishing guidelines that encourage healthier environments and behaviors within the population.

Assurance relates to the responsibility of public health agencies to ensure that necessary services are provided to the community, including healthcare services, health promotion initiatives, and disease prevention programs. This function also includes evaluating the effectiveness of these services to ensure they meet the needs of the community.

These three core functions—assessment, policy development, and assurance—are foundational to the practice of public health and guide the activities of public health agencies to improve population health. Other options may address important aspects related to public health, but they do not encapsulate the fundamental framework established by these core functions.