Improving the Health of Communities Through Public Health Systems and Services Research

The nation has seen an awakening to the important role the public health system plays in improving the nation's health status and in assuring that the public is protected from potential health problems. The release of two Institute of Medicine reports on the future of public health prompted a major examination of and investment in the nation's public health system infrastructure. Efforts to improve and develop the nation's public health system prompted many organizations and agencies to undertake new and significant initiatives designed to impact community health status through twin goals: community health improvement and protection.

As outlined in the goals of the National Public Health Performance Standards Program, it is crucial that public health practitioners encourage further development of the evidence base of Public Health and Public Health Systems & Services Research (PHSSR). The Center for PHSSR is designed to facilitate the efforts of the PHSSR community. Establishing a knowledge base will allow researchers to optimize the use of scarce resources to support the development, evaluation, and improvement the of the public health system's organization, financing, and delivery of services in the nation's communities.