title: Defining the functions of public health governance.
abstract: We conducted a literature review in 2011 to determine if accepted governance functions continue to reflect the role of public health governing entities. Reviewing literature and other source documents, as well as consulting with practitioners, resulted in an iterative process that identified 6 functions of public health governance and established definitions for each of these: policy development; resource stewardship; continuous improvement; partner engagement; legal authority; and oversight of a health department. These functions provided context for the role of governing entities in public health practice and aligned well with existing public health accreditation standards. Public health systems research can build from this work in future explorations of the contributions of governance to health department performance.
authors.affiliation: Valeria Carlson is with the Health Department and Systems Development Branch, Division of Public Health Performance Improvement, Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. Marita J. Chilton is with the Public Health Accreditation Board, Alexandria, VA. Liza C. Corso is with the Division of Public Health Performance Improvement, Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Leslie M. Beitsch is with the Center for Medicine and Public Health, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Marita J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chilton
authors.forename: Liza C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Corso
authors.forename: Leslie M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Beitsch
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D057766:Policy; D011635:Public Health Administration; D015980:Public Health Practice; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012106:Research; D014481:United States