What Are Foundational Responsibilities? 

Public Health System Transformation Update Newsletter
April 2024 | View all system transformation newsletters

Where you live should not determine your level of public health protection. All Minnesotans should have access to comprehensive, high-quality public health, but our system is well-resourced in some programs, topics, and communities, and less so in others.

The foundational responsibilities (below) consist of the population-level activities unique to governmental public health. The responsibilities are divided into five topic areas and eight capabilities, all encircled by equity. These responsibilities should be in place everywhere for public health to work anywhere in Minnesota.

How these responsibilities are carried out will look different depending on local context. Health departments will also provide additional services beyond the foundational responsibilities, as they always have, and may require more or less capacity in different areas and capabilities to best serve their communities.

The whole governmental public health system in Minnesota has a collective responsibility to Minnesotans’ health, and working together to meet foundational responsibilities can equip the statewide system for collective success.

Learn more: 

• Foundational public health responsibilities and framework
• What do foundational public health responsibilities look like in practice?