Public Health Orientation Kit
The core functions of public health include population health assessment, surveillance, disease and injury prevention, health promotion and health protection.
For those new to the Public Health field, we have compiled a non-exhaustive list of resources commonly used by many professionals in the field. Consider this the beginning of a "Do-it-Yourself" toolkit of resources and references that you will build as you become more and more familiar with this discipline.
To start you off, there is a helpful Public Health Primer [Word doc] in a Q&A format originally designed to inform Provincial candidates. There is also a very handy Glossary of Public Health Terms, and Abbreviations [PDF].
Government of Ontario links
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Public Health Division
- Ministry of Health Promotion
- Ministry of Children and Youth Services - Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program
- PublicHealthOntario Information Portal
- Local Health Integrating Networks
Federal links
- Public Health Agency of Canada - Health Canada
- Canadian Institute for Health Information
- Canadian Institute for Health Research
- Health Council of Canada
Public Health and Community Health Organizations
The Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) is an arm's-length government agency dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of all Ontarians and reducing inequities in health. As a hub organization, OAHPP links public health practitioners, front-line health workers and researchers to the best scientific intelligence and knowledge from around the world.
The Constituent Societies of OPHA are all independent non-governmental organizations who work on behalf of their members in the Public Health field. They represent a diverse group of Public Health professionals from Doctors to Dietitians. These associations are a great source for professional development resources.
Legislation
Bill 124 amending the Health Protection and Promotion Action which give significant new powers to the Chief Medical Officer of Health to protect the health of the people of Ontario as well as states that the CMOH "shall every year, make a report in writing on the state of public health in Ontario, and shall deliver the report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly".
Bill 71 Health System Improvements Act, 2006 Schedule D Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Water Resources Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.
Bill 71 Health System Improvements Act, 2006 Schedule K Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion Act, 2006.
Other Resources of Interest
- Public Health Messages: A 2007 Provincial Election Guide [PDF] (English & French versions)
- Public Health Evaluation Toolkit - Public Health Agency of Canada. Additional resources are also listed in the Resources section of this website.
- Canadian Evaluation Society - provide a wealth of resources and opportunities for public health professionals re: evaluation
- Making Connections: Health is a Community Affair. Outcomes from The Health Determinants Partnership.