by Naomi Rich

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On September 9, 2020, the Public Health National Center for Innovations (PHNCI), de Beaumont Foundation, and a Task Force of public health experts revealed a revised 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHS) framework, updating the recognizable graphic and Essential Services to meet the needs of current and future public health practice. Perhaps the most notable update, and the one that was most requested, is the centering of equity – literally in the graphic and throughout the Framework itself, embedding it as essential in the field in order to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities.

After 25 years, and dramatic shifts in the public health landscape, the de Beaumont Foundation and PHNCI launched The Futures Initiative in spring 2019 and committed to ensuring that if the field thought a revision was necessary, the revision would be done by the field, for the field. Surveys revealed that a majority of public health professionals believed the EPHS should be revised to some extent, which led to a crowdsourced, field-driven process that included in-person and virtual townhalls and public comment periods, guided by the Task Force. The revised framework incorporated feedback from thousands of individuals across a wide range of public health practice. For complete details on the revision process, visit phnci.org/national-frameworks/10-ephs.

While a large portion of the revision process occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Task Force decided that it was more important than ever to continue the work. Now, it is up to the field to ensure widespread adoption and application, updating websites, educational resources, and original content with the 2020 version of the EPHS, and using the framework as a roadmap for practice moving forward.

Nearly 1,000 people attended the virtual launch event. A FAQs document based on the discussion portion will be developed and shared with the field. Join us in institutionalizing the revised framework; update your materials today with this free toolkit.

Please send all questions to info@phnci.org.

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Naomi Rich is a Program Specialist at PHAB, where she provides administrative and strategic communications support to the Public Health National Center for Innovations and Program, Research, and Evaluation teams. Prior to joining PHAB in 2020, Naomi applied a community organizing lens to her work in political campaigns, nonprofits, and a communications agency. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Development from the University of California, Davis.