Assessing capacity and cost for the FPHS helps states understand, plan, and advocate for building capacity around the Foundational Capabilities and Areas and sustainable investments in these FCs and FAs.

The Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) were developed in 2013 to define a minimum package of public health capabilities and programs that no jurisdiction can be without. Today, the FPHS are used to drive public health modernization and transformation efforts across the United States. The FPHS framework outlines the unique responsibilities of governmental public health and can be used to explain the vital role of governmental public health in a thriving community, identify capacity and resource gaps, determine the cost for assuring foundational activities, and specify and justify funding needs. To best serve communities and community-driven programs, health departments will provide additional community-specific services and may require additional capacity in different areas.

Assessing capacity and cost for the FPHS helps states understand, plan, and advocate for building capacity around the Foundational Capabilities and Areas and sustainable investments in these FCs and FAs. Several states that are part of the 21st Century (21C) Learning Community have undertaken assessment processes that have resulted in real impact. Learn more about different approaches in the recent blog Comparing Capacity and Cost Assessments Among 21C States.

The Public Health Accreditation Board’s Public Health National Center for Innovations, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Systems, launched the FPHS Capacity and Cost Assessment to support health departments and health department systems in understanding their current spending and capacity towards the national FPHS framework and the needed investments to fully implement the FPHS. Completion of this assessment requires the participation of both agency finance and program staff.

If you are interested in using the tool, we are interested in talking with you – reach out to info@phnci.org.

To learn more about the FPHS Capacity and Cost Assessment, view the launch webinar below and visit the tool website.