Statement of Purpose

Section 600 Section 600.100  Statement of Purpose a)         This Part has been developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the Illinois Association of Public Health Administrators, the Illinois Association of Boards of Health, the Illinois Public Health Association, and the University of Illinois School of Public Health.  This Part sets forth requirements for local health departments to be certified by the Department and applies to all local health departments in the State that are conducting or intend to conduct and complete such requirements. b)         The Department is committed to the mission of public health – to fulfill society's interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy.   Because of this commitment, the Department has the responsibility to assure that quality public health services are delivered to Illinois citizens.  Where possible, it is in the best interest of Illinois citizens to have public health services delivered at the local level by a local health department. A certified local health department is a local governmental agency that carries out the core functions of public health, assessment, policy development, and assurance, within its jurisdiction.  Any local health department currently recognized by the Department will be eligible to seek certification.  Performance of the core public health functions is the unique feature that distinguishes a certified local health department from any other public health provider in a local area.  The practice standards, included in this Part, are activities that demonstrate a local health department is fulfilling the core functions of public health. c)         Certification is an eligibility requirement for Local Health Protection Grants awarded by the Department.  The Department will make other Department grants available to certified local health departments, and the Department will give preference to certified local health departments for certain grants.