Welcome to the BC Map of Public Health Services
Public health work takes place in the midst of many functions of government, non-government and civil society organizations. This map provides a summary of the main elements of the public health system in British Columbia, with supportive data on types of services, access points and the mandates for service providers across governance levels. The greatest emphasis in this map of services has been given to the public health functions of the province’s health authorities. It focuses on both mandated public health functions and the broader field of activities covered in community oriented health promotion and population health. Information from the BC Ministry of Health, Health Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health, the Public Health Agency of Canada, First Nations Health Organizations, and Academic Centres is also included in the scope of this map in order to capture public health activity across boundaries of both governance and geography in British Columbia. A series of consultations and meetings were held with senior personnel within the Health Authorities, the Ministry of Health, Health Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, the Public Health Agency of Canada, First Nations Health Organizations, and Academic Centres. The map contains descriptions of how each organization structures public health and identifies many of the challenges and opportunities facing these organizations, and the public health system as a whole.
In addition to these consultations, a public health workforce survey was conducted to gather information from the workforce on their activities, challenges, successes, issues, and feedback on what is needed to strengthen our public health system. This surveying complements the organizational and system information gathered through our consultations with a view from the “coal face” of work on the front lines of public health. Two hundred and eighty-six responses were received to this survey, from a cross-section of BC’s public health workforce. The survey asked for respondent’s views on (1) the collaborative nature of their work, (2) how their work impacts on the determinants of population health, (3) training and supports which would help them be better able to perform their work, and (4) desired changes in the delivery of public health services. Qualitative analyses of these survey responses reveals themes and issues of importance to our public health system. The information contained in the map is accessible through the navigation menus at the top on this page, and you may also download the Map of Services Report (PDF 1.2MB). Log in to PHABC's site and discuss or comment on the BC Map of Public Health Services in our Bulletin Board. Please contact PHABC with any questions or comments.