Government agencies and public health professionals must row in the same direction. Coordination is the backbone of clean water, safe food, disease prevention and emergency response. Good health doesn’t just happen — it’s built on a foundation of safety and sanitary laws enacted by governments to keep us all healthy.

Coordinated public action has eradicated polio, created the national 911 system, and dramatically reduced waterborne illnesses through the Clean Water Act, while nationwide seat belt laws, immunization schedules, and disease surveillance systems continue to prevent injury and detect outbreaks early.

Moving forward, strengthening public health means supporting policies that ensure equitable distribution of resources, deepening partnerships across all levels of government and community institutions, and improving emergency preparedness through shared data systems, workforce investment, and readiness training. Learn more

Science is not abstract — it is the reason most children live past the age of five and most adults live well into later life. Science delivered vaccines, sanitation, seatbelts and safer workplaces. Good health doesn’t just happen — the knowledge gained through science makes it possible. Over the last century, scientific advancement helped drive child mortality down from nearly 30% in 1900 to under 1% today, increased life expectancy by more than 30 years, and dramatically reduced maternal deaths through prenatal care and hospital safety standards.

Today, NIH and CDC research funding, cross-sector scientific collaboration, and public insurance programs like Medicaid, the VA, and the ACA continue expanding access to prevention and treatment. Moving forward, priorities include promoting science literacy and misinformation prevention, accelerating research-to-community translation, expanding preventive screenings and vaccinations, and advocating for evidence-based policymaking.  Learn more

Public health lives in our environments: the air we breathe, water we drink, sidewalks we walk and parks we enjoy. These are not amenities — they are lifelines. Good health doesn’t just happen — communities set the stage to shape it. From the early development of public parks and green spaces to housing and zoning reforms that reduced overcrowding and improved safety, local leadership has long protected health where people live.

Today, parks, trails, libraries, and community centers support daily wellbeing and even serve as cooling centers during heat emergencies, while local food access programs and farmers markets help make healthy choices more accessible. Moving forward, priorities include investing in walkable, green, climate-resilient neighborhoods, supporting clean-up and beautification efforts, and participating in Bike, Bus, and Safe Routes to School initiatives. Learn more

Public health is not something done to you — it is something created with you. Individuals shape outcomes through daily choices and collective advocacy. Good health doesn’t just happen — you help create it. From seatbelt use and tobacco reduction driven by community advocacy to high childhood vaccination rates built on trust between families and providers, public advocacy has always powered public health progress.

Today, smoke-free laws, safe driving campaigns, and community-based health education continue that legacy. Moving forward, everyone can play a role by taking one meaningful action during National Public Health Week, advocating for health-promoting policies at any level, and serving as a community health champion in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Learn more

Join us in celebrating NPHW by: 

• Exploring resources and links in this guide!
• Diving into the suggested reading
• Promoting NPHW events
• Hosting an event
• Attending an event