Access to health care and human services improves both individual and community health. This includes prevention and treatment services for physical, behavioral and oral health as well as support services, such as transportation, food assistance, childcare and assistance enrolling in and using health insurance. Health departments and other members of the public health system link people to needed services, ensure delivery of health care and an able workforce and evaluate the effectiveness, accessibility and quality of these services.  

A Culture of Health, a concept created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a vision where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. The exact definition of a Culture of Health can look different to many people, but at its core, it must encompass a wide variety of beliefs, customs, and values, so it fully reflects the community it represents.

In order to create a Culture of Health, the following four action areas must work in coordination with the other, not alone: (1) make health a shared value; (2) foster cross-sector collaboration to improve well-being; (3) create healthier, more equitable communities; and (4) strengthen integration of health services and systems.

Healthy Behavior is influenced by the social, cultural and physical environments in which we live, work, and play. It is shaped by individual choices and external constraints. Healthy Behavior is an action taken by a person to maintain, attain, or regain good health and to prevent illness. Healthy Behavior reflects a person’s health beliefs. Some common health behaviors are exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and obtaining necessary inoculations.

Healthy Behaviors may include the development of individual, group, institutional, community and strategies to improve health knowledge, attitudes, skills and behavior.