What is a Public Health Institute?
Public health institutes (PHIs) are nonprofit organizations that improve the public's health by fostering innovation, leveraging resources, and building partnerships across sectors, including government agencies, communities, the health care delivery system, media, and academia. PHIs address current and emerging health issues by providing expertise in areas like:
Fiscal/Administrative Management | Population-Based Health Program Delivery | Health Policy Development, Implementation, and Evaluation | Training and Technical Assistance | Research and Evaluation | Health Information Services | Health Communications and Social Marketing | Convening/Partnering
Fiscal/Administrative Management
PHIs often serve as a fiscal agent as well as an administrative home for the management of grants and contracts on behalf of, or in collaboration with, state and local public health partners. Examples include:
- “Partnering for the Public’s Health: The Role of Public Health Institutes as Fiscal Agents and Intermediaries” (CDC Foundation-supported NNPHI study)
- “More than a Middleman: PHS Administers Millions to Combat HIV/AIDS” (Public Health Solutions (NY) “Institute in Action” feature)
Population-Based Health Program Delivery
PHIs offer a range of capacity on current and emerging health topics. Examples include:
- Health Issue Areas Currently Addressed by NNPHI Members’ Programs and Projects
- “ACHI: Tackling Obesity Through Informing Policy” (Arkansas Center for Health Improvement “Institute in Action” feature)
- "LPHI: Building Coalitions to Clear the Air" (Louisiana Public Health Institute "Institute in Action" feature)
- Preventing Youth Obesity (Oregon Public Health Institute strategic project)
Health Policy Development, Implementation, and Evaluation
As independent non-profit agencies, PHIs are uniquely situated to provide non-biased analysis and engage multiple stakeholders in discussion and action. Examples include:
- “Sound Policies Send California's Teen Pregnancy Rates Plummeting” (Public Health Institute (CA) “Institute in Action” feature)
- Fort McPherson Interim Zoning Health Impact Assessment (Georgia Health Policy Center NNPHI conference presentation)
- Postcard for Policymakers (Developed by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio)
Training and Technical Assistance
PHIs provide training and technical assistance to communities in numerous ways, including technical assistance that supports community mobilization and sustainability for community-based organizations. Examples include:
- Illinois Public Health Institute’s Center for Community Capacity Development: "Preparing Local Health Departments for Accreditation by Providing Training and Technical Assistance" (NNPHI News feature article)
- Michigan Accelerated Health Care Training Initiative: Final Report (Developed by the Michigan Public Health Institute)
- Training Program Overview (Public Health Management Corporation (PA))
Research and Evaluation
Many PHIs have robust and diverse research and evaluation divisions and provide programmatic evaluation, as well as translation of existing data sources to inform health programs and policy. Examples include:
- “The Science of Community Engagement: Using a PHI to Increase Effectiveness of Translational Research through an Innovative Community and Academic Partnership” (Colorado Foundation for Public Health and the Environment NNPHI conference presentation)
- Kansas Guide to Health Indicators and Data Sources (Developed by the Kansas Health Institute)
- Research & Evaluation Division Page (Health Resources in Action (MA))
Health Information Services
From health information technology to implementation of health data management systems, PHIs collaborate with multiple sectors to utlize health data to better address community health needs. Examples include:
- Health Data Toolbox (Developed by the Colorado Health Institute)
- Crescent City Beacon Community Initiative (Louisiana Public Health Institute health information exchange collaboration)
- Data Landscape Project (Developed by the Texas Health Institute)
Health Communications and Social Marketing
PHIs have experienced communications staffs that utilize social media—as well as strong relationships with journalists—to inform policymakers, stakeholders, and he public about health initiatives and issues. Examples include:
- Berkeley Media Studies Group (Public Health Institute (CA))
- “Social Media: A New Approach to Improve Oral Health in Florida” (Florida Public Health Institute NNPHI conference presentation)
- Facebook Ad Training and PHI Funding Opportunity (Louisiana Public Health Institute presentation)
Convening/Partnering
PHIs are uniquely situated to engage a broad range of stakeholders—from grassroots non-profits to government agencies—in discussion and action to make communities healthier. Examples include:
- "Essential Service 4: Mobilize Partnerships" (New Hampshire Community Health Institute coalition)
- Affordable Care Act Implementation Initiative (Convened by the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health)
- "Public Health Accreditation Technical Assistance Team" (Institute for Public Health Innovation (Washington, D.C.) NNPHI News feature)