Public Health Practice Stories from the Field

The following stories highlight successes, progress, and innovations of state, tribal, and local health departments as well as national public health organizations. Some stories feature the work of CDC-funded partners. The stories describe—

Specific steps taken
Achievements
Lessons learned

The stories are grouped by topic. Click or tap the plus sign next to a topic of interest to reveal links to relevant stories.

Public health professionals can read and share these stories and consider how similar action could advance public health efforts in their jurisdiction.

Featured Story

Clinician Checking a Patient's Blood Pressure

Pharmacist Robin John assesses a patient’s blood pressure during a clinic visit, part of the Yakama Indian Health Service Healthy Heart Program. Read more.

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Accreditation/Standards

Assessing National Public Health Standards Performance through Self-Assessment

Location / Partner: Minnesota

Topics: Accreditation/Standards, Quality Improvement

Year: 2012

Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use

Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Becomes Routine Practice in Alaska’s Public Health Nursing Clinics

Location / Partner: Alaska

Topics: Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use, Clinical Preventive Services

Year: 2016

Helping People with Mental Illness in Massachusetts and Connecticut Quit Smoking

Location / Partner: Massachusetts

Topics: Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use

Year: 2014

Vanderburgh County, Indiana, Rallies for Smoke-Free Air

Location / Partner: Indiana (Vanderburgh County)

Topics: Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use

Year: 2013

Austin/Travis County, Addresses Disproportionate Effects of Smoking among People with Mental Illness

Location / Partner: Texas

Topics: Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use

Year: 2013

North Carolina Examines Methadone Deaths within the Medicaid Population

Location / Partner: North Carolina

Topics: Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use

Year: 2012

Utah Takes Multipronged Approach to Respond to Prescription Drug Abuse

Location / Partner: Utah

Topics: Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use

Year: 2012

Chronic Disease

Pharmacists Help Improve Health of Yakama Indians Living with Diabetes

Location / Partner: Yakama Indian Health Service

Topics: Chronic Disease

Year: 2015

Clinic Takes Team Approach to Controlling Hypertension in Ellsworth, Wisconsin

Location / Partner: Wisconsin (Ellsworth)

Topics: Chronic Disease, Clinical Preventive Services

Year: 2012

Public Health and Primary Care Partner in South Carolina to Address Cardiovascular Health

Location / Partner: South Carolina

Topics: Chronic Disease, Clinical Preventive Services

Year: 2012

Schenectady County Program Lowers Sodium in Menu Items for Seniors

Location / Partner: New York (Schenectady County)

Topics: Chronic Disease, Clinical Preventive Services

Year: 2012

Sodium Reduction Campaign Encourages Healthy Choices Among Consumers

Location / Partner: Massachusetts

Topics: Chronic Disease, Nutrition/Physical Activity

Year: 2012

Clinical Preventive Services

Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Becomes Routine Practice in Alaska’s Public Health Nursing Clinics

Location / Partner: Alaska

Topics: Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Use, Clinical Preventive Services

Year: 2016

Clinic Takes Team Approach to Controlling Hypertension in Ellsworth, Wisconsin

Location / Partner: Wisconsin (Ellsworth)

Topics: Chronic Disease, Clinical Preventive Services

Year: 2012

Public Health and Primary Care Partner in South Carolina to Address Cardiovascular Health

Location / Partner: South Carolina

Topics: Chronic Disease, Clinical Preventive Services

Year: 2012

Schenectady County Program Lowers Sodium in Menu Items for Seniors

Location / Partner: New York (Schenectady County)

Topics: Chronic Disease, Clinical Preventive Services

Year: 2012

Physicians Write a Prescription to Get Up and Get Moving in New Mexico Prescription Trails Program

Location / Partner: New Mexico

Topics: Clinical Preventive Services, Nutrition/Physical Activity

Year: 2012

Montana County Promotes Walking by Creating a Community that is Healthy by Design

Location / Partner: Montana (Yellowstone County)

Topics: Clinical Preventive Services, Nutrition/Physical Activity

Year: 2012

Food Safety

Colorado’s Public Health Laboratory: A Leader in Detecting Listeria and Other Foodborne Bacteria

Location / Partner: Colorado

Topics: Food Safety

Year: 2013

Massachusetts Tackles Listeria and Other Foodborne Bacteria Through Teamwork

Location / Partner: Massachusetts

Topics: Food Safety

Year: 2013

CSTE Trains Public Health Staff to Improve Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response

Location / Partner: Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

Topics: Food Safety

Year: 2013