Local Assessment and Governance Tools

The National Public Health Performance Standards (NPHPS) provide a framework to assess capacity and performance of the local public health system, which can help identify areas for system improvement, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that a strong system is in place for addressing public health issues. This assessment can also be used as part of the MAPP process. Please contact [email protected] with questions or comments.

Completion of the Assessment answers:

  • What are the components, activities, competencies, and capacities of our public health system?
  • How well are the 10 Essential Public Health Services being provided in our system?

Benefits of Conducting the Assessment:

  • Identification of partners and community members in the local public health system
  • Increased partner and community member engagement in health assessment and improvement planning efforts
  • Improved communication and collaboration between community members and partners
  • Improved understanding about public health and the interconnectedness of community activities
  • Identification of local public health system strengths and weaknesses
  • Identification of benchmarks for public health practice improvements
  • Strengthened local public health system

* For best utilization of the NPHPS tools, please use Internet Explorer as your browser.

Version 3.0 Local Implementation Guide

This guide is intended to provide NPHPS users with practical guidance, helpful tips, and sample tools for planning and implementing the performance standards assessments in local public health systems.

Version 3.0 Local Assessment Instrument
This assessment looks at the functions of the entire "public health system," not just the local health department. More »

Version 3.0 Local Facilitator Guide
This guide is intended to provide users with practical guidance, helpful tips, and sample tools for facilitating completion of the NPHPS Local Instrument to assess the performance of LPHSs. The guide accompanies the Local Assessment Instrument and the Local Implementation Guide. All three document should be used together to complete a Performance Standards assessment of LPHSs. More »

Version 3.0 Glossary
This glossary defines terms and further explains concepts mentioned in the NPHPS documents. More »


The Local NPHPS instrument was first released in 2002 after a comprehensive development and testing process. Subsequent revisions to the local instrument in 2007 and 2011 were field tested with participation from local health departments and their community partners. These field tests assessed the extent to which improvements in utility were achieved. Additional information was gathered about the implementation process which informed the development of guidance documents. However, additional reliability and validity testing was not completed.

The Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet files contain detailed instructions and descriptions. The National Public Health Performace Standards (NPHPS) assessment is designed to help health departments and public health partners generate a snapshot of performance standards at their agencies and identify areas of strength and weakness. The NPHPS assessment presents results in a user-friendly format using a variety of The Microsoft Excel® figures and tables. More »

For additional assistance accessing or using the data sheet, please contact [email protected].

Funding for this project was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Office of State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support. The findings and conclusions stemming from the use of NPHPS tools are those of the end users. They are not provided or endorsed by CDC, nor do they represent CDC's views or policies.

NPHPS Governance Assessment Instrument Version 3.0

This assessment is a 49 page PDF document with model standards to guide completion of the assessment. The questions in the assessment are used to determine how well the standards are being met. Originally developed by the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH), some of the NALBOH links and email addresses listed throughout the document no longer function. More »

For all questions, please contact [email protected].

Modifications introduced in Version 3.0 instruments have been field tested and/or reviewed by subject matter experts or select members of the target audience. Please note data limitations. There are a number of limitations to the NPHPS assessment data due to self-report, wide variations in the breadth and knowledge of participants, the variety of assessment methods used, and differences in interpretation of assessment questions.


NPHPS Governance Handbook Version 3.0

This handbook is a 153 page PDF document with practical guidance, helpful tips, and sample tools for planning and implementing the NPHPS Governance Instrument. Originally developed by the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH), some of the NALBOH links and email addresses listed throughout the document no longer function. More »


For all questions, please contact [email protected].

Validity and Reliability

The Governance NPHPS instrument was first released in 2002 after a comprehensive development and testing process. Subsequent revisions to the governance instrument in 2007 and 2011 were field tested with participation from local boards of health and their community partners. These field tests assessed the extent to which improvements in utility were achieved. Additional information was gathered about the implementation process which informed the development of guidance documents. However, additional reliability and validity testing was not completed.

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