Governance is the process of decision-making by institutions charged with managing economic, political and social affairs, and the process by which decisions are implemented or not. Governance decisions set strategic direction and objectives; make policies, laws, rules, or regulations; raise and deploy resources to accomplish strategic goals and objectives; and ensure that strategic goals and objectives are accomplished.
Health infrastructure includes all systems, organizations, interventions and resources intended for health promotion and illness prevention. Health care systems promote health and well-being for community members through care services such as primary care, hospital care and long-term or home care. Public health systems monitor, detect and intervene when disease or risks impact community health to limit harm and promote healthy lifestyles, environments and policies. Health infrastructure supports all health services — from vaccinations and chronic disease prevention programs to emergency preparedness efforts.
Health promotion and harm reduction are prevention and intervention services and activities. They foster health-promoting behaviors and reduce the negative impact of behaviors, such as alcohol and drug use, physical inactivity and risky sexual activity. They include regulating systems, advocating for policies, conducting health education, monitoring wellness and disease, and connecting individuals and communities to services for prevention, treatment and recovery.
Housing is a basic human need. Housing includes houses, apartments, and congregate housing like nursing homes or halfway houses. Transportation connects us to the places where we live, work, learn and play. Transportation systems can include buses, subways, trains as well as sidewalks, streets, bike paths, highways and air travel.
Employment is the condition of having paid work, which provides income and often benefits such as health insurance and paid sick leave. Employment, and the income and benefits it provides, shape our choices about housing, child care, medical care and more. Wealth, or the accumulation of assets, makes it easier for people to manage job changes, emergencies, education costs and retirement. As employment, income and wealth increase or decrease for individuals, families and communities, so do opportunities for health.
