The term public health programming might sound a little abstract, but at its heart, it’s simply about improving the health of individuals, families, and whole communities through organized, evidence-based action (we talked all about evidence-based research last month!).

Public health programs are a planned series of activities, be it workshops, programs, campaigns, policies, screenings, or school-based lessons, that aim to prevent disease, promote health, and make communities safer and more equitable.

It’s all a little bit broad in scope, so let’s look at one example that most of us have seen in our lifetime: tobacco.

The Tobacco Example

The dramatic decline in smoking rates over the last several decades is one of public health’s greatest success stories.

It took a coordinated mix of prevention, treatment, education, and policy to make that enormous, nationwide impact.

• Prevention programs helped young people learn refusal skills and understand the risks of starting to smoke.
• Cessation programs gave people who already smoked the tools and support to quit, like the evidence-based Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) program, which helps teenagers stop using tobacco (and now vaping) through small group sessions.
• Policy and advocacy efforts made public spaces safer by restricting smoking indoors and limiting the marketing of tobacco products.
• Screening and early detection programs helped catch tobacco-related illnesses earlier, saving lives.

Together, these layers of programming changed not just behavior, but the entire culture around smoking.

How Effective Public Health Programs Are Built

Behind every successful public health program is a mix of theory, evidence, and adaptation.

Theory helps explain why people behave the way they do and what might help them change. For example:

• The Health Belief Model looks at how people weigh risks and benefits (“Is this habit worth the risk?”).
• The Transtheoretical Model recognizes that change happens in stages, not all at once.
• The Social Cognitive Theory highlights how environment and self-belief influence behavior (“Can I actually do this?”).

Evidence is how we know that a program actually works. In public health, that evidence comes from research studies as well as from community experience and on-the-ground practice. Good programs use both.

And because every community is different, adaptation is key. A program that works for high schoolers in New York City might not look the same in rural Mississippi, and that’s okay. The best programs evolve based on feedback, context, culture, and lived experience.

Why It Matters (to us, and for everyone)

Public health programming is how ideas become action. It’s how we move from “what works in theory” to “what works for real people.” It is at the very root of creating a healthier country for all of us.

From tobacco cessation to mental health access to maternal health programs, every successful public health effort starts with understanding the community, using evidence, and working together to create change that lasts.

At CHIRP, we’re working to make this process more accessible for community-based organizations that don’t always have the time, staff, or resources to navigate it alone.

Because when local organizations have the right tools, research, and support, they can create programs that make our communities healthier, safer, and more equitable for everyone.