All of the Public Health Networks are working to engage stakeholders in their regional public health system to expand leadership and organizational capacity to address public health problems. A common focus of the Public Health Networks is to increase the local capacity to respond to public health emergencies. Many Public Health Networks also work to address other public health issues related to health promotion and disease prevention, including initiatives focusing on tobacco and other substance abuse prevention, physical activity and nutrition, and lead exposure reduction programs.

The longer-term vision for the Public Health Networks is to develop effective and sustainable public health partnerships to assure coordinated and comprehensive delivery of essential public health services, including approaches that respect and accommodate local differences and seek to integrate public and private capacity for public health service delivery.