The main output of the Community Health Services Directorate is to provide equitable health care services in the community setting with a key focus on primary care services, and preventing and protecting against disease and injury while promoting healthier living for improved population health outcomes. This will be achieved through the provision of safe, quality, evidence base, accessible and affordable preventative and curative health services for all population groups including children, adolescents, adults and older people in schools, churches, the workplace and other community settings.

The directorate divisions are:

• Health protection
• Health promotion
• Public Health Nursing
• Mental Health
• Research
• Oral health with specialty areas in Older people's health
• Ear and Eye health

A core public health function is to protect the Cook Islands population from national and international public health threats and emergencies including communicable diseases such as Dengue fever, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, and Avian influenza.