Cefpas is a public Board of the Sicilian Regional Government (L.R. 30/1993). It opened its doors in January 1996 and aims at becoming a landmark for health policies and programmes and, thus, promoting the development of Public Health. The main objectives of the Centre are:   to create of a School of Public Health that carries out training and research of high quality; to develop research and training for the Continuous Quality Improvement of Health services and care; to organise innovative training activities for the development of new skills and competence in order to keep in step with the ever changing labour market in the health and social sector.   The stated objectives will be achieved through continuous education and training activities both for social and health professionals: doctors, chemists, veterinarians, biologists, psychologists, nurses, therapists, health technicians, sociologists, social workers, etc. Training methods are innovative, interactive and are based on problem solving and operational research of high scientific level. They focus on efficiency and effectiveness in a context of Continuous Quality Improvement of Health Services and Care.