From the preliminary experiments developed in the "Centro de Saúde Experimental da Barra Funda" (S. Paulo, Brazil) (Experimental Public Health Center) four basic functions of the social service in a experimental public health unit became evident: delivery of health care, administration, professional training and research. Besides these functions, its objectives and activities as well as its main atributions were determined. Although based on studies performed in an academic center, its applications for other public health units should also be valid.
Social service; Public health unit; Public health