About the Program

What is in a name? or a definition? For public health practice, the answers could determine resource allocation, community expectations, workforce development, and even public health policy. In recent years, public health practice has received unprecedented support and visibility, but there are also unprecedented expectations.

Can everyone expect the same safeguards of health, regardless of the size or location of their community? Local and state health officials believe they can, and this belief is driving the National Association of County and City Health Officials' effort to develop an operational definition of local public health agencies. It is anticipated the definition will provide the framework needed to secure funding and leverage resources needed for a consistent, robust governmental public health presence at the local level.

The purpose is clear but the road map to achieving this has not been easy to follow. To bring clarity to this issue, join us as we discuss the case of Public Health Solutions, a district health department based in Crete , Nebraska , that is working to create a local public health agency from scratch and succeed in meeting the expectations of a safer, healthier community for its citizens.

Goal

This program will seek to increase awareness of efforts to operationally define local public health agencies and the intended outcomes of this process.

Objectives

• Identify three basic community expectations of a local public health agency regardless of community size or location.
• Describe three benefits of establishing a nationally accepted operational definition of a local health agency.
• Identify two ways to participate in the process of establishing an operational definition of a local public health agency.
• Describe how defining local public health agencies enables the CDC to more effectively support the public health system.

Audience

Public health leaders, managers, and professionals from local and state health departments, boards of health, hospitals, community-based health organizations, academic institutions, federal agencies, and others who seek to increase understanding of local public health practice and the importance of determining a operational definition that will serve all communities regardless of size or location.