NACCHO is developing an operational definition of what constitutes a functional local public health agency. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this initiative seeks to develop a shared public health agency to provide. The goal of this initiative is to establish consistent standards by which local pubic health agencies fulfill their responsibility for promoting social, economic and environmental conditions that improve health and wellbeing and prevent illness, disease and injury. In this manner, local public health agencies can be held accountable to the public they serve and to the governing bodies (e.g., local boards of health, etc.) to which they report.

List of Relevant Links to Tools and Guidance

NACHHO
Through an effort funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NACCHO is developing an operational definition of a local governmental public health agency. Developing a shared understanding of what people in any community, regardless of size, can expect its local governmental public health agency to provide is the overarching goal of this project.

The Turning Point National Collaborative on Public Health Statute Modernization seeks to transform and strengthen the legal framework for public health through a collaborative process to develop a model state public health law to better protect and promote the public's health.

New Hampshire Public Health Statutes including Chapter 127 (District Departments of Health) and Chapter 128 (Health Officers).

Public Health Foundation website provides information non how to strengthen public health infrastructure. This web site lays out the hundreds of parts that make up public health infrastructure. Within each section you will find useful information (facts and research), resources, links, and questions to ask your jurisdiction that will help you determine a starting point for strengthening infrastructure within your own community.

Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Fundamentals of the "System" [PDF, 268kb]
National Health Policy Forum Background Paper, April 3, 2002
This paper examines the existing public health infrastructure. It provides a brief historical overview of the evolution of public health and contrasts public health interventions with medicine and health care services. The paper summarizes the broad range of activities that constitute public health practice today. It explores the legal foundation for public health authorities, discussing constitutional, federal, and state public health law. The paper also summarizes how public health is organized and structured at all levels of government and discusses the roles and responsibilities of the multiple organizations responsible for responding to a public health emergency.

Performance Improvement Resource Guide for Local Public Health Systems (Tool)
The Public Health Foundation prepared this guide in 2002 to help local public health systems that have completed the National Public Health Performance Standards Program and seek to use the results to improve their system's performance. The guide is a collection of quality improvement tools and resources organized around the 10 Essential Services of Public Health.

National Public Health Performance Standards - Tool
The CDC's National Public Health Performance Standards Program is a partnership effort to: 1) develop performance standards for public health practice as defined by the Essential Public Health Services, 2) collect and analyze performance data, and 3) improve system-wide performance. Three comprehensive performance measurement tools for the assessment of public health practice at both the state and local levels have been designed in partnership with other national public health organizations. The website also includes technical assistance tools and resources.

State Performance Measurement Tool [PDF, 708kb]
Local Performance Measurement Tool [PDF, 592kb]