The National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) is actively engaged in improving public health at the local level. One of the largest components of local public health programs is environmental health. NALBOH recognizes the importance of environmental health and the complex problems and challenges local programs face. These challenges require a workforce prepared in the competencies necessary for the effective implementation of local environmental health programs. NALBOH participated on an expert panel to develop guidelines for the core competencies to practice environmental health at the local level. The importance of these guidelines to effective environmental health practice and the perspective of NALBOH on how these guidelines can be used will be reviewed and discussed. In the past, no broadly accepted guidelines have been developed or introduced into the public health mainstream. The potential impact of these guidelines on local health boards will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, attendees will know more about: 1. The role of the National Association of Local Boards of Health in public health policy making; 2. The importance of an effective environmental health program to local boards of health; and, 3. How the National Association of Local Boards of Health will use the recommended core competencies to improve the effectiveness of local environmental health programs
Keywords: Environmental Health, Workforce
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.