Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119979

Julia Joh, MPH, Public Health Infrastructure and Systems--MAPP, National Association of County and City Health Officials, 1100 17th St. NW, 2nd Fl., Washington, DC 20036, 202-783-5550, jjoh@naccho.org, Louise Kent, Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department, 610 Medical Village Drive, Edgewood, KY 41017, and Mike Smeltzer, Columbus Health Department, 181 Washington Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215.

Public health assessments provide valuable information by applying reliable and valid methodologies. While each type of assessment offers credible and relevant data, individually they do not provide a broad understanding of community health and public health systems. However, conducting several types of assessments together can reveal a more complete picture of public health. In addition, compiling and applying different assessment data can help communities identify relevant public health strategic issues.

The Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership (MAPP) approach acknowledges the importance of using several types of assessments to understand the factors that affect local public health systems and, ultimately, the health of communities. MAPP also recognizes that collecting data and assessing the current state of public health is not an end in itself; rather it is the basis for community strategic planning.

This session will provide examples of how communities have used the MAPP Four Assessments to gain a more complete understanding of their existing public health system. Participants will learn how communities have identified linkages among their assessments and used the data to identify and prioritize relevant public health strategic issues. Speakers will also discuss how this strategic planning approach helps communities to be proactive in positioning for the future, rather than simply reacting to existing problems.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate the importance of mix-method data collection approaches.
• Describe more than one approach for using assessment data to drive strategic planning.
• Identify tools to identify strategic issues using multiple sources of assessment data.
• Recognize the importance of strategic planning in public health.
• Discuss how a business approach can be applied public health strategic planning.

Keywords: Planning, Assessments

Related Web page: www.naccho.org/topics/infrastructure/MAPP.cfm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation