157085 Understanding state public health: Functions and infrastructures of state health agencies

Monday, November 5, 2007: 9:30 AM

Michael Dickey, MPH, CHES , Public Health Systems, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Arlington, VA
David R. Gifford, MD, MPH , Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, RI
In early 2007, ASTHO began Phase II of the Understanding State Public Health project. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the goal of this project is to define the purposes, functions, roles and responsibilities of state governmental public health agencies and other entities engaged in state public health activity to improve health outcomes and the conditions in which improvements can occur. A major outcome of this project is the creation of a robust database and state public health information system to serve as a resource to state public health agencies, public health partners, and researchers. This project will promote empirical analysis of the relationship of state public health infrastructure to health outcomes, provide evidence for decisions about organizational structure and resource allocation, and enhance public support for state public health through clear, consistent communication and marketing.

This presentation will address a survey of state public health agencies designed to gather comprehensive data on the structure, activities and responsibilities of state public health and describe how the collected data will aid in projecting infrastructure, workforce, resources and leadership needs as well as inform the Voluntary National Accreditation Program.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the session participants will be able to: 1.) Describe the research methods behind the state health agency survey 2.) Identify current trends in the structure and functions of state public health agnecies; and 3.) Discuss the benefits and potential research oportunities this data may provide

Keywords: Data Collection, Public Health Infrastructure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.