Maximizing the Impact of the Local Board of Health: A Self-Assessment Process

Maximizing the impact of the Local Board of Health provides a key ingredient to maximizing health department functions and thus maximizing the health of the community. However, Local Boards of Health currently have few methods which provide concise guidance as to the appropriate work of the board and how best to accomplish that work. In contrast, hospitals and healthcare systems have long recognized the importance of high functioning boards and thus have proven methods for board development and improvement. This study combines guidance found in the Local Public Health Governance Performance Assessment Instrument from the National Public Health Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP) and the Administrative Capacity and Governance Standards, from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) with proven methods for board of director development and improvement, currently utilized by hospitals and healthcare systems. The combination of these sources resulted in the development of a local board of health self-assessment instrument. The self-assessment instrument has been piloted among a select group of local health department directors and the chairs of local health departments. Insights received from the piloting process have helped to refine the self-assessment instrument and improve the process of evaluating “what the board does”, “how the work is done” and the process of leading the board toward performance improvement initiatives.