Boards of Health: A conduit to the community

Over 3,000 boards of health exist in the United States, representing a variety of jurisdictions such as city, county, tribal, district, local and state. Boards of Health operate under a variety of statues but generally follow a universal set of standards: provide oversight to the health of a jurisdiction, represent the health of a community, and develop policies to protect the public health of a community. The mission of the National Association of Local Boards of Health is to strengthen and promote public health governance. The National Public Health Performance Standards Program Governance Assessment, Version 2 is designed to assist boards of health with establishing a baseline for supporting public health practice. This presentation will highlight how the Assessment can strengthen public health in a community through increased oversight and guidance of local public health. Hands-on activities will provide participants the opportunity to learn how the board of health is the conduit between a community and a health department.