Oral

The 30+ members of the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) represent added capacity in the public health system for addressing the most challenging current and emerging population health issues. Public health institutes are known for their entrepreneurial leadership, convening of multi-sector partners from across the public health system, and strong organizational and programmatic capacity. The launch of national voluntary accreditation for state, local, territorial and tribal public health agencies – as well as new requirements within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) – have focused increased attention on community health assessments and community health improvement initiatives. NNPHI hosts a workgroup of public health institutes working on community health assessments and community health improvement plans. Public health institutes are well positioned to work on them given their history convening multi-sector partnerships with many partners such as federal agencies, state and local health departments, community organizations, faith-based organizations, legislatures, universities, school districts, heath care providers and other state governmental agencies (transportation authorities, welfare and aging, among others). This session will provide an overview of the roles of public health institutes in community health assessments and community health improvement plans, and highlight three examples of public health institutes’ approaches. The session will also highlight the role of public health institutes in CDC’s recent public meeting entitled Best Practices for Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy Development: A Review of Scientific Methods, Current Practices, and Future Potential.

Session Objectives: • Describe the added capacity public health institutes bring to the public health system • Summarize public health institutes’ experiences in implementing community health needs assessment and community health improvement plans • Articulate the value public health institutes bring to community health needs assessments and community health improvement plans • Share proceedings from recent CDC public meeting

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)