The Emerging Public Health Infrastructure in Maine Mark Griswold, M.Sc. Director, Office of Local Public Health Maine CDC/DHHS (207)

Public Health Workgroup Led by Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance 40 Members, broad representation and input Charged to create recommendations about PH infrastructure at the local level Maintained focus on the 10 Essential Public Health Services

Existing players, new model for coordination 8 DHHS Districts Strengthened Local Health Officer system Some core public health functions carried out by Healthy Maine Partnerships 8 District Coordinating Councils (DCCs) District Public Health Units MCDC Office of Local Public Health

LD 1363 signed into law –“An Act To Establish and Promote Statewide Collaboration and Coordination in Public Health Activities and To Enact a Universal Wellness Initiative” –Codifies the recommendations of the PHWG PHWG reconstituted to form the Statewide Coordinating Council (SCC) –Continue to be a statewide representative body working on PH planning issues Progress

8 DCCs convened –Working on PH system assessments –Each DCC has a representative on the SCC –Engagement in district and community-level activities Public health units in process of being convened and co- located Local Health Officers –Ongoing technical support –Participation on DCCs –Online certification training completed; being beta tested

Work beginning with county Emergency Management Agencies –Many involved in DCCs –OLPH staff meeting with EMA directors Health improvement planning underway in all communities –Healthy Maine Partnerships, with technical assistance from OLPH

Partners that comprise a typical public health system

Partners convene at the district level DCC City Health Dept. County Gov’tMaine CDC Emerg. Mgmt. Agencies Emerg. Med. Svs. HospitalsTribesHMPs School Districts Local Health Officers Higher Ed. Clinics/Comm. Health Voluntary Health Orgs Family Planning Area Agencies on Aging Health Care Providers Mental Health Servs. Substance Abuse Servs. CBOs, Civic Org. Municipal Gov’t

Better partnerships at the state, district and local levels Statewide Coordinating Council Maine CDC/DHHS Office of Local Public Health District Liaison and Public Health Unit District Coordinating Council HMP Other District Health Partner Other District health Partner Local Health Officers

PH Improvement Planning HMPs develop Community Health Improvement Plans DCCs develop District Public Health Improvement Plans SCC provides input into State Health Plan

Public Health Accreditation What is it? –Soon to be established. –credentialing process resulting in the approval of a public health agency by a national federally recognized review board –Agency needs to meet performance requirements and standards. Why is it important? –provides QA, credibility and accountability to the public, to government officials and to public health fund sources. –Will be important for securing future PH funds.

Activity to date, –Public Health Accreditation Board developed –National Standards to be released this summer –First application – Winter, 2011 Formation of the new PH Infrastructure is a crucial step toward realizing accreditation.

Want to become involved? As the system develops, we need your help to create meaningful linkages between the PH and the clinical care community. –The SCC is looking for a practicing physician member –DCCs need clinicians to either serve as members or be involved episodically PH issues related to clinical practice are discussed –HMPs provide services that help your patients stay healthy. They need representation on advisory boards and with specific community-level activities.