1. Why Regionalize? Harold Cox Boston University

2. Responsibilities of Health Departments Animal/Vector control Disease Prevention Disease Reporting Environmental Health Hazardous/Toxic Substances Community Sanitation Tobacco Control Emergency Preparedness

3. Challenges for Public Heath Most jurisdictions unable to perform the 10 essential services needed to protect a community

4. local health departments do not have adequate staffing

5. Public Health Issues Unevenness of Delivery Systems Cross-jurisdictional Issues

6. Benefits of regionalization Increases capacity Combines expertise and resources Ensures public health services across state

7. Massachusetts Population: 6.3 million Towns and Cities: 351 Local Boards of Health:351

9. Massachusetts Preparedness Coalitions Provide administrative structure to facilitate planning Enable timely and efficient allotment of resources Provide operational public health response system

10. Regional Flu Clinics

11. Massachusetts Next Steps Identify ways to consolidate health functions and health departments Multi-disciplinary committee 21 presentations throughout state Develop clear objectives and strategies

12. How does regionalization support public health? What are the benefits of regionalization What are the important components What are the challenges of regionalization State v. Local issues

13. Regionalization Questions What is a region? What are the structural, governance, and organizational challenges?