CLARK AND DUBOIS COUNTIES

Do we have policies set to guide us in our public health practice?

THE TEN ESSENTIAL SERVICES OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Essential Service 5

Develop Policies and Plans that Support Individual and Community Health Efforts

EssentialService 5

Having policies in place to guide the process of making important organizational decisions in our county

WHAT IS A “POLICY?”

Public health policies protect the public’s health and guide public health practice.

NOT THE SAME AS LAW (ESSENTIAL SERVICE 6): While law can compel or prohibit behaviors (e.g. a law requiring the payment of taxes on income) policy merely guides actions toward the behaviors that are most likely to achieve a desired outcome.

STEPS TO DEVELOP PLANS/ POLICIES

To develop health policy or plans:

Rely on appropriate data

Develop measurable health objectives

Determine strategies/actions to implement plans.

ESSENTIAL SERVICE 5 MODEL STANDARDS

ESSENTIAL SERVICE 5

Governmental Presence at the Local Level LHD serves as the governmental public health entity

to assure delivery of Essential Public Health Services in our county.

First line of defense to protect the public’s health at the local level.

The LHD maintains a working relationship with the Board of Health, the County Board, and the State Department of Health.

Policies assure availability of public health resources and services to our population.

ESSENTIAL SERVICE 5

Public Health Policy Development

We develop public health policy when we identify a problem, and a set of solutions, and set a course of action to address it.

We must work with our community and our partners to develop effective public health policy.

We have a key role to inform our policy makers (BOH and Commissioners) of the impact of existing and proposed policies to assure the public’s health.

Our policies should be formally reviewed every three to five years.

ESSENTIAL SERVICE 5

Community Health Improvement Process and Strategic Planning We have a responsibility to support ongoing

collaboration to identify, analyze and address health problems in our county toward a community-owned health improvement plan – not just a health department plan.

Existing LHD policies strengthen this plan.

Dubois County Partnership (PHSQIP project) is an example of the collaboration needed for this process. The LHD is integrally involved.

ESSENTIAL SERVICE 5

Planning For Public Health Emergencies Have a responsibility to develop and maintain an ‘All-

Hazards’ emergency preparedness and response plans.

Must have policies to identify the triggers for implementation of our plans and know our individual and agency responsibilities.

Must work with our system partners to respond effectively to any and all public health emergencies.

Must practice our response through drills, Tabletop, functional and full scale exercises.

PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES

Vaccinations

Fluoride in drinking water

No smoking areas / restaurants

INShape Indiana

Childhood Lead Poisoning screening

Walking trails

WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT? Legislature

Business and regulated industries

City/county councils

Program partners – advisory boards

Community-based organizations

Advocacy groups

Consumers, priority populations

Other health departments

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES FOR OUR AGENCY??

Discussion

WHO PROVIDES OVERSIGHT OR AUTHORITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY IN DUBOIS COUNTY?

Discussion

IN THE PAST YEAR, HAVE WE BEEN INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES THAT INFLUENCED/INFORMED POLICY PROCESS?

Discussion

Discussion

HOW DO WE ALERT/INFORM POLICY MAKERS AND THE PUBLIC OF THE IMPACT OF PROPOSED POLICIES?

Discussion

DO WE REVIEW OUR POLICIES EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS?

Discussion

ARE WE ENGAGED IN ANY COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROCESSES?

Discussion

HOW DO WE PARTICIPATE WITH OUR SYSTEM PARTNERS IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING?

Discussion

HOW OFTEN DO WE REVIEW AND UPDATE OUR PREPAREDNESS PLANS?

PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS

Raise your hand if you have participated in a Drill to test an emergency plan/policy.

Raise your hand if you have participated in a Tabletop Exercise to test emergency plans/policy .

Raise your hand if you have participated in a Functional Exercise to test emergency plans/policy.

Raise your hand if you have participated in a Full Scale Exercise to test emergency plans/policy.

Discussion

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE AGENCY’S COOP PLAN AND YOUR ROLE IN IT?