National Profile of Local Health Departments, [United States], 2019

Conducted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the purpose of this survey of local health departments (LHDs) was to advance and support the development of a database for LHDs to describe and understand their structure, function, and capacities. A core set of questions was submitted to every LHD. In addition, some LHDs received one of two randomly assigned modules of supplemental questions. The core questions covered governance, funding, workforce (staffing levels, occupations employed, top executive education and licensure), LHD activities, community health assessment and health improvement planning, accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board, and policy-making and advocacy. The surveyed LHD activities include immunization, screening for diseases and conditions, treatment for communicable diseases, maternal and child health, epidemiology and surveillance activities, population-based primary prevention activities, and regulation, inspection and/or licensing activities. Topics covered by Module 1 included LHD interaction with academic institutions, Partnerships and collaboration, Cross-jurisdictional sharing of services, Emergency preparedness, and Access to healthcare services. Module 2 examined additional issues related to jurisdiction and governance, community health assessment and planning, human resources issues, quality improvement, public health informatics, and use of the Community Guide of Preventive Services.