SACCHO Benefits

How do local health departments benefit from having a strong statewide association? Read the excerpts below from members in Rockland County, NY, and the North Central (CT) Health District Health Department, which originally appeared in the Spring 2006 NACCHO Exchange.

NY SACCHO: What My SACCHO Does for Me

Joan H. Facelle, MD, MPH, Commissioner of Health, Rockland County (NY) Department of Health

Support. "Monthly meetings provide a forum for peers to provide both regional and state-wide experience and expertise on public health issues. Peer input assists me in multiple areas: program and policy development, personnel issues, and awareness of new medical information and emerging public health trends. Discussions range from formal topical presentations on the agenda to informal exchanges over lunch. Together, our organization has a breadth and depth of experience and expertise that would be tough to mimic in one local health department, no matter how large."

Research. "NYSACHO also serves as a venue to research topics of mutual concern through information gathering, formal presentations by outside speakers, and yearly educational conferences. NYSACHO's professional staff is instrumental in this area. Specialty membership committees, including Communicable Disease, Maternal Child Health, Bioterrorism, Environmental, and Legislative, meet regularly and investigate topics of concern and report back to the general membership. I would never have the time to explore these issues in depth on my own."

Advocacy. "NYSACHO ensures that local public health presents an organized, 'single voice' in response to pending legislation, emerging public health problems, and all issues of common concern. The organization is a much stronger public health advocate than any one of our local health departments could be in isolation. NYSACHO is viewed as a strong and effective public health leader in New York State, both by the New York State Department of Health and by the state Senate and Assembly. For instance NYSACHO opposed pending legislation requiring elimination of thimerosol in all pediatric vaccines in New York State, citing concerns re: vaccine availability in emergencies. We were successful in effecting changes in the legislative language that improved the legislation. Our yearly legislative day, during which we educate our legislative representatives and leaders on public health needs, has kept legislators informed of public health issues. I know that NYSACHO's advocacy has led to sustained and even improved funding to local public health in New York State when budgetary constraints threatened to reduce our allocation. As a result, my department will receive more funding and increased reimbursement. Alone, we would have never been this effective."

Collaboration. "NYSACHO has also facilitated improved collaboration between the New York State Department of Health and local health departments. This collaboration translates into a working relationship that is strong and effective, benefiting all. NYSACHO has ensured that local health departments are represented as full partners in program and policy decisions that affect us. This is accomplished through regular presentations by NYSDOH program staff, representation in NYSDOH workgroups (examples include emergency planning workgroups, performance indicator development, general public health work policy, and even planning for spending of federal grant allocations), and close relationships with state program and policy leaders. This level of collaboration keeps the voice of local public health always present as decisions are made. From the NYSDOH perspective, our organization provides an efficient means to disseminate information, ensure local health department participation, and engender support for new programs and initiatives."

Capacity to leverage resources. "Rather than every county attempting to conduct trainings and seminars locally, NYSACHO assists through designated funding from the NYSDOH to conduct these regionally with consistent content. NYSACHO also assists local departments in collaborating to obtain equipment and resources. NYSACHO is also the voice of local public health in New York State at the national level. Our dues ensure that local public health is represented at NACCHO, ASTHO and other national meetings of significance. This provides the opportunity for local officials to attend events they might not be able to fund on their own. I have been able to attend several national conferences with NYSACHO sponsorship."

Connecticut Association of Directors of Health: How Do I Benefit from My SACCHO?

Bill Blitz, MPH, MUP, RS, Director of Public Health, North Central (CT) Health District Health Department

Speaking with one voice. "In the past, it has been difficult for any individual health department in Connecticut to influence state-level policy changes, as the state—with 169 towns—has many local health departments as well as districts of varying sizes, populations, and influence. A more powerful voice was needed, one in which all health departments could speak as one. The Connecticut Association of Directors of Health (CADH) now provides that voice. As a collective voice, CADH has the ability to successfully advocate at the legislative level and with other state organizations, such as the Connecticut Department of Public Health, to influence policy changes and secure funding necessary to meet local public health needs."

Sharing resources. "As a local health director, I benefit from the discussions, talents, and expertise that each health director brings to the CADH committee, board, and membership meetings. These sessions include timely education and training sessions, presentations, and guest speakers, as well as the sharing of model practices, resources, and tools among all of Connecticut's local public health departments. This sharing has become increasingly important as we have been tasked with the vast responsibility of emergency response preparedness planning. Public health has been thrust into leading local emergency response planning efforts with little training and limited resources. CADH has served as the vital catalyst to the success of Connecticut's local recruitment of trained public health staff and volunteers. CADH has been instrumental in developing and providing training opportunities to support components of the planning process."

Other benefits. "There are many other benefits to having a state SACCHO such as CADH. It connects local health departments more closely with the latest information from NACCHO. It has the potential to provide for multi-state meetings on common problems and affords a means of staying connected to those who cannot get to the annual NACCHO meeting. Furthermore, our SACCHO, as well as our representatives to NACCHO, ensure that the voice of Connecticut health directors is heard at the national level."

Excerpts from NACCHO Exchange, Vol. 6, Issue 2.