Today marks the beginning of National Public Health Week 2020. Recognition of our county and city health departments and the public health professionals who serve in those departments across the country is no more important than it is today, especially at this crucial juncture in our fight against COVID-19. Please know at the same time you are battling this terrible disease in your communities, NACCHO is battling alongside you -- to elevate your role in this response and to gain understanding, recognition and support for you and for your work across the public health system.

“Our members are the lifeblood of this organization, without whom we would cease to exist. We’ve got your backs.”

We assume this task with utmost seriousness and relentless energy. We work hard for you because NACCHO IS you. Our members are the lifeblood of this organization, without whom we would cease to exist. We’ve got your backs.

NACCHO will continue to be activated at its highest level for the COVID-19 response, with its full Incident Command Structure comprising staff from across the organization. This essentially means that we maintain situational awareness, at both the national/federal and local level; facilitate the sharing of information from the federal to the local level; understand and be responsive to member needs and requests; convey the critical role of local health departments during emerging infectious disease outbreaks; and identify resources to support NACCHO’s response activities.

We invite all of our members to take advantage of NACCHO’s dedicated COVID-19 Virtual Community, where best practices can be shared and LHDs can learn from each other about ways to respond. (Note: All LHO and Preparedness Coordinators have been provided with access.) We have begun weekly calls with key NACCHO workgroups and periodic all LHO calls to facilitate real-time discussion and feedback related to the ongoing response.

NACCHO is currently advocating for funding for the response to COVID-19, increased support for the public health workforce through the establishment of a loan repayment program, and mandatory funding for public health infrastructure. For information about funding that has already been approved by Congress and signed by the President, see the COVID-19 information on our funding page. We also invite you to take action and advocate for future funding on our “Take Action” page. For all the latest actions in Washington pertaining to public health and local health departments, please sign up for our News from Washington weekly email.

NACCHO is continually striving to support the public health response in localities and states. To inform this work and help us to amplify the work of public health during this challenging time, please continue to let us know how your department is handling COVID-19 by completing this brief form. You may submit subsequent updates to your responses at any time.

For up-to-the-minute news and information about COVID-19 and other public health issues, go to NACCHO’s Twitter feed, @nacchoalerts. For those seeking the latest comprehensive information about COVID-19, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov.

Please be well and be safe and thank you for all you do, on behalf of our country. We need you.

Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO, NACCHO