NACCHO’s Research and Evaluation team is excited to announce the release of the 2017 Forces of Change report, The Changing Public Health Landscape, containing new findings on the forces that are affecting the nation’s local health departments (LHDs).
Results show that although the economic situation is slowly improving for many LHDs, one in five still reported a lower budget in 2017 than in 2016. LHDs are also faced with diverse challenges related to workforce recruitment, including barriers to providing a competitive salary to qualified candidates. Some LHDs are adapting to the changing public health environment by exploring new opportunities for collaboration with community partners. For example, many LHDs reported partnering with the healthcare and education sectors to address issues including opioid and tobacco use. An additional factor influencing LHD operation is the emergence of infectious diseases in the United States, such as Zika virus, which compels a further focus on prevention and response activities to ensure prepared and resilient communities.
Visit www.nacchoprofilestudy.org/forces-of-change to view the report and learn more.
