Public Health Finance
The sustainability of the governmental public health system depends on the financial health of state and local public health agencies. This is a challenge because public health programs and services are often provided in fiscally strapped environments (e.g., government revenue declines, budget reductions, economic recessions, unfunded mandates). NACCHO's research and engagement with local health departments (LHDs) across the country provides a national perspective on the local public health financial situation. This website provides resources to help LHDs sharpen their big picture understanding of local public health finance and enhance their individual organizational financial health.
Public Health Infrastructure
Financial Strategic Planning for Local Health Departments
This resource includes information about how local health departments approach financial strategic planning, and an outline of the core steps.
Public Health Infrastructure
Financial Strategic Planning for Local Health Departments
Innovation Snapshots and Webinar Series
The Innovation Snapshots describe the benefits, considerations, and case examples of seven funding mechanisms that local health departments use to address local community needs and limited funding. NACCHO conducted a systematic literature review and key informant interviews with local health departments to learn about these methods: 501(c)3 Backbones for Community Health Coalitions, Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing, Community Based Organizations, Budgeting, Braiding and Blended Funding, and Local Foundations.
NACCHO hosted a three-part webinar series with presentations from the local health departments featured in the Snapshots to describe their work and tips for implementing the innovations.
The goal of the 501(c)3 Decision Guide is to increase local health departments’ (LHDs’) knowledge of the advantages, disadvantages, and considerations of formalizing a community health coalition under 501(c)(3) nonprofit status through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to assist with their community health improvement (CHI) efforts. Download the Decision Guide and view the accompanying webinar via the link below.
With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NACCHO worked with JP Leider, PhD and Jason Orr, MPH to conduct interviews and develop case studies of three local health departments to understand how the federal grants and cooperative agreements from the CDC make their way to local health departments across the country. These case studies discuss the importance of characterizing requirements and synthesize learnings on delivering upon agreements and the impacts of facilitating and impeding requirements.
A multi-county health department in the Southeast region of the United States, serving a largely rural population greater than 200,000.
A midwest region of the United States, serving a semi-urban population greater than 200,000.
A local health department serving an urban population greater than one million.
Join the Local Public Health Finance Community of Practice (CoP)!
The purpose of the CoP is for local health department finance staff to connect with their peers, share resources, discuss common challenges, and provide insight into the needs of local public health finance nationwide.
The CoP meets quarterly. To learn more and register for upcoming meetings, join the Virtual Community.
Summaries of select Community of Practice meetings are available below.
- eLearning Courses and Programs to Build Financial Knowledge and Skills to Support Public Health: The courses within strengthen financial and resource management skills that recognize the importance of innovation, systems thinking, and problem-solving to best meet public health needs.
- "Anatomy of a Public Health Agency Turnaround: The Case of the General Health District in Mahoning County" examines methods used by LHDs to reverse periods of financial and operational declines. (Journal of Public Health Management and Practice).
- For the Public's Health: Investing in a Healthier Future (2012) examines public health measurement, law, and funding in this three-report series with actionable recommendations for agencies and stakeholders.
- Public Health Finance & Management provides access to information and training around financial management in public health.
- "Public Health Financial Management Competencies" can be used to help refine position descriptions, assess performance, identify gaps and create programs. (Journal of Public Health Management and Practice).
- Public Health National Center for Innovations is a division of the Public Health Accreditation Board providing trainings, tools, and opportunities to connect across sectors.
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For more information on public health finance, you can email [email protected].