MPHA Issue Priority
Local Public Health
Local health departments and boards of health are the front lines of protecting the health and safety of our communities. Local public health responsibilities are broad, ranging from running immunization and health education programs to protecting our food and water supplies.
Emerging public health threats, such as pandemic flu and terrorism, have added new responsibilities to health departments that are already understaffed and overworked. MPHA is a member of the Coalition for Local Public Health, which is advocating for state funding for local public health, a regional structure for local public health, and strengthened workforce development and competency through training and standards.
In 2006, the coalition published a report, Strengthening Local Public Health in Massachusetts, which documented deficiencies in the local public health workforce.
Learn about other priority issues of MPHA.