scholarly journals Assessing perceptions and priorities for health impacts of climate change within local Michigan health departments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Carter ◽  
Patricia D. Koman ◽  
Lorraine Cameron ◽  
Aaron Ferguson ◽  
Patrick Jacuzzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Local Impacts ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

AbstractClimate change affects Michigan’s public health in several primary ways, including increased incidences of vector-borne, waterborne, heat-related, and respiratory illness. Because local health departments (LHDs) play a central role in surveillance and preventative health services, they are among the first institutions to contend with the local impacts of climate change. To assess current perceptions among Michigan public health officials, an online survey was conducted in partnership with the Michigan Association for Local Public Health (MALPH). Most of the Michigan respondents (62%, n = 34) agreed that their jurisdictions have experienced climate change in the last 20 years, and 77% agreed that climate change will impact their jurisdictions in the coming 20 years. However, only 35% (n = 34) of Michigan officials agreed that climate change is a priority in their departments. About one quarter (25%, n = 34) of Michigan LHD respondents did not know about the level of expertise of either the state and federal agencies, responsible for assisting them with information and programs related to climate change and health. Uncertainty regarding the resources available to them may hinder LHDs from developing necessary preparedness, so meeting this need could bolster the public health response to climate change.

scholarly journals Training and Incorporating Students in SARS-CoV-2 Case Investigations and Contact Tracing

2020 ◽  
pp. 003335492097466
Author(s):  
Kristen Pogreba Brown ◽  
Erika Austhof ◽  
Ayeisha M. Rosa Hernández ◽  
Caitlyn McFadden ◽  
Kylie Boyd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Call Center ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
Data Quality Control ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Response

Objectives In June 2020, Arizona had the fastest-growing number of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. As part of the growing public health response, the University of Arizona Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response (SAFER) team was able to modify and increase case investigation efforts to assist local health departments. We outline the recommended logistical and management steps to include students in a public health response of this scope. Methods From April 1 through September 1, 2020, the SAFER team identified key components of a successful student team response: volunteer training, management that allows more senior students to manage newer students, adoption of case-management software, and use of an online survey platform for students to conduct interviews consistently and allow for data quality control and management. Results From April 1 through September 1, 2020, SAFER worked with 3 local health departments to complete 1910 COVID-19 case investigations through a virtual call center. A total of 233 volunteers and 46 hourly student workers and staff members were involved. As of September 2020, students were completing >150 interviews per week, including contact-tracing efforts. Practice Implications Developing relationships between applied public health and academic programs can relieve the burden of low-risk, high-volume case investigations at local and state health departments. Furthermore, by establishing a virtual call center, health sciences faculty and students can volunteer remotely during a pandemic with no additional risk of infection.

scholarly journals A Public Health Learning Collaborative on Climate Change for Urban Health Departments, 2016-2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Rudolph ◽  
Neil Maizlish ◽  
Savannah North ◽  
Kathy Dervin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Partnerships ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Learning Collaborative ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Vulnerability Assessments

Objectives: The objective of this project was to demonstrate and assess approaches of urban local health departments (LHDs) to simultaneously address climate change, health, and equity; incorporate climate change into program practice; and participate in their jurisdiction’s climate change work. Methods: From January 2016 through March 2018, the Center for Climate Change and Health created learning activities, networking and relationship-building opportunities, communication platforms, and information sharing for 12 urban LHDs in the United States. We used administrative data and conducted interviews with participants and key informants to assess success in meeting learning collaborative goals. Results: LHDs developed diverse projects that incorporated internal capacity building, climate and health vulnerability assessments, surveillance, and community engagement. Projects fostered greater LHD engagement on climate change, broadened community partnerships, and furthered LHD integration into jurisdictions’ climate planning. LHD engagement helped shift the dialogue in the community and jurisdiction about climate change to include public health. Conclusions: LHDs have skills and expertise to rapidly partner with other governmental agencies and community-based organizations and to help communities identify vulnerabilities, take action to reduce the health harms of climate change, and—through Health in All Policies approaches and community partnerships—to ensure that climate policies are optimized for positive health and equity outcomes.

TRENDS

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1951 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-261
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Child Health Services ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Clinical Session ◽  
Study Results

A MONTH ago in this column, we drew attention to the status of the Local Public Health Units Bill as it stood in early December in the 81st Congress. We have been watching with special interest the further course of this Bill in view of its direct relationship to the oft' expressed objective of the Academy to extend child health services into areas of need. One of the needs most clearly demonstrated by the Academy's study results from the inequity of health services in rural and isolated areas in comparison with metropolitan areas. The Local Public Health Units Bill proposes to stimulate the development of local health departments, one of the recognized functions of which would be an extension of maternal and child health services. The support which this Bill has received and the fate of this Bill in the 81st Congress may be summarized by the following quotations: In his presidential address, presented at the Fourth Annual Clinical Session of the AMA in Cleveland, December 5 to 8, Dr. E. L. Henderson said: "The American Medical Association has long believed that the existence of effective and properly operated public health units is basic to the maintenance and improvement of the health of the people. As early as 1883, a report was made at the annual meeting of the Association covering a survey conducted to ascertain what states and counties had health departments.

scholarly journals Development of a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Using a Public Health Lens to Determine Local Health Vulnerabilities: An Ontario Health Unit Experience

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan Levison ◽  
Ainslie Butler ◽  
Steven Rebellato ◽  
Brenda Armstrong ◽  
Marina Whelan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Vulnerability Assessment ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Local Public Health

Climate change is negatively impacting the health of Canadians and is accordingly expected to have a significant impact on public health agencies and their response to these health impacts throughout the twenty-first century. While national and international research and assessments have explored the potential human health impacts of climate change, few assessments have explored the implications of climate change from a local public health perspective. An applied research approach to expand local knowledge and action of health vulnerabilities through a climate change action plan and vulnerability assessment was utilized by a local public health agency. Adoption and adaptation of the approach used may be valuable for public health organizations to assist their communities. Through completing a vulnerability assessment, an evidentiary base was generated for public health to inform adaptation actions to reduce negative health impacts and increase resiliency. Challenges in completing vulnerability assessments at the local level include the framing and scoping of health impacts and associated indicators, as well as access to internal expertise surrounding the analysis of data. While access to quantitative data may be limiting at the local level, qualitative data can enhance knowledge of local impacts, while also supporting the creation of key partnerships with community stakeholders which can ensure climate action continues beyond the scope of the vulnerability assessment.

Examining Public Health Workers’ Perceptions Toward Participating in Disaster Recovery After Hurricane Sandy: A Quantitative Assessment

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-377
Author(s):  
Nicole A. Errett ◽  
Carol B. Thompson ◽  
Lainie Rutkow ◽  
Stephanie Garrity ◽  
Kandra Stauss-Riggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Workers

AbstractObjectiveWe aimed to quantitatively gauge local public health workers’ perceptions toward disaster recovery role expectations among jurisdictions in New Jersey and Maryland affected by Hurricane Sandy.MethodsAn online survey was made available in 2014 to all employees in 8 Maryland and New Jersey local health departments whose jurisdictions had been impacted by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The survey included perceptions of their actual disaster recovery involvement across 3 phases: days to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years. The survey also queried about their perceptions about future involvement and future available support.ResultsSixty-four percent of the 1047 potential staff responded to the survey (n=669). Across the 3 phases, 72% to 74% of the pre-Hurricane Sandy hires knew their roles in disaster recovery, 73% to 75% indicated confidence in their assigned roles (self-efficacy), and 58% to 63% indicated that their participation made a difference (response efficacy). Of the respondents who did not think it likely that they would be asked to participate in future disaster recovery efforts (n=70), 39% indicated a willingness to participate.ConclusionThe marked gaps identified in local public health workers’ awareness of, sense of efficacy toward, and willingness to participate in disaster recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy represent a significant infrastructural concern of policy and programmatic relevance. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:371–377)

scholarly journals Local Decision Making for Implementing Social Distancing in Response to Outbreaks

2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Katz ◽  
Andrea Vaught ◽  
Samuel J. Simmens
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Local Decision ◽  
Population Demographic

Objectives: Social distancing is the practice of restricting contact among persons to prevent the spread of infection. This study sought to (1) identify key features of preparedness and the primary concerns of local public health officials in deciding to implement social distancing measures and (2) determine whether any particular factor could explain the widespread variation among health departments in responses to past outbreaks. Methods: We conducted an online survey of health departments in the United States in 2015 to understand factors influencing health departments’ decision making when choosing whether to implement social distancing measures. We paired survey results with data on area population demographic characteristics and analyzed them with a focus on broad trends. Results: Of 600 health departments contacted, 150 (25%) responded. Of these 150 health departments, 63 (42%) indicated that they had implemented social distancing in the past 10 years. Only 10 (7%) health departments had a line-item budget for isolation or quarantine. The most common concern about social distancing was public health impact (n = 62, 41%). Concerns about law, politics, finances, vulnerable populations, and sociocultural issues were each identified by 7% to 10% of health departments. We were unable to clearly predict which factors would influence these decisions. Conclusions: Variations in the decision to implement social distancing are likely the result of differences in organizational authority and resources and in the primary concerns about implementing social distancing. Research and current social distancing guidelines for health departments should address these factors.

Dissemination of Information About Climate Change by State and Local Public Health Departments: United States, 2019–2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (8) ◽  
pp. 1184-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Albright ◽  
Pari Shah ◽  
Melodie Santodomingo ◽  
Jean Scandlyn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Climate Change Information ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Local Public Health Departments

Objectives. To determine if and how state and local public health departments present information about climate change on their Web sites, their most public-facing platform. Methods. We collected data from every functioning state (n = 50), county (n = 2090), and city (n = 585) public health department Web site in the United States in 2019 and 2020. We analyzed data for presence and type of climate-related content and to determine whether there existed clear ways to find climate change information. We analyzed Web sites providing original content about climate change for explanatory or attributional language. Results. Fewer than half (40%) of state health department Web sites, and only 1.6% of county and 3.9% of city Web sites, provided clear ways to find climate change information, whether through provision of original content or links to external agencies’ Web sites. Among Web sites providing original content, 48% provided no explanation of climate change causes. Conclusions. National and global public health associations have identified climate change as a public health emergency, but most state and local public health departments are not delivering that message. These departments must be better supported to facilitate dissemination of reliable, scientific information about climate change and its effects on health.

scholarly journals Evidence that collaborative action between local health departments and nonprofit hospitals helps foster healthy behaviors in communities: a multilevel study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geri Rosen Cramer ◽  
Gary J. Young ◽  
Simone Singh ◽  
Jean McGuire ◽  
Daniel Kim
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
Vigorous Exercise ◽  
Nonprofit Hospitals ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Individual Level

Abstract Background The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) encouraged nonprofit hospitals to collaborate with local public health experts in the conduct of community health needs assessments (CHNAs) for the larger goal of improving community health. Yet, little is known about whether collaborations between local health departments and hospitals may be beneficial to community health. In this study, we investigated whether individuals residing in communities with stronger collaboration between nonprofit hospitals and local public health departments (LHDs) reported healthier behaviors. We further explored whether social capital acts as a moderating factor of these relationships. Methods We used multilevel cross-sectional models, controlling for both individual and community-level factors to explore LHD-hospital collaboration (measured in the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Forces of Change Survey), in relation to individual-level health behaviors in 56,826 adults living in 32 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, captured through the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) SMART dataset. Nine health behaviors were examined including vigorous exercise, eating fruits and vegetables, smoking and binge drinking. Social capital, measured using an index developed by the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, was also explored as an effect modifier of these relationships. Results Stronger collaboration between nonprofit hospitals and LHDs was associated with not smoking (odds ratio, OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.58), eating vegetables daily (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.57), and vigorous exercise (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.30). The presence of higher social capital also strengthened the relationships between LHD-hospital collaborations and wearing a seatbelt (p for interaction = 0.01) and general exercise (p for interaction = 0.03). Conclusions Stronger collaboration between nonprofit hospitals and LHDs was positively associated with healthier individual-level behaviors. Social capital may also play a moderating role in improving individual and population health.

scholarly journals Performance and Priorities: A Cross-sectional Study of Local Health Department Approaches to Essential Public Health Services

2019 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Wallace ◽  
Joshua Sharfstein ◽  
Justin Lessler
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Essential Public Health Services ◽  
Per Capita

Objectives: Despite a push for increased local public health capacity, no clear baseline for performance of local health departments (LHDs) exists. The objectives of this study were to quantify the self-reported performance of LHDs on the 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHSs) and describe the relationships between performance and characteristics of LHDs. Methods: We used data on 2000 LHDs from the 2013 National Profile of Local Health Departments survey to develop principal components analysis–based scores to evaluate each LHD on the performance of EPHSs. Scores ranged from 0 to 100. LHDs that performed no activities within an EPHS had a score of 0, and LHDs that performed all activities within an EPHS had a score of 100. We explored the relationships between EPHS scores and LHD characteristics by using multivariate linear regression and cluster analysis. Results: Performance scores varied greatly by LHDs and EPHSs; however, LHDs typically scored <50, indicating that they performed fewer than half of the activities evaluated. LHDs that served larger populations (vs smaller populations) and LHDs that had higher per-capita funding (vs lower per-capita funding) had higher EPHS scores. We identified 6 EPHS performance score–based LHD clusters, which suggests similarities in which EPHSs LHDs focused on. Conclusions: Our results suggest weaknesses in many LHDs’ fulfillment of the EPHSs, particularly in low-population and low-funding settings. LHDs should be given the resources to increase capacity and ensure the EPHSs are met in communities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document