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State and Local Agencies

Author: Sophia
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what's covered
In this lesson, you will learn about state and local health departments and how they contribute to public and community health in the United States. You will also learn about the many services and programs offered by state and local health departments and how school-based health programs also play a vital role in public and community health. Specifically, this lesson will cover the following:

Table of Contents

1. State and Local Public Health Agencies

Like NGOs, state, local, and territorial public health agencies play a role in safeguarding the public’s health. These agencies are described as the backbone of the public health system (Public Health Law Center, 2015). State health departments operate at the state level and often, but not always, serve as the central hub for public health activities within their respective states. Local agencies operate within specific communities, cities, and counties. Some local health departments may cover several counties through agreements with smaller neighboring counties (National Association of County and City Health Officials, 2022). They play a crucial role in safeguarding the health of local residents.

key concept
The state health department’s role is to protect and promote health across the entire state population. Governance functions include policy development that aligns with legal requirements. It is also responsible for resource stewardship, ensuring sufficient resources are available for essential public health services. State health departments also exercise legal authority and understand roles and responsibilities related to legal compliance. Some state health departments oversee the regulation and inspection of health care facilities. They exercise regulatory authority over consequences for failing to comply (Public Health Law Center, 2015). Through partner engagement, state health departments are expected to build strong community partnerships with populations of interest to educate and protect community health.

States have considerable flexibility in defining their public health roles, which results in diverse approaches across the United States. Most state health departments work closely with local health departments, federal agencies, and tribal health agencies to create comprehensive public health networks to address complex public health issues.

Local health departments often share programs and services like their state health departments, but their target populations are residents of the municipality, town, city, township, or borough (Public Health Law Center, 2015). A local health department’s role and regulatory structure can vary as widely as the types and sizes of jurisdictions it covers.

EXAMPLE

A local health department for a large metropolitan area may have services and programs spanning a breadth similar to that of a state health department. A smaller local health department’s services and programs are likely to be narrower.

Both state and local health departments are charged with protecting the health of residents in their jurisdiction.

2. Services and Programs

Some common services and programs that may be offered at state, local, and territorial health departments might include the following:

  • Disease surveillance and epidemiology, which is tracking and monitoring the occurrence of diseases within the state, locality, or territory
  • Investigation of outbreaks and implementation of control measures
  • Immunization programs, including administering vaccinations to prevent communicable diseases and educating the public about vaccination schedules and benefits
  • Vital records services like issuing birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital records
  • Health campaigns to raise awareness about healthy behaviors and provide resources related to nutrition, exercise, and disease prevention
  • Environmental health programs like ensuring safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and food safety and inspecting restaurants, public pools, and other facilities
  • Emergency preparedness, which includes developing plans for natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies and coordinating responses during crises to protect public health
  • Other services and programs, which might include maternal and child health services, tobacco control and substance abuse programs, and health care provider licensing requirement compliance for investigating complaints about providers and enforcing standards
Services vary by state and locality, but these areas represent common functions performed by health departments (Public Health Law Center, 2015).

learn more
Explore more about your state health department at USAGov.

In addition to state and local health department services and programs, local school districts play a role in public and community health by promoting healthy behaviors, preventing chronic disease, and creating a supportive environment for young people. Schools are primary institutions that can reach nearly all youth and have a unique position to improve both education and health status. Tobacco use, unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors are behaviors established during youth. School programs aim to address these risky behaviors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). Rigorous studies have shown that health education in schools reduces health-risk behaviors. Evidence-based programs based on social influence models have led to a reduction in smoking and obesity. Life skills training programs have long-lasting effects on substance use prevention (Fisher et al., n.d.).

learn more
To access information on school health programs, see the School Health Guidelines from the CDC: School Health Guidelines | Healthy Schools | CDC.

A holistic approach to learning and health, featuring interconnected elements such as Family Engagement; Community Involvement; Employee Wellness; Physical Environment; Social & Emotional Climate; Counseling, Psychological, & Social Services; Health Services; Nutrition Environment & Services; Physical Education & Physical Activity; and Health Education. These components contribute to creating an environment that is healthy, safe, challenged, supported, and engaged.

did you know
The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model is a framework developed by the CDC to address health in schools. This student-centered approach focuses on the child and emphasizes the role of the community in supporting the school. The model recognizes the interconnection between health and academic achievement. It has 10 components. The WSCC aims to improve both learning and health in schools.

summary
In this lesson, you learned about state and local public health agencies and their contribution to public and community health. You learned they play a role in safeguarding the public’s health and are described as the backbone of the public health system. You also learned that the state health department’s role is to protect and promote health across the entire state population, while the local health department’s role is to protect and promote the health of residents in local towns, boroughs, municipalities, and cities. The services and programs offered by state and local health departments are similar and predicated on the size of the district in which services are rendered. Some programs and services offered include monitoring and surveillance of disease outbreaks, immunization programs, and maintenance of vital records like birth and death certificates. This lesson also discussed the value of school-based health programs and featured the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model program designed by the CDC.

Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY SOPHIA LEARNING. PLEASE SEE OUR TERMS OF USE.

Disclaimer: The use of any CDC and United States government materials, including any links to the materials on the CDC or government websites, does not imply endorsement by the CDC or the United States government of us, our company, product, facility, service, or enterprise.

REFERENCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Improving school health. www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/schoolhealth.htm

Fisher, C., Hunt, P., Kann, L., Kolbe, L., Patterson, B., & Wechsler, H. (n.d.). Building a healthier future through school health programs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/publications/pdf/PP-Ch9.pdf

National Association of County and City Health Officials. (2022). Local health department profiles. www.naccho.org/resources/lhd-research/national-profile-of-local-health-departments

Public Health Law Center. (2015, April). State & local public health: An overview of regulatory authority. www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/state-local-public-health-overview-regulatory-authority

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