Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Board

1. Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Board Accomplishments and Advantages

2. History • WALHDAB is the result of the merger of two organizations in 1997: • Wisconsin Association of Health Officers and Boards • Wisconsin Conference of Local Public Health Officials

3. Purpose To be the statewide voice for local public health.

4. Vision • WALHDAB: • Is a strong and respected organization. • Identifies priorities and develops position statements and actions that help to shape and drive public health planning and policy in the state. • Serves as the primary voice for local public health. • Supports and promotes local public health practice and workforce development and advocates for sufficient, flexible and sustainable funding for local health departments. • Has Board of health members and health administrators who are equally active, and members rally around the positions and activities of the organization.

5. Organizational Structure • All local health departments are members of WALHDAB • All board of health members are members of WALHDAB (via their health department)

6. WALHDAB Regions Source: Wisconsin Division of Public Health website: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/localhealth/

7. Organizational Structure • WALHDAB supports three sections: • Public Health Laboratory Network • Environmental Health • Nutrition

8. Strategic Plan (2007-2009) • WALHDAB’s strategic plan outlines these key objectives: • Strengthen advocacy efforts • Educate local board of health members regarding WALHDAB’s vision and goals • Strengthen organizational infrastructure • Build stronger partnerships to protect and promote the public’s health • Improve member services to develop workforce and improve local practice

9. Key Activities • Educate • Advocate • Develop partnerships • Develop the workforce and improve practice

10. Victories • Education • WPHA-WALHDAB Annual Conference • New Board of Health member orientation/training

11. Victories (cont’d) • Advocacy (with Wisconsin Public Health Association): • State budget • Primary enforcement of seat belt laws • Increase in cigarette tax • Smoke-free indoor air • Expansion of Family Planning Waiver for males • Ability of school districts to exceed revenue caps for school nurses (contracted or employed) • Funding for the School of Public Health at UW-Milwaukee

12. Victories (cont’d) • Develop partnerships • Multi-State Learning Collaborative – accreditation • Practice-Based Research Network grant • Public Affairs and Annual Conference (with WPHA)

13. Victories (cont’d) • Develop the workforce and improve practice • Multi-State Learning Collaborative – accreditation • Annual conference

14. Why WALHDAB? • All politics is local • WALHDAB tracks key legislative issues • WALHDAB advocates at the state level for local priorities • WALHDAB organizes advocacy efforts

15. Why WALHDAB? • Efficient use of resources • WALHDAB has the experience and capacity to efficiently plan for and conduct advocacy and education/training efforts

16. Why WALHDAB? • Education/Training • Annual new Board of Health member orientation • Annual conference

17. Why WALHDAB? • Networking • Regular regional and statewide opportunities for networking • Board meetings • Regional meetings • Various committees and sections • Annual Conference

18. Why WALHDAB? • Improve public health practice • Sharing of local policies • Sharing of “best practices” and learnings • Collectively addressing complex issues

19. Hot Happenings • Multi-State Learning Collaborative • Public Health Practice-Based Research Network • Legislative agenda • Conference planning

20. This is YOUR Organization – Get Involved! • All board of health members are members of WALHDAB through their local health department.

21. This is YOUR Organization – Get Involved! • Wisconsin statutes (251.04) state that Boards of Health shall: • “… advocate for the provision of reasonable and necessary public health services.” • “Develop policy and provide leadership that fosters local involvement and commitment, that emphasizes public health needs and that advocates for equitable distribution of public health resources …. “ • “… assure that measures are taken to provide an environment in which individuals can be healthy.”

22. This is YOUR Organization – Get Involved! • Opportunities for you: • Help to create a legislative agenda • Stay current on policy issues • Plan educational programs • Attend regional, state and/or national meetings • Attend the annual meeting, where policy platforms are decided upon • Stay informed through alerts, conferences, etc. YOU can benefit from the organization and contribute to it – simultaneously!

23. For More Information • www.walhdab.org – provides more on: • Organizational structure • News and updates • Legislative agenda • Conferences • Special projects/initiatives • Resources – e.g., links to statutes, local health departments, accreditation information, etc.

24. For More Information…. • Call 920.560.5635 • Talk with your local health officer