The Role of Boards of Health in Public Health
Abstract
Public health has been impacted in many ways since the beginning of the Covid pandemic and this includes the role that boards of health have in their communities and in the operations of their health departments. Whether advisory boards or governing boards, board members are dealing with the challenges of public threats, how to sustain health department operations, and how to ensure their governance roles are relevant and effective. The National Association of Boards of Health (NALBOH) provides education, information, and advocacy for boards and board of health members across the country. In its educational programs, NALBOH concentrates on the six governance functions which provides the building blocks for board of health members to be effective. The functions include policy development, resource stewardship, legal authority, partner engagement, continuous improvement, and oversight. This presentation will address and expand on these functions as they relate to public health boards. Additionally, NALBOH has been concentrating on providing the tools to deal with attacks, both politically and through the community, to ensure that public health boards remain strong and relative post covid and beyond. This interactive presentation will address these items and provide participants a greater understanding of the roles of boards of health as well as the operations of the National Association of Local Boards of Health.
Keywords
governance, boards, advocacy
The Role of Boards of Health in Public Health
Public health has been impacted in many ways since the beginning of the Covid pandemic and this includes the role that boards of health have in their communities and in the operations of their health departments. Whether advisory boards or governing boards, board members are dealing with the challenges of public threats, how to sustain health department operations, and how to ensure their governance roles are relevant and effective. The National Association of Boards of Health (NALBOH) provides education, information, and advocacy for boards and board of health members across the country. In its educational programs, NALBOH concentrates on the six governance functions which provides the building blocks for board of health members to be effective. The functions include policy development, resource stewardship, legal authority, partner engagement, continuous improvement, and oversight. This presentation will address and expand on these functions as they relate to public health boards. Additionally, NALBOH has been concentrating on providing the tools to deal with attacks, both politically and through the community, to ensure that public health boards remain strong and relative post covid and beyond. This interactive presentation will address these items and provide participants a greater understanding of the roles of boards of health as well as the operations of the National Association of Local Boards of Health.
