Mississippi has a centrally-organized, statewide public health system, with official public policy-making authority vested in a thirteen member, gubernatorially appointed State Board of Health. Historically, public health policy was developed in compliance with the state's Administrative Procedures Act, but incorporated limited strategic planning. Utilizing the Dever model of health planning, the state health department has restructured its process so as to strategically partner these formal public health policy makers with field experts, the health care community, the media, and the general public. Identifying best practices in a field of expertise, and utilizing the energies derived from the dynamics and diversities of political agendas, Mississippi has successfully field tested this approach in these areas: (1) utilization of tobacco settlement funds; (2) planning for the long-term care needs of the state's citizens; (3) funding for public health infrastructure; (4) development of a statewide trauma care system; (5) assessment of the state's capacity for assuring quality of care; as well as others. This presentation will focus on the components of the model applied to a public health system's approach to partnering for health improvement in the state. Roles of each of the partners, including identification of role discrepancies, and a targeted approach to mobilizing policy makers for action will be described, utilizing specific examples from policy conception through development to implementation of public health policies and legislation.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe a working model of public health policy development that emphasizes community and field involvment. 2. Describe past and ongoing examples of application of public health policy development model for health improvement. 3. Describe role development and potential role conflicts when implementing model approach to public health policy development
Keywords: Public Health Policy,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.