Brenda M. Joly, PhD¹, Karen O'Rourke, MPH¹, James F. Leonard, MSW², and Barbara A. Leonard, MPH³. (1) Maine Center for Public Health, 12 Church Street, Augusta, ME 04330, (207) 629-9272, bjoly@mcph.org, (2) Maine Bureau of Health, Diabetes Prevention & Control Program, 11 State House Station, Key Plaza, 4th Floor, Augusta, ME 04333, (3) Division of Community Health, Maine Bureau of Health, 11 State House Station, Key Plaza, 4th Floor, Augusta, ME 04333

Diabetes is a serious public health issue in Maine and nationwide. In an effort to better understand the strengths, gaps, needs and opportunities within Maine’s diabetes system, a rigorous assessment process was undertaken. This systems-based assessment was intended to serve as the impetus for the development of an improvement plan.

The assessment utilized a modified version of the state instrument developed by the National Public Health Performance Standards Program. A diverse statewide assessment team was convened to complete the tool during a three month period in the fall of 2003. Both quantitative and qualitative information were recorded and assessed. An algorithm was used to score quantitative data based on the 10 essential public health services framework.

This presentation will discuss the strengths and limitations of this process, the assessment instrument, and the data collected. Results of the assessment will be shared as well as the dissemination strategies used to distribute and solicit feedback on the findings. The proposed recommendations, lessons learned, and next steps will be discussed. In addition, implications will be addressed for others seeking to conduct a similar systems-based assessment for the purpose of strategic planning.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to

• Identify one strength and one limitation of the assessment process.
• Explain how the 10 essential public health services framework was incorporated into the assessment process.
• Describe how the results of this assessment can be used to guide the development of an improvement plan

Keywords: Diabetes, Assessments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.