Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110194

Brent M. Ewig, MHS, Prevention & Health Promotion, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 1275 K Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, 202-371-9090, bewig@astho.org, Mary Shaffran, Principal Director, Public Health Systems, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 1275 K Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, and Kathleen Nolan, MPH, Center for Best Practices, National Governors Association, 444 N. Capitol, Washington, DC 20001.

As states look for ways to improve efficiency and enhance the delivery of public health services, many have considered ways to reform or reorganize their health agency structure. The recent fiscal crisis facing states has prompted additional scrutiny of ways to improve productivity throughout state government. As a result, over 20 states have initiated restructuring plans affecting their health agencies in the past few years. This reorganization may involve internal restructuring, program consolidation or elimination, and policy or operational changes. States also may reorganize at the cabinet-level to address overlapping jurisdictions and improve coordination and efficiency among executive branch agencies. This session will highlight information contained in an issue brief published by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials entitled “Resources for States Considering Health Agency Reorganization.”

After this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the type and extent of public health agency restructuring that has occurred in the past few years.

• Better understand the predominant categorization of health agency structures

• Analyze the link between state health agency organization, public health expenditures, and its effect on local program delivery

• Explore more in depth what is known and unknown about the relationship of health agency organization to program evaluation and health outcomes.

Learning Objectives: