New ASTHO Publication Highlights the Critical Role of Public Health Agencies in the Governmental Public Health Enterprise

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Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

Oct 19, 2011, 05:59 ET

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If you want a better understanding of the governmental public health enterprise and the contributions state and territorial health agencies make to public health, the recently released ASTHO Profile of State Public Health, Volume Two is your best resource. This publication, produced by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), gives critical insight into how governmental public health is structured and organized at the state and territorial level and is an unparalleled data source on state and territorial health agency responsibilities, resources, planning and quality improvement activities, and information exchange methods.

"Reliable and comprehensive data is one of the best ways to demonstrate the value of public health to this nation," said ASTHO Executive Director Paul Jarris. "At ASTHO, we rely heavily upon research results and high-quality data to inform public policy and respond to inquiries from our federal and state partners. This report helps our members, their staff, policy-makers, researchers, and public health practitioners understand and articulate the importance and scope of state public health and the best way to improve it."

This report—which builds on results published in ASTHO Profile of State Public Health, Volume One— is based on information captured in ASTHO's 2010 Profile Survey, documenting the structure, functions and resources of state and territorial health agencies. It provides a top 20 list of the most significant, timely and relevant findings from the survey; in-depth analysis on topics such as public health agency structure, organization, governance, workforce, finance, accreditation readiness, and health information systems and technology; and compares the roles and activities of state and territorial public health agencies.

Senior deputies in health agencies in the 50 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia participated. The survey and this report were funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ASTHO thanks its members for devoting time and effort to completing the comprehensive survey and its funding partners for their vision and support in the development, production, and publication of this report.

ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia, as well as the 120,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice.

SOURCE Association of State and Territorial Health Officials