WHAT WILL THE PARTNERSHIP DO?

The Partnership for Public Health in Lancaster County exists to find unique local solutions to the public health challenges the county faces. In the face of increasing threats of disease outbreaks, municipalities struggling to resolve sewer challenges, and decreasing resources from State departments to provide services in our county, the Partnership is committed to a public/private partnership that reduces fragmentation and improves the health of residents. The Partnership relies on the engagement of diverse organizations that provide the underlying support needed to ensure its success.

The goals of the Partnership are to address public health concerns by fulfilling the following functions:

• Centralize public health information, research, and concerns
• Convene information, people, and funding to address public health priorities
• Disseminate public health information
• Coordinate efforts and resources to address public health priorities
• Document barriers to effective delivery of public health services
• Assure that state provided public health services align with the needs of Lancaster County
• Demonstrate the importance and efficacy of the need for an organized approach to address county-wide public health needs and priorities

The goals will be pursued through an organizational structure that brings together a wide range of community partners interested in addressing public health issues, governed by an oversight board and administered by paid staff with physician leadership, but put into action through focused work groups composed of individuals and organizations with public health-related expertise;

OVERSIGHT BOARD

1. Hire and support the administrator
2. Provide strategic direction and objectives for the Partnership
3. Connect the larger community to public health concerns; oversee and set expectations for increased public awareness of public health issues
4. Research and identify best option for organizing and sustaining public health activities in the county
5. Assure the inclusion of medical and environmental expertise and input
6. Provide general governance and oversight to assure fiscal and mission integrity

ADMINISTRATION

1. Support to oversight board
2. Support to work groups - identify chair and members, attend meetings, secure resources and information to achieve goals
3. Supervise work of support staff
4. Manage and secure data for work groups
5. Secure funding for new initiatives and ongoing support for the Partnership
6. Disseminate information about public health issues; maintain an up-to-date website
7. Provide information and referral for general public for public health
8. Be the public face for public health

WORKGROUPS - Work groups target public health issues in focused areas to coordinate and augment existing efforts, composed of those participants needed to achieve stated goals:

• Adult and children/schools/retirement communities - promotion and prevention
• Environment - water, sewer, air, food safety, vectors
• Emergency/pandemic - preparedness, H1N1
• Administrative/organizational structure/steering - location, staffing, funding, advocacy, governance

Function/Activities

1. Identify priorities - public health issues that are not adequately addressed or coordinated
2. Explore research - extent of problem, current services, unmet needs
3. Develop goals and achievable outcomes - focused and well defined
4. Identify group participants - organizations/providers or individuals
5. Identify barriers - systemic changes needed, funding shortage, advocacy/education needed
6. Work toward goals until achieved; then move on to something else

IMPLEMENTATION STEPS AND TIMELINE

1.	Secure endorsement and MOU from funding and supporting partners -
	ongoing
2.	Seat Oversight Board & hold first meeting - June 2010
	a. Determine oversight structure   b. Formalize mission and goals (purpose, scope, and function)   c. Develop and approve budget   d. Establish priorities and focus for work groups
3.	Populate work groups and identify leaders - September 2010
4.	Hold first meeting of work groups - October 2010