NEHA to Analyze Input to Develop National Benchmarks for Local Department Infrastructure
December 3, 2024
Thank you to those who took the time to share their opinions and feedback on our Local Environmental Public Health Department Structure Survey. We received an overwhelming response, with over 500 submissions from agency management and staff across 45 U.S. states, all united in the mission to protect public health and our environment.
The survey gathered thoughts on the ideal conditions needed to support various environmental public health programs, focusing on:
- Program Staffing: Optimal number of staff required for effective program management.
- Program Equipment: Essential tools and equipment for program success.
- Staff Knowledge, Competencies, and Training: Key education, training, and competencies needed for staff to excel in environmental public health programs.
The input we received will help shape the future of environmental public health departments and guide us in developing national benchmarks for a more effective and well-supported environmental public health infrastructure.
In our next phase, we will be analyzing and comparing the data to understand the developmental and structural needs of local environmental public health departments. We will announce our results, conclusions, and recommendations, focusing on standardized benchmarks in program staffing, equipment, staff education, competencies, training, and more, derived from the survey.