School Partnerships with Local Health Departments

The 2019 National Profile of Local Health Departments (LHDs) prepared by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in the US reported on several aspects of LHD practices. THe reported noted that:

• 98% of LHDs had partnerships with local school districts that only shared information, with the direction of exchange of information being about equal
  
• 71% of LHDs had partnerships with local school districts that included regularly scheduling meetings, have written agreements, or share personnel/resources with organization
  
• 35% of the LHD employees were assigned to community health (5,600 in total for all responding LHDs)
  
• 59% of LHD employees were assigned as health educators (7500 in total for all responding LHDs)
  
• 72% of lHDs provided support to schools and daycare centers
  
• 37% of lHDs provided  health services in schools   
  

ISHN Comments: Most analyses and monitoring of school health programming is done with a focus on school districts and the education system. This type of analysis of the rile of health ministries and local health departments requires more attention.

Click here for the full copy of the report