Department of State Health Services Public Health in Texas

Objectives Provide an overview of public health Describe the public health system DSHS Programs Questions?

Public Health What is it?

The Vision of Public Health A Healthy Texas The Mission of Public Health To improve health and well-being in Texas

Goals of Public Health Prevent epidemics and the spread of disease Protect against environmental hazards Prevent injuries Promote healthy behaviors Respond to disasters and assist in recovery Assure quality and accessibility of health services

Communicable Disease Control Measures/Quarantine Quick health department action to quarantine diphtheria—but it's only a rope. (Urban Archives, Temple University, Philadelphia PA) Taken from: The Pew Charitable Trusts: Trust Magazine Article “Sick with Opportunity” by Marshall A Ledger, January 1999

PUBLIC HEALTH “An organized community effort aimed at the prevention of disease and the promotion of health” Public health affects all of us, all of the time. Public health efforts have increased the average life span by nearly 30 years during the past century.

3 Core Functions of Public Health and 10 Essential Services of Public Health

Public Health Infrastructure The human, organizational, information, and fiscal resources of the public health system that provide the capacity for the system to carry out its function.

Public Health System… Includes health departments, private organizations, practitioners, other public agencies, and the community at large Prioritizes the health of communities Assess the health of communities, develop policy, and ensure that services are provided

Public Health vs. Health Care Public Health Concerned with population as a whole Prevent disease and injury to population Public health is not medical treatment for the poor Health Care Provide services to individual consumers Prevent, delay, and treat disease, injury in individuals

“Public health agencies are a lot like fire departments. They teach and practice prevention at the same time they maintain readiness to take on emergencies. They are most successful – and least noticed – when their prevention measures work the best.” 1998 Public Health Improvement Plan, Washington State Department of Health

New Ventures in Public Health  Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Planning  Local public health leadership development through community health improvement and health disparity improvement projects

Changes in the Texas Public Health System

H.B th Legislature Realigns operations of the existing 12 Health and Human Services Agencies by consolidating similar functions within 4 agencies. The agencies within the Health and Human Services (HHSC) system will be: Department of State Health Services Department of Aging and Disability Services Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Department of Family and Protective Services

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services  Rehabilitation Services  Blind and Visually Impaired Services  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services  Early Childhood Intervention Services Including consolidation of TCDHH, TRC, TCB and ECI

Department of Aging and Disability Services  Mental Retardation Services  State Schools  Community Services  Community Care Services  Nursing Home Services  Aging Services Including consolidation of MHMR, TXoA, DHS

Department of Family and Protective Services  Child Protective Services  Adult Protective Services  Child Care Regulatory Services Including consolidation of PRS

Department of State Health Services  Health Services  Mental Health Services  State Hospitals  Community Services  Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Includes consolidation of TDH, MHMR and TCADA

Rationale for the Proposed Organizational Design The proposed organizational structure: Aligns common functions of all agencies into coordinated program divisions, facilitating an integrated approach to providing services and ensuring that clients can find and access needed services. Aligns common functions of all agencies into coordinated program divisions, facilitating an integrated approach to providing services and ensuring that clients can find and access needed services. Coordinates agency-wide administrative and executive support functions under a Chief Operating Officer to provide efficient and effective support to all program divisions. Coordinates agency-wide administrative and executive support functions under a Chief Operating Officer to provide efficient and effective support to all program divisions. Ensures standardized and coordinated policy development, effective and efficient coordination between program and support services and timely response to consumer needs, issues and complaints.

11 Health Service Regions

Health Services Regions with 2005 population estimates and states with comparable populations DelawareDelaware VermontVermont South DakotaSouth Dakota WyomingWyoming NevadaNevada West VirginiaWest Virginia UtahUtah MarylandMaryland AlaskaAlaska HawaiiHawaii IndianaIndiana Delaware Vermont South Dakota Wyoming Nevada West Virginia Utah Maryland Alaska Hawaii Indiana

Public Health Improvement Legislation passed in 1981 Funds support services that address priority health problems in local communities Activities must be related to HP2010 Program is non-categorical

Public Health Improvement Builds Public Health Infrastructure at local level (i.e.. Assists with establishing local health authorities, advisory boards of health) Builds Public Health Infrastructure at local level (i.e.. Assists with establishing local health authorities, advisory boards of health) Conducts community assessment Conducts community assessment Creates, distributes, presents health data to community organizations / agencies Creates, distributes, presents health data to community organizations / agencies Builds Public Health related coalitions Builds Public Health related coalitions

Healthy People 2010 Physical Activity Physical Activity Overweight and Obesity Overweight and Obesity Tobacco Use Tobacco Use Substance Abuse Substance Abuse Responsible Sexual Behavior Responsible Sexual Behavior Mental Health Mental Health Injury and Violence Injury and Violence Environmental Quality Environmental Quality Immunization Access to Health Care Access to Health Care

For more information contact… Devon Casey Department of State Health Services Health Service Region 1 Public Health Improvement (806)