Section 600.400 Public
Health Practice Standards
a) Assess the health needs of the community by establishing a
systematic needs assessment process that periodically provides information on
the health status and health needs of the community.
1) A community health needs assessment that systematically describes
the prevailing health status and health needs of the population within the
local health department's jurisdiction shall be conducted at least once every
five years.
A) The assessment shall be conducted through completion of IPLAN
or an equivalent to IPLAN that meets the requirements set forth in Section
600.410.
B) The assessment shall, at a minimum, include an analysis of data
in groupings designated by the Department, which are: demographic and
socioeconomic characteristics; general health and access to care; maternal and
child health; chronic disease; infectious disease;
environmental/occupational/injury control; and sentinel events.
C) The assessment shall include community participation in the
health needs assessment process in order to facilitate the identification of
community health problems and the setting of priorities from among those health
problems.
D) Community health needs shall be identified during the community
health needs assessment process based on the analysis of data describing the
health of the population and on the judgment of the community participants
concerning the seriousness of the health problems and needs. Prioritization
shall result in the establishment of at least three priority health needs.
2) A community health needs assessment shall contain:
A) A statement of purpose of the community health needs assessment
that includes a description of how the assessment will be used to improve
health in the community.
B) A description of the community participation process, a list of
community groups involved in the process, and method for establishing
priorities.
C) A description of the health status and health problems most
meaningful for the community in the data groupings designated by the Department,
which are: demographic and socioeconomic characteristics; general health and
access to care; maternal and child health; chronic disease; infectious disease;
environmental/occupational/injury control; and sentinel events.
D) A description of the process and outcomes of setting
priorities.
E) A statement that the SHIP was reviewed, including a description
of the alignment or nonalignment between the priority health needs of the
applicable local public health jurisdiction, as identified by the local health
department, and the priorities to improve the public health system, as set
forth by the SHIP.
b) Investigate the occurrence of adverse health effects and
health hazards in the community by conducting timely investigations that
identify the magnitude of health problems, duration, trends, location and
populations at risk.
c) Advocate for public health, build constituencies and identify
resources in the community by generating supportive and collaborative
relationships with public and private agencies and constituent groups for the
effective planning, implementation and management of public health activities.
The local health department shall:
1) develop and strengthen communication with units of government,
health-related organizations, health providers, citizens and news media;
2) meet at least annually with representatives of health-related
organizations within its jurisdiction to define inter-organizational roles and
responsibilities; and
3) disseminate health reports that have been developed by the
local health department to the board of health, county board or other
legislative bodies within its jurisdiction, the media and the public.
d) Develop plans and policies to address priority health needs by
establishing goals and objectives to be achieved through a systematic course of
action that focuses on local community needs and equitable distribution of
resources, and involves the participation of constituents and other related
governmental agencies. Develop a community health plan that addresses at least
three priority health needs, identified pursuant to Section 600.400, during
each certification period.
1) The local health department shall include in its community
health plan an analysis to establish risk factors and contributing factors for
each priority health need, to determine the adequacy of existing resources, and
to identify population groups at risk of poor health status within the local
health department's jurisdiction.
2) The community health plan shall present measurable objectives
and strategies for intervention for each priority health need.
3) The local health department shall utilize community
participation to assist in the development of the community health plan.
4) In jurisdictions where a board of health exists pursuant to
Section 5-25012 of the Counties Code, Division 16 or 17 of the Illinois
Municipal Code, or the Public Health District Act, the local health department
shall present the community health plan to the board of health for its review.
A community health plan shall be adopted by the board of health.
5) The local health department shall submit the community health
plan to the Department. The plan shall contain:
A) A statement of purpose of the community health plan that
includes how the plan will be used to improve the health of the community;
B) A description of the process used to develop the community
health plan;
C) A description of each priority, including the importance of the
priority health need, summarized data and information on which the priority is
based, the relationship of the priority to Healthy People national health
objectives, and factors influencing the level of the problem (e.g., risk
factors, contributing and indirect contributing factors);
D) At least one measurable outcome objective covering a three or
more year time frame related to each priority health need;
E) At least one measurable impact objective related to each
outcome objective; and
F) At least one proven intervention strategy to address each
impact objective. The description should include a discussion of: community
resources that will contribute to implementation; estimated funding needed for
implementation; and anticipated sources of funding.
e) Manage resources and develop organizational structure through
the acquisition, allocation and control of human, physical and fiscal resources,
and maximizing the operational functions of the local public health systems
through coordination of community agencies' efforts and avoidance of
duplication of services.
1) The local health department shall, at least once every five
years, perform an organizational capacity self-assessment that meets the
requirements set forth in Section 600.410. The local health department shall
provide the Department with a statement signed by an authorized representative
indicating that the organizational capacity self-assessment was completed by
the local health department and reviewed by the board of health.
2) The local health department shall maintain a current
organizational chart that includes all functional elements of the organization
and their relationship to each other.
3) The local health department shall maintain current written job
descriptions, minimum qualifications for each position, and written plans or
policies regarding staff recruitment, selection, development and retention.
4) The local health department shall notify the Department in
writing within 10 business days after the effective date of the termination,
resignation or leave of absence of the public health administrator or other
personnel required under Subpart C.
f) Implement programs and other arrangements assuring or
providing direct services for priority health needs identified in the community
health plan by taking actions that translate plans and policies into services.
g) Evaluate programs and provide quality assurance in accordance
with applicable professional and regulatory standards to ensure that programs
are consistent with plans and policies, and provide feedback on inadequacies
and changes needed to redirect programs and resources.
1) The local health department shall conduct periodic reviews of
programs, services and personnel to demonstrate compliance with applicable
professional and regulatory standards.
2) The local health department shall conduct monitoring of
programs to assess achievement of mandated programs and progress towards
meeting community health objectives as stated in the community health plan.
h) Inform and educate the public on public health issues of
concern in the community, promoting an awareness about public health services
availability and health education initiatives that contribute to individual and
collective changes in health knowledge, attitudes and practices towards a
healthier community.
i) Documentation of each activity conducted pursuant to Subpart
D shall be available for review by the Department upon request.
j) The results of the PHAB Accreditation including the community
health assessment, organizational capacity or strategic plan and the health
plan may be used to meet the corresponding requirements of the certification process
as long as the documents are not duplicated from the previous recertification
cycle.
(Source: Amended
at 41 Ill. Reg. 3454, effective March 9, 2017)