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Advancing the public health workforce to achieve organizational excellence
Indiana Uses PHHS Block Grant to Build Capacity Statewide

Date: 6/11/2014 8:15 AM

Related Categories: National Public Health Performance Standards (NPHPS), Performance Management, Quality Improvement

Topic: Infrastructure, Performance Management and Quality Improvement

Tag: Accreditation, Healthy People, National Public Health Performance Standards (NPHPS), Infrastructure

Kristin Adams, Director, Office of Public Health Policy and Performance Management, Indiana Sate Department of Health

 
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has had great success utilizing the Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grant to support local level initiatives including infrastructure, public health system development, and public health accreditation. It was through the PHHS Block Grant that the Office of Public Health Policy and Performance Management was created. The primary goals of the office are to develop agency performance management systems and prepare for public health accreditation. Upon the creation of the office, it was determined that the Block Grant Coordinator responsibilities would be a good fit for this office as it is critical to have an understanding of public health infrastructure needs and Healthy People 2020. 
 
Block Grant funding allowed ISDH to provide support for over 70 local health departments to conduct the Public Health Performance Standards with their public health system partners. PHHS Block Grant also has allowed ISDH to develop an online data warehouse so local health departments, non-profit hospitals, and other community partners can gain access to state and local level data for community health assessments and community health improvement plans. This public resource has been well-received by the community. The future workplan for ISDH includes workforce development opportunities for public health partners through the utilization of IN-TRAIN; regional performance management and quality improvement trainings for local health departments, and strategic planning opportunities.

Learn more about how to leverage the PHHS Block Grant in your state, tribal, local, or territorial health department.

IN-TRAIN is part of the TRAIN network, a service of PHF that operates through a collaborative network of state and federal agencies, local and national organizations, and educational institutions.

 

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Comments

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Amanda McCarty

6/17/2014

Kristin - Thank you for sharing how your agency has used the Block Grant to support accreditation readiness. With the close of NPHII, several states have had conversations around how to transition to using Block Grant funds to prepare for accreditation. This is great information.

Brynn Riley

6/11/2014

It is exciting to see that Indiana is holding the gains from the last three years through the Block Grant and will continue capacity-building activities that support infrastructure and ongoing accreditation work.

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