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Environmental Health
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NALBOH Environmental Health Pages |
Local boards of health are responsible for assuring the provision of adequate public health services in their communities, including protection from many environmental health risks. A board of health’s role is to:
- Assess a community’s environmental health needs and concerns.
- Develop or recommend policies, procedures, and programs to meet a community’s environmental health needs.
- Assure that the health agency possesses well-trained personnel and the resources necessary to support local environmental health programs.
This responsibility is a dynamic one; local needs change, new threats are introduced, the scientific knowledge base grows, and regulatory requirements are modified. Periodic evaluations of environmental health programs are vital to ensure that the community’s needs are met. NALBOH has developed a number of environmental health training and educational materials for board of health members and practicing public health professionals, and is here to provide technical support and assistance in relation to emerging threats and planning efforts.
Did You Know...
NEW! NIOSH provides oil spill response resources.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has provided online resources for those responding to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Continued Job Losses Threaten Local Health Department Environmental Health Services
Results from NACCHO's Job Loss and Program Cuts Survey, released Monday, May 24th, show that local health departments (LHDs) lost 23,000 jobs from 2008-2009. Across the country, 9 percent of LHDs had to make cuts to food safety programs and 17 percent had to make cuts to other environmental health services, such as septic system inspection or lead exposure assessments and remediation. More info here: www.naccho.org/lhdbudget
Celebrate National Healthy Schools Day
National Healthy Schools Day was Monday, April 26, 2010. The purpose was to celebrate and promote healthy and green school environments for all children through the use of US Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools (TfS) Program. The 2010 focus is using green cleaning tools, which can reduce indoor air pollutants. For more information, visit http://www.nationalhealthyschoolsday.org/.
Registration for the E.P.A.’s National Asthma Forum is now open. The National Asthma Forum will be held June 17-18, 2010 in Washington, D.C. The forum provides opportunities to hear best practices for community-based asthma programs, learn how to evaluate asthma programs and improve health outcomes through home-based environmental interventions, and create a community leadership plan for asthma action with national asthma leaders.
Visit the forum’s website to register and for more information.
Asbestos.net is a comprehensive online resource for information about asbestos and asbestos-related diseases. It contains expert-reviewed articles, a medical directory, and legal resources for affected individuals, families, and concern community members. Click to visit this informative website.
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National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures
The 18 month long National Conversation will offer many opportunities for involvement, including: expert working groups, regional and local public meetings, and web-based discussions. The resulting action agenda will outline steps for NCEH/ATSDR and other institutions to take to better protect public health from harmful chemical exposures. If you would like to receive additional information on this project and meeting, please send your contact information to: nationalconversation@cdc.gov
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Environmental Health Services Branch: Enhancing and Revitalizing Environmental Public Health
The overarching goal of the Environmental Health Services Branch (EHSB) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is to enhance and revitalize environmental public health to address a range of environmental health issues. Click to learn what's new at CDC's EHSB!
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Environmental Public Health Performance Standards
The Environmental Public Health Performance Standards (EnPHPS) can be used to assist local, state, and tribal boards' capability to perform the Ten Essential Services of Environmental Public Health at all levels. The standards will also more clearly describe what environmental health programs need to do to perform the Ten Essential Services. For more information, please visit CDC's Environmental Public Health Performance Standards home page.
Featured NALBOH Publications:
Board of Health Recommendations for Hiring Qualified Environmental Health Practitioners This guide will help board of health members understand their important roles in ensuring that there are adequate and effective environmental health staff providing environmental public health services to the community. The publication does not aim to solve the shortage of environmental health professionals, but it does support the development of the workforce by showing the many benefits of employing competent, academically prepared environmental health practitioners by local, state, and tribal health departments.
Vector Control Strategies for Local Boards of Health A variety of topics are addressed, including the importance of overseeing and ensuring that there are sufficient resources, effective policies and procedures, partnerships with other organizations, and regular evaluation of an agency’s vector programs and services.
Learn more about ordering copies, or call NALBOH at (419) 353-7714 to place your order. |
In the News
Rodent poison faces tougher restrictions after the death of two Utah girls.
High levels of lead found in some women’s handbags.
Google Earth offers a glimpse of how climate change will affect California.
Study found 232 toxic chemicals in the umbilical cord blood of 9 out of 10 babies.
Children’s IQ linked to Mother’s Exposure to Air Pollutants
Risk of Diseases Rises with Water Temperatures
Mark Your Calendars!
August 5-7, 2010: 18th Annual NALBOH Annual Conference in Omaha, NE. "Journey to the Future: Facing Public Health Challenges Today for a Healthier Tomorrow". Visit our Conference Page! |
For questions or more information about NALBOH's environmental health programs, please contact Carrie Hribar.
Page updated 7/22/2010.