Developing NACCHO's ability to support public health research in order to strengthen local public health departments and build an evidence base

The goal of this project is to strengthen local health departments by generating better data and data analyses that inform local public health practice, and which supports program and resource development, advocacy, and policy-making. The project will help build NACCHO's capacity to support public health research. The key to strengthening this capacity is establishing core staff (e.g., a project director and senior analyst) with strong research skills. Major project activities include: (1) conducting two National Profile of Local Health Departments (Profile) studies (in 2008 and 2010); (2) improving the capacity of NACCHO to conduct research; and (3) supporting public health systems (PHS) researchers using the NACCHO Profile. The project will strengthen the field of public health systems research by providing comprehensive, timely, and high quality data about how we can improve the performance of local health departments based on the Profile studies. By working with NACCHO staff to improve the quality of data available for research, and by encouraging PHS researchers to work collaboratively with local health departments on high priority issues we can improve public health practice. NACCHO will disseminate information about project activities through its channels for reaching local health departments -- e.g. , publications, Web site and list serves, meetings, etc. -- and will partner with other organizations (e.g., Academy Health, Association of Schools of Public Health, publishers of public health journals) to reach PHS researchers.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $1,993,183.00

Awarded on: 8/23/2007

Time frame: 10/1/2007 - 1/31/2012

Grant Number: 61911