DHS 140.04 Level I local health department.
(1) Required Services. A level I local health department shall provide leadership for developing and maintaining the public health system within its jurisdiction by conducting all of the following:
(a) Surveillance and investigation.
1. Collect and analyze public health data to do all of the following:
a. Identify health problems, environmental public health hazards, and social and economic risks that affect the public’s health.
b. Guide public health planning and decision-making at the local level.
c. Develop recommendations regarding public health policy, processes, programs, or interventions, including the community health improvement plan.
2. Conduct timely investigations of health problems and environmental public health hazards in coordination with other governmental agencies and stakeholders.
3. Establish written protocols for obtaining laboratory services at all times.
(b) Communicable disease control.
1. Conduct activities required of local health departments under ch. DHS 144, relating to immunization of students.
2. Comply with the requirements of ch. DHS 145, relating to prevention, monitoring, conducting epidemiological investigations, and control of communicable diseases, including outbreaks.
3. Improve public recognition and awareness of communicable diseases and other illnesses of public health importance.
4. Provide or facilitate community-based initiatives to prevent communicable diseases.
(c) Other disease prevention.
1. Develop and implement interventions intended to reduce the incidence, prevalence or onset of chronic diseases or to prevent or ameliorate injuries that are the leading causes of disability and premature death in the local health department’s jurisdiction, as identified in the community health assessment or the most recent state public health agenda.
2. Link individuals to needed personal health services.
3. Identify and implement strategies to improve access to health services.
(d) Emergency preparedness and response.
1. Participate in the development of response strategies and plans in accordance with local, state, and national guidelines to address public health emergencies as defined in s. 323.02 (16), Stats. 2. Participate in public health preparedness exercises.
3. Communicate and coordinate with health care providers, emergency service providers, and other agencies and organizations that respond to a disaster, outbreak or emergency.
4. Define the role of public health personnel in responding to a disaster, outbreak, or emergency, and activate these personnel during any such occurrence.
5. Maintain and execute an agency plan for providing continuity of operations during a disaster, outbreak, or emergency, including a plan for accessing resources necessary for response or recovery.
6. Issue and enforce emergency health orders, as permitted by law.
7. Establish processes to ensure the local health department is immediately notified of an actual or potential disaster, outbreak, or emergency.
8. Implement strategies intended to protect the health of vulnerable populations during a disaster, outbreak, or emergency.
(e) Health promotion.
1. Develop and implement interventions, policies, and systems to promote practices that support positive public health outcomes and resilient communities.
2. Disseminate relevant, accurate information and evidence-informed prevention guidance to the public health system and community.
3. Use a variety of accessible, transparent, and inclusive methods of communication to convey and to receive information from the public and stakeholders.
4. Provide accurate, timely, and understandable information, recommendations, and instructions to the public during a disaster, outbreak, or emergency.
(f) Human health hazard control.
2. Declare dilapidated, unsafe or unsanitary housing to be a human health hazard, when permitted under s. 254.593, Stats. 3. Identify public health hazards through laboratory testing, inspections, reporting, and investigation for the purpose of preventing further incidence of occupational disease, environmental disease, and human health hazard exposure.
(g) Policy and planning.
1. Coordinate planning and serve as a source of information and expertise in the development and implementation of policies affecting public health.
2. Foster and support community involvement and partnerships in development, adoption, and implementation of policies affecting public health, including engagement of diverse populations and consideration of adversely impacted populations.
3. Conduct a community health assessment resulting in a community health improvement plan at least every 5 years.
4. Develop a written community health improvement plan at least every 5 years, by assessing applicable data, developing measurable health objectives, and partnering with persons, agencies, and organizations to cultivate community ownership throughout the entire development and implementation of the plan.
5. Engage members of the community in assessment, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and modification of community health planning.
6. Promote land use planning and sustainable development activities to create positive health outcomes.
(h) Leadership and organizational competencies.
1. Establish and sustain relationships with governmental and nongovernmental partners and stakeholders.
2. Engage stakeholders in the development and implementation of the local health department’s organizational goals.
3. Use principles of public health law, including local and state laws, in the planning, implementation, and enforcement of public health initiatives.
4. Promote and monitor progress towards achieving organizational goals, objectives identified in community health improvement plan, and identifying areas for improvement.
5. Implement processes within public health programs that create health equity.
6. Maintain a competent and diverse workforce intended to ensure the effective and equitable provision of public health services.
7. Provide continuing education and other training opportunities necessary to maintain a competent workforce.
8. Implement and maintain the technology needed to support public health operations while simultaneously protecting personally identifiable information and other confidential health information, pursuant to ss. 19.21 and 146.82, Stats. (i) Public health nursing services. Conduct a general public health nursing program which shall apply nursing and public health principles to collaboratively assess, develop, implement, and evaluate the services required in s. DHS 140.04 (1)(a)-(h), in cooperation with the local board of health. DHS 140.04 (2) Annual reporting. A level I local health department shall submit the following to the department:
(a) By May first, a copy of the annual report submitted by the local health officer during the previous year, as required by s. 251.06 (3) (h), Stats. (b) Public health data, in a format prescribed by the department.
(NOTE): Reports and data described in this section must be submitted to the regional office assigned to the local health department’s jurisdiction. Information about regional offices may be obtained by accessing: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dph/regions.htm. DHS 140.04 (3) Optional Services. A level I local health department may provide any services, in addition to the services required under s. DHS 140.04(1), that a level II local health department is required to provide under s. DHS 140.05 or a level III local health department is required to provide under s. DHS 140.06. DHS 140.05 Level II local health department.
(1) Required services. In addition to the level I local health department required services described in s. DHS 140.04, a level II local health department shall do all of the following: (a) Address communicable disease control, chronic disease and injury prevention, environmental public health, family health, and access and linkage to health services, in addition to services already provided under s. DHS 140.04, by doing all of the following: 1. Identifying and promoting either a community need that has not already been selected as a local priority by the local health department in its most recent community health improvement plan or an objective specified in the department of health service’s most recent state public health agenda, developed pursuant to s. 250.07, Stats. 2. Providing support to implement services through leadership, resources, and engagement of the public health system.
3. Utilizing evidence-informed resources and practices to provide services.
4. Evaluating the additional services and reporting to the community and local board of health on progress and performance.
(b) Develop and maintain a plan to employ qualified public health professionals and assure a competent public health workforce by doing all of the following:
1. Including core public health competencies and credentialing requirements in all department job descriptions, unless prohibited by local governing body.
2. Assessing staff core public health competencies every two years to identify department training needs.
3. Completing annual performance evaluations and personal development plans, unless prohibited by local governing body.
(c) Conduct quality improvement.
(d) Provide training and resources related to quality improvement to local health department staff and the local governing body.
(e) Establish explicit organizational performance measures for the local health department’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals.
(f) Apply nursing and public health principles to collaboratively assess, develop, implement, and evaluate the services required under s. DHS 140.05 (1) (a)-(f). DHS 140.05 (2) Optional services. A level II local health department may provide any services, in addition to the services required under s. DHS 140.05 (1), that a level III local health department is required to provide under s. DHS 140.06. DHS 140.06 Level III local health department. (1) In addition to the level I local health department required services described in s. DHS 140.04 and to the level II local health department required services described in s. DHS 140.05, a level III local health department shall do all of the following: (a) Lead the collection of data to guide public health planning and decision-making at the local level in alignment with the most recent state public health agenda.
(b) Provide public health expertise within the jurisdiction to elected officials, stakeholders, and community partners, including data and research.
(c) Identify and address factors impacting population health by implementing evidence-informed and emerging practices.
(d) Develop, advocate, adopt, and implement policies or strategies to improve the physical, environmental, social, and economic conditions affecting health.
(e) Establish and implement an environmental health program as directed by the local board of health or other local governing body by doing all of the following:
1. Participating and providing environmental health expertise in the development of community plans.
2. Providing or arranging for the availability of services authorized under ch. 254, Stats., such as for toxic substances, indoor air quality, animal borne or vector borne disease, and human health hazards. 3. Collecting, reviewing, and analyzing environmental and community health data, and managing, controlling, and preventing environmental factors that may adversely affect the health, safety, or well-being of individuals or the community.
