State Health Agencies
This is the official term for state-level public health departments.
State Health Agency
What does it mean when an SHA is “freestanding”?
It operates as its own independent department.
What are the three core jobs of SHAs?
Assessment, Policy Development, and Assurance.
What type of surveillance looks for patterns in symptoms before diagnoses?
Syndromic surveillance.
Name one common title for the chief executive of an SHA.
Secretary, Director, or Commissioner.
Why are states considered the best level of government for handling public health?
They are close enough to understand community needs and large enough to have resources.
In which governance system does the state make most decisions and lead local health departments?
Centralized system.
What does PHAB do for public health agencies? What does PHAB stand for?
Accredits them to ensure they meet quality standards.
Public Health Accreditation Board
What is one major purpose of syndromic surveillance?
To detect emerging health threats early.
What background do most State Health Officials have?
They are physicians with public health training.
Which state created the first state Board of Health in 1869?
Massachusetts.
Which system divides leadership between state and local governments?
Shared system
Which core function involves identifying the health needs of the population?
Assessment
What does the CDC BioSense Program do?
Collects real-time data to identify outbreaks and support coordinated responses.
Who typically appoints the State Health Official?
The Governor, State Board of Health, or a legislative committee.
Name one reason state health agencies differ from state to state
Different needs, budgets, political environments, staff sizes, or structures
What does the term “governance” mean in public health?
Who is in charge and who makes decisions
What did the RWJF Public Health Leadership Forum of 2013 help clarify?
How to apply the recommendations of the IOM report.
What are the two major tasks of public health informatics?
Data collection and data analysis.
What is the largest funding source for SHAs?
Federal funds (over 50%).
What national organization connects all state health agencies and supports health officials?
ASTHO ( Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Which governance system is used by more than half of U.S. states?
Decentralized system.
What is the meaning of “Health in All Policies”?
Considering health impacts when making policies across all sectors of government.
Name one data source used in syndromic surveillance.
ERs, urgent care centers, laboratories, or pharmacies.
What percentage of SHA funding comes from fees, fines, and service charges?
About 15%