WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION
OF LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS AND BOARD
Accomplishments and Advantages
History
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WALHDAB is the result of the merger of two
organizations in 1997:
 Wisconsin
Association of Health Officers and Boards
 Wisconsin Conference of Local Public Health Officials
www.walhdab.org
Purpose
To be the statewide voice for local public health.
www.walhdab.org
Vision
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WALHDAB:
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Is a strong and respected organization.
Identifies priorities and develops position statements and
actions that help to shape and drive public health planning and
policy in the state.
Serves as the primary voice for local public health.
Supports and promotes local public health practice and
workforce development and advocates for sufficient, flexible
and sustainable funding for local health departments.
Has Board of health members and health administrators who
are equally active, and members rally around the positions and
activities of the organization.
www.walhdab.org
Organizational Structure
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All local health departments are members of
WALHDAB
All board of health members are members of
WALHDAB (via their health department)
www.walhdab.org
WALHDAB Regions
Source: Wisconsin Division of Public Health website: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/localhealth/
Organizational Structure
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WALHDAB supports three sections:
 Public
Health Laboratory Network
 Environmental Health
 Nutrition
www.walhdab.org
Strategic Plan (2007-2009)
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WALHDAB’s strategic plan outlines these key
objectives:
 Strengthen
advocacy efforts
 Educate local board of health members regarding
WALHDAB’s vision and goals
 Strengthen organizational infrastructure
 Build stronger partnerships to protect and promote the
public’s health
 Improve member services to develop workforce and
improve local practice
www.walhdab.org
Key Activities
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Educate
Advocate
Develop partnerships
Develop the workforce and improve practice
www.walhdab.org
Victories
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Education
 WPHA-WALHDAB
Annual Conference
 New Board of Health
member
orientation/training
www.walhdab.org
Victories (cont’d)
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Advocacy (with Wisconsin Public Health Association):
 State
budget
Primary enforcement of seat belt laws
 Increase in cigarette tax
 Smoke-free indoor air
 Expansion of Family Planning Waiver for males
 Ability of school districts to exceed revenue caps for school
nurses (contracted or employed)
 Funding for the School of Public Health at UW-Milwaukee
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www.walhdab.org
Victories (cont’d)
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Develop partnerships
 Multi-State
Learning
Collaborative –
accreditation
 Practice-Based Research
Network grant
 Public Affairs and Annual
Conference (with WPHA)
www.walhdab.org
Victories (cont’d)
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Develop the
workforce and
improve practice
 Multi-State
Learning
Collaborative –
accreditation
 Annual conference
www.walhdab.org
Why WALHDAB?
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All politics is local
 WALHDAB
tracks key
legislative issues
 WALHDAB advocates
at the state level for
local priorities
 WALHDAB organizes
advocacy efforts
www.walhdab.org
Why WALHDAB?
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Efficient use of
resources
 WALHDAB
has the
experience and
capacity to efficiently
plan for and conduct
advocacy and
education/training
efforts
www.walhdab.org
Why WALHDAB?
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Education/Training
 Annual
new Board of Health member orientation
 Annual conference
www.walhdab.org
Why WALHDAB?
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Networking
 Regular
regional and statewide opportunities for
networking
 Board
meetings
 Regional meetings
 Various committees and sections
 Annual Conference
www.walhdab.org
Why WALHDAB?
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Improve public health practice
 Sharing
of local policies
 Sharing of “best practices” and learnings
 Collectively addressing complex issues
www.walhdab.org
Hot Happenings
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www.walhdab.org
Multi-State Learning
Collaborative
Public Health PracticeBased Research
Network
Legislative agenda
Conference planning
This is YOUR Organization –
Get Involved!
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All board of health members are
members of WALHDAB through
their local health department.
www.walhdab.org
This is YOUR Organization –
Get Involved!
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Wisconsin statutes (251.04) state
that Boards of Health shall:
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“… advocate for the provision of reasonable and
necessary public health services.”
“Develop policy and provide leadership that fosters local
involvement and commitment, that emphasizes public health needs
and that advocates for equitable distribution of public health
resources …. “
“… assure that measures are taken to provide an environment
in which individuals can be healthy.”
www.walhdab.org
This is YOUR Organization –
Get Involved!
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Opportunities for you:
 Help
to create a legislative agenda
 Stay current on policy issues
 Plan educational programs
 Attend regional, state and/or national meetings
 Attend the annual meeting, where policy platforms are
decided upon
 Stay informed through alerts, conferences, etc.
YOU can benefit from the organization
and contribute to it – simultaneously!
www.walhdab.org
For More Information
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www.walhdab.org – provides more on:
 Organizational
structure
 News and updates
 Legislative agenda
 Conferences
 Special projects/initiatives
 Resources – e.g., links to statutes, local health
departments, accreditation information, etc.
www.walhdab.org
For More Information….
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Call 920.560.5635
Talk with your local health officer
www.walhdab.org