In an effort to better understand the needs of, and resources available to, local health departments and boards of health, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is conducting a capacity assessment on 310 communities, several of which are in Franklin County.
“This assessment will include a baseline review of existing statutory and state regulatory obligations for boards of health, a workforce study and a document request phase — not to assess our performance, but to assess the resources we have at our disposal,” Greenfield Health Director Jennifer Hoffman said in a statement. “This may open the door to additional resources, such as training and technical assistance.”
The assessment will include all communities that participated in the Public Health Excellence grant program for shared services. In July, Greenfield was awarded $1.5 million through the program to expand its partnership to include neighboring communities, Leverett and Shutesbury, while also strengthening its existing partnership with Deerfield, Montague and Sunderland.
“I’m hoping this is a positive step forward,” said Deerfield Board of Health Chair Carolyn Shores Ness. “I’m trying to look at this as an opportunity for us to deliver public health in a way that the state partners with us, instead of dictating to us.”
The capacity assessment, which will be performed at no cost to the participating communities, will include a request for a sample of reports for inspections conducted by local health departments in selected settings and time frames; a review of existing staffing resources to determine alignment with current needs; a review of existing health department services and their alignment with existing statutes and regulations; and finally, a review of the current training levels of staff.
“I think the key piece for me, really, is the review of existing staffing resources and a review of existing health department resources,” commented Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner. “We have a small department. … We struggle every budget season as to how to beef up the Health Department, but not at the expense of other departments, to ensure we have the resources we need.”
The assessment is expected to begin in the next few weeks, with expected completion by fall, according to a Greenfield Health Department press release. Strategic action plans informed by the assessment will be created and shared by winter.
Shores Ness said with all 310 communities deciding as a group what should be implemented or included as part of the action plan, she sees Deerfield and other western Massachusetts’ boards of health as important contributors to the conversation.
“I see us as voicing … that this needs to be implemented in a manner that is doable for us in the western part of the state, who traditionally don’t have health departments,” Shores Ness said. “We want to make sure that’s reflected in the action plan.”
Locally, there is a need for more public health nurses and a health inspector, as well as additional social services to address mental health needs.
With the combined effort, Shores Ness noted, between Greenfield, Deerfield, Sunderland, Montague, Shutesbury and Leverett, she feels positive “we’re going to end up with a really good product.”
“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us to improve public health on the local level,” Shores Ness said.
Wedegartner said the assessment shows the state is interested in public health in a way that it hadn’t been prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think, in particular, the more data that we — all western Mass communities — can give (the state) about capacity out here … is good information they can rely on in the future for funding and for training,” she said.
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.