Public Health Leadership: Multi-Level Organizational Structures

The variation in the public health leadership and organizational structures are that the local government has vertical linkages with various businesses and households. It has upward vertical linkages with the state and other federal agencies in order to coordinate its operations smoothly. Public health leadership and organizational structures are performed at many levels from local to national. The organizations and agencies devoted to public health at these different levels share many of the same functions including disease surveillance, policy development, and provision of access to health care. In terms of public health, no level of government has complete authority and autonomy (Turnock, p.195). Optimal outcomes result from a symbiotic relationship and a complementary effort on all levels.

The local health government (local health departments) are established to carry out the critical public health responsibilities embodied in state laws and local ordinances and to meet the needs and expectations of their communities (Turnock, p.188). The most dramatic change in the structure of public health practice was the development of local health agencies. They share responsibilities for public health with their state agencies. However, the top priorities for local health departments overall communicable disease control, environmental health services, and child health. They do this by providing a common core of services that generally includes immunizations for adults and children, tuberculosis screening/treatment, community nutrition services, community assessment/outreach/education, food safety inspections, and health education. (Turncock, B.