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PUBLIC HEALTH TASK FORCE 2004: PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS <br />PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN <br />8) Reunite the Division of Environmental Health from the <br />Department of Environment and Natural Resources <br />(DENR) with the Division of Public Health under the <br />leadership of the State Health Director. <br />Need Addressed /Rationale <br />In 1997, the public health functions at the state level were divided when much of public health returned <br />to DHHS. The environmental health services (onsite water and waster water, pest management, <br />radiation protection and other services) remained behind in DENR. The result has been that the <br />delivery of public health services at the local level has required coordination of two state agencies. At <br />the state level, public health policy development and rule making have also become further <br />complicated by this separation of responsibilities which, again, has implications on the local level. It <br />was the clear consensus of the committee that local service delivery would be greatly enhanced by <br />reuniting the two divisions under one Department under the State Health Director. <br />Infrastructure /Capacity Improvement <br />Consolidation of environmental and public health services would greatly improve coordination of <br />service delivery, particularly at the local level. <br />Budget FTEs.'::. <br />No new funding required. (0) State.:, <br />(0) Local' <br />22 <br />