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PUBLIC HEALTH TASK FORCE 2004: PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS <br />PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN <br />10) Drive collaboration of local health departments and <br />any related structural changes at the local and state <br />level through the accreditation process. <br />Need Addressed /Rationale <br />For the past 30 years various efforts have been made to consolidate local health departments into a <br />fewer number. North Carolina's strong tradition of local control has constantly resulted in the decision <br />to maintain county health departments with the exception of a few, well established district health <br />departments. After thorough discussion it was the unanimous decision of the Committee that the drive <br />for efficiency, effectiveness and possible structural change should rest on the shoulders of <br />accreditation. Committee members voiced strongly the need for maintaining autonomous, individual <br />departments in counties so desiring, unless a structured accreditation and competent follow -up proves <br />that the individual agency cannot provide quality essential services for the county's residents. <br />Infrastructure /Capacity Improvement <br />This recommendation is a new approach which, through increased accountability and the <br />implementation of an accreditation system, would allow locally determined collaborations to evolve to <br />include the creation of new district health departments. <br />Budget FTEs <br />No new funding required. (0) State <br />(0) Local <br />24 <br />