N.J. Admin. Code § 8:52-11.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 8:52-11.2 - Countywide or multi-countywide community health planning

(a) To minimize costs and for consistency with existing data, the minimum unit of planning for New Jersey shall be the county.

(b) Each local board of health shall assure that public health policies promote and support the population's health and safety goals identified in the health improvement strategies that were developed through the countywide or multi-countywide Community Health Improvement Plan and incorporate by reference prior planning information obtained through other processes.

(c) Each Community Health Improvement Plan shall consist of:

1. A countywide or multi-countywide Community Health Assessment as described at 8:52-10.2;

2. A Community Health Profile as described at 8:52-10.2(d)5;

3. A mechanism which monitors external environment for forces and trends that might impact the ability of a local public health system to protect the health of the public;

4. An analysis and a prioritization of current and potential health problems based upon planning methodologies such as those described at 8:52-10.2(d);

5. A plan which specifies the roles and responsibilities agreed upon by each local health agency and each public, private, non-profit, and voluntary agency;

6. Specific strategies to address health problems and to sustain effective interventions;

7. A plan to evaluate the intervention strategies and health outcomes; and

8. A method that allows for changes to the plan.

(d) The objectives of the Community Health Improvement Plan shall be:

1. To link State and local services;

2. To mobilize and coordinate a variety of health and social service providers;

3. To improve each local public health system's capacity to respond to public health needs; and

4. To include all providers of public health services, that is, local health agencies, schools, Medicaid managed care providers, environmental health agencies, community-based groups, business and industry and nursing agencies.

(e) Each local health agency within the countywide or multi-countywide area shall be responsible for implementation of the Community Health Improvement Plan in their jurisdiction by February 18, 2007.

(f) Each local board of health shall ensure that there is a mechanism to guide the development of the Community Health Improvement Plan which includes, but is not limited to:

1. Ensuring expertise to implement the planning process;

2. Ensuring coordination and consistency with State policy initiatives;

3. Ensuring that local health agency resources are continuously aligned with their defined roles and responsibilities in the Community Health Improvement Plan; and

4. Reporting the content of the Community Health Improvement Plan to the Office of Local Health. Local health agencies working in partnership may submit this information in a joint report for the entire countywide or multi-countywide area.

(g) Each Community Health Improvement Plan shall be used to guide the development of needed public health programs and services. CHIP shall foster coordination with existing programs and services, and reduce or eliminate programs and services which are not needed or have been found to be ineffective.

(h) Each local board of health that demonstrates a local need for public health services, as defined in "Healthy People 2010," that is not addressed by the Community Health Improvement Plan shall address that need.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:52-11.2