Alaska Public Health Improvement Process Goals (1999 Implementation Grant Application):

Specific goals in the process of attaining the purposes of the plan include:

1. Assure a strong legal framework for Alaska's public health system
2. Assure accountability for the public's health
3. Assure a well trained, competent public health workforce
4. Assure sufficient, stable funding for public health action
5. Assure effective communication capabilities in the public health system
6. Increase public input in statewide policy decisions
7. Engage communities to solve local health problems
8. Increase personal responsibility for individual health
9. Assure access to public health information for communities, policy makers and the general Public
10. Improve interagency communication, coordination, and the collaboration between State public health, mental health, substance abuse and environmental health agencies

Implementation of the goal to improve access to public health information was identified as the highest priority for implementation due to its central role in meeting many of the rest of the goals, the unavailability of other funding at the time and the fact that it was ready to be implemented immediately.

Strategies to attain this goal include:

• Provide capacity for regular reporting on the health status of Alaskans
• Centralize access to public health information over the internet
• Provide data and technical assistance to community-based organizations to support community assessment efforts.
• Provide data support for public health planning, program evaluation and performance measurement efforts

Methods for meeting the objectives of these strategies will:

• Establish permanent capacity for compilation, analysis and dissemination of public health information
• Organize an expert team to provide technical guidance and support for the development of the new information system
• Organize a user's group to provide information on the needs of communities and policy makers for public health information
• Create a web site to provide public access to the new information system
• Develop a plan for sustainability of the Alaska Public Health Information System
• Implement an evaluation plan to ensure continuing improvement of the new system

For more information contact: Alice Rarig, Health & Social Services Planner III, Alaska Division of Public Health, P.O. Box 110610, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0610; Phone: (907) 465-1285; Fax: (907) 465-8637; alice_rarig@health.state.ak.us.