National Association of County and City Health Officials, November 7, 1999

THE INTEGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE

Resolution 99-13 Adopted on November 7, 1999

WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine's 1988 Future of Public Health Report states that "The removal of environmental health authority from public health has led to fragmented responsibility, lack of coordination, and inadequate attention to the public health dimensions of environmental health issues;" and

WHEREAS, environment and health are intimately related, and environmental health is a public health activity, yet the two fields are often isolated and overly distinct in their current missions; and

WHEREAS, local public health agencies bring a unique, population-based approach to environmental health issues and an emphasis on prevention and system-wide approaches to health;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) advocates for resources, policies, programs, and legislation that promote the integration of environmental health and public health practice; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NACCHO endorses the development and/or enhancement of coordinated training for the environmental health workforce in public health sciences such as epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, physiology and biology, and for the public health workforce in environmental sciences such as ecology and urban planning.

Adopted by NACCHO Board of Directors November 7, 1999 Updated September 2003