Estelle Richman
Health Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Public Health

• Opened session and introduced speakers.

Diane Luby
New Hampshire Department of Health

Turning Point Project, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

• Described the New Hampshire process for developing its statewide goals for 2010. The NH Health System plan was created following a number of community council and regional meetings, involving community participation.
• NH developed its Health Care Transition Fund to provide resources for community development. Grants improve access to health care providers and provide a learning laboratory for promising but untested ideas.
• Robert Wood Johnson’s Turning Point Initiative helps strengthen the public health infrastructure. It funded the creation of a steering committee and 3 local community initiatives, with focused workgroups on public health infrastructure, prevention, and public health assessments.

Laurie Robinson
US PHS, Region I

Described efforts in Maine to develop key partnerships on women’s health.

• Several task forces were created and issued recommendations, including the need to support an infrastructure for women’s health and to focus attention of different sectors across a woman’s lifespan.
• The task forces realized the need to focus attention on achievable goals in areas such as adolescent health. There are not large amounts of money and resources devoted to these issues, but the first lady of Maine is providing leadership.
• Using small pots of available funds, a profile of women’s health status was developed.
• Violence emerged as the #1 issue.

Ms. Robinson also described involving the religious community in Massachusetts.

• Because black women are not screened for breast cancer at the same rate as white women, the state partnered with NCI and CDC to provide outreach using the faith communities to inform their members about screening opportunities.

Estelle Richman
Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Health

Gave the local Philadelphia perspective.

• Because of changes in health care, a crisis is emerging regarding the increase in uninsured children.
• Philadelphia targeted the at-risk population for uninsured children and worked with HMOs to create "Healthier Babies".
• There is a need for a universal forum for funding and collaborative public health initiatives with HMOs.

• There is a policy choice between using limited resources for health care coverage as opposed to giving out public health grants. There are no incentives for using short term funds for long term planning.
• There is a need for partnerships between HMOs and the private sector to integrate care and engage the business community by moving away from categorical funding to preventive services. Incentives must be conisdered.
• Consumer market forces should be unleashed onto the business sector for preventive services.
• Keep partnerships going and engaged in the process.
• The process should be result oriented, focused on achieving real results.
• Some flexibility is needed in partnerships; new ones should be formed as the situation arises.
• Health departments need to change and share resources (including information and data), as well as leveraging funds to improve the capacity to link systems.
• Data must be made meaningful and available at the local community level.
• Communities should be involved in the planning process.
• Community data should be available on-line, and at a political level, e.g., councils and wards.

• Create partnerships by aligning incentives. There is a need to get the private sector engaged in preventive clinical services, either by requiring it or by providing incentives.
• Need to focus on achievable goals.
• Need for universal forums for funding. Shifting resources from categorical funds to preventive services. Need for long term planning, with the available short-term funding.
• Engage the community by making the data available and meaningful to the community. Provide data at political level, providing politicians the information necessary for action.

Philadelphia Transcripts and Summaries