REPORT - September 29, 2006
(Word 1MB or PDF 276K)

State Public Health System Assessment (SPHSA) Conference

July 17-18, 2006

To strengthen the public health system in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in partnership with other public health organizations, will implement Texas’ first assessment of the state public health system. Information from the assessment will assist stakeholders in making informed decisions to improve health in Texas. A public health system improvement plan will be developed and implemented based on the strengths and weaknesses identified in the assessment.

On 02/08/06, Dr. Eduardo J. Sanchez, Commissioner of DSHS, welcomed representatives from public health organizations and empowered them as a steering committee to implement the assessment. The steering committee includes representatives from: Texas Public Health Association, Texas Association of Local Health Officials, Texas Public Health Training Center, University of Texas School of Public Health, Texas Health Institute (formerly the Texas Institute for Health Policy Research), Texas Strategic Health Partnership and DSHS.

The assessment will be based on the National Public Health Performance Standards (NPHPS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and seven national public health organizations developed NPHPS to assist states in identifying the optimum level of performance concerning ten essential public health services. For more information on NPHPS, visit CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov/od/ocphp/nphpsp/.

For more information about the state public health system assessment, contact Mike Gilliam (DSHS) at (512) 458-7111 (Ext. 2708) or .

Center for Program Coordination, Mailcode 1910
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 458-7111 Ext. 2708
fax: (512) 458-7272

Last Updated October 2, 2006