Chapter DHS 140

DHS 140.04(1)(a)1.c. c. Develop recommendations regarding public health policy, processes, programs, or interventions, including the community health improvement plan.

DHS 140.04(1)(a)2. 2. Conduct timely investigations of health problems and environmental public health hazards in coordination with other governmental agencies and stakeholders.

DHS 140.04(1)(a)3. 3. Establish written protocols for obtaining laboratory services at all times.

DHS 140.04(1)(b) (b) Communicable disease control.

DHS 140.04(1)(b)1. 1. Conduct activities required of local health departments under ch. DHS 144, relating to immunization of students.

DHS 140.04(1)(b)2. 2. Comply with the requirements of ch. DHS 145, relating to prevention, monitoring, conducting epidemiological investigations, and control of communicable diseases, including outbreaks.

DHS 140.04(1)(b)3. 3. Improve public recognition and awareness of communicable diseases and other illnesses of public health importance.

DHS 140.04(1)(b)4. 4. Provide or facilitate community-based initiatives to prevent communicable diseases.

DHS 140.04(1)(c) (c) Other disease prevention.

DHS 140.04(1)(c)1. 1. Develop and implement interventions intended to reduce the incidence, prevalence or onset of chronic diseases or to prevent or ameliorate injuries that are the leading causes of disability and premature death in the local health department’s jurisdiction, as identified in the community health assessment or the most recent state public health agenda.

DHS 140.04(1)(c)2. 2. Link individuals to needed personal health services.

DHS 140.04(1)(c)3. 3. Identify and implement strategies to improve access to health services.

DHS 140.04(1)(d) (d) Emergency preparedness and response.

DHS 140.04(1)(d)1. 1. Participate in the development of response strategies and plans in accordance with local, state, and national guidelines to address public health emergencies as defined in s. 323.02 (16), Stats.

DHS 140.04(1)(d)2. 2. Participate in public health preparedness exercises.

DHS 140.04(1)(d)3. 3. Communicate and coordinate with health care providers, emergency service providers, and other agencies and organizations that respond to a disaster, outbreak or emergency.

DHS 140.04(1)(d)4. 4. Define the role of public health personnel in responding to a disaster, outbreak, or emergency, and activate these personnel during any such occurrence.

DHS 140.04(1)(d)5. 5. Maintain and execute an agency plan for providing continuity of operations during a disaster, outbreak, or emergency, including a plan for accessing resources necessary for response or recovery.

DHS 140.04(1)(d)6. 6. Issue and enforce emergency health orders, as permitted by law.

DHS 140.04(1)(d)7. 7. Establish processes to ensure the local health department is immediately notified of an actual or potential disaster, outbreak, or emergency.

DHS 140.04(1)(d)8. 8. Implement strategies intended to protect the health of vulnerable populations during a disaster, outbreak, or emergency.

DHS 140.04(1)(e) (e) Health promotion.

DHS 140.04(1)(e)1. 1. Develop and implement interventions, policies, and systems to promote practices that support positive public health outcomes and resilient communities.

DHS 140.04(1)(e)2. 2. Disseminate relevant, accurate information and evidence-informed prevention guidance to the public health system and community.

DHS 140.04(1)(e)3. 3. Use a variety of accessible, transparent, and inclusive methods of communication to convey and to receive information from the public and stakeholders.

DHS 140.04(1)(e)4. 4. Provide accurate, timely, and understandable information, recommendations, and instructions to the public during a disaster, outbreak, or emergency.

DHS 140.04(1)(f) (f) Human health hazard control.

DHS 140.04(1)(f)1. 1. Assist in the conduct of activities authorized under ss. 251.06 (3) (f) and 254.59, Stats.

DHS 140.04(1)(f)2. 2. Declare dilapidated, unsafe or unsanitary housing to be a human health hazard, when permitted under s. 254.593, Stats.

DHS 140.04(1)(f)3. 3. Identify public health hazards through laboratory testing, inspections, reporting, and investigation for the purpose of preventing further incidence of occupational disease, environmental disease, and human health hazard exposure.

DHS 140.04(1)(g) (g) Policy and planning.

DHS 140.04(1)(g)1. 1. Coordinate planning and serve as a source of information and expertise in the development and implementation of policies affecting public health.

DHS 140.04(1)(g)2. 2. Foster and support community involvement and partnerships in development, adoption, and implementation of policies affecting public health, including engagement of diverse populations and consideration of adversely impacted populations.

DHS 140.04(1)(g)3. 3. Conduct a community health assessment resulting in a community health improvement plan at least every 5 years.

DHS 140.04(1)(g)4. 4. Develop a written community health improvement plan at least every 5 years, by assessing applicable data, developing measurable health objectives, and partnering with persons, agencies, and organizations to cultivate community ownership throughout the entire development and implementation of the plan.

DHS 140.04(1)(g)5. 5. Engage members of the community in assessment, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and modification of community health planning.

DHS 140.04(1)(g)6. 6. Promote land use planning and sustainable development activities to create positive health outcomes.

DHS 140.04(1)(h) (h) Leadership and organizational competencies.

DHS 140.04(1)(h)1. 1. Establish and sustain relationships with governmental and nongovernmental partners and stakeholders.

DHS 140.04(1)(h)2. 2. Engage stakeholders in the development and implementation of the local health department’s organizational goals.

DHS 140.04(1)(h)3. 3. Use principles of public health law, including local and state laws, in the planning, implementation, and enforcement of public health initiatives.

DHS 140.04(1)(h)4. 4. Promote and monitor progress towards achieving organizational goals, objectives identified in community health improvement plan, and identifying areas for improvement.

DHS 140.04(1)(h)5. 5. Implement processes within public health programs that create health equity.

DHS 140.04(1)(h)6. 6. Maintain a competent and diverse workforce intended to ensure the effective and equitable provision of public health services.

DHS 140.04(1)(h)7. 7. Provide continuing education and other training opportunities necessary to maintain a competent workforce.

DHS 140.04(1)(h)8. 8. Implement and maintain the technology needed to support public health operations while simultaneously protecting personally identifiable information and other confidential health information, pursuant to ss. 19.21 and 146.82, Stats.

DHS 140.04(1)(i) (i) Public health nursing services. Conduct a general public health nursing program which shall apply nursing and public health principles to collaboratively assess, develop, implement, and evaluate the services required in pars. (a) to (h), in cooperation with the local board of health.

DHS 140.04(2) (2) Annual reporting. A level I local health department shall submit the following to the department:

DHS 140.04(2)(a) (a) By May 1, a copy of the annual report submitted by the local health officer during the previous year, as required by s. 251.06 (3) (h), Stats.

DHS 140.04(2)(b) (b) Public health data, in a format prescribed by the department.

DHS 140.04 Note Note: Reports and data described in this section must be submitted to the regional office assigned to the local health department’s jurisdiction. Information about regional offices may be obtained by accessing: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dph/regions.htm.

DHS 140.04(3) (3) Optional Services. A level I local health department may provide any services, in addition to the services required under sub. (1), that a level II local health department is required to provide under s. DHS 140.05 or a level III local health department is required to provide under s. DHS 140.06.

DHS 140.04 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8−1−98; corrections in (1) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637; CR 18-014: r. and recr. Register June 2019 No. 762, eff. 7-1-19; correction in (1) (f) 1. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762.

DHS 140.05 DHS 140.05 Level II local health department.

DHS 140.05(1) (1) Required services. In addition to the level I local health department required services described in s. DHS 140.04, a level II local health department shall do all of the following:

DHS 140.05(1)(a) (a) Address communicable disease control, chronic disease and injury prevention, environmental public health, family health, and access and linkage to health services, in addition to services already provided under s. DHS 140.04, by doing all of the following:

DHS 140.05(1)(a)1. 1. Identifying and promoting either a community need that has not already been selected as a local priority by the local health department in its most recent community health improvement plan or an objective specified in the department of health services’ most recent state public health agenda, developed pursuant to s. 250.07, Stats.

DHS 140.05(1)(a)2. 2. Providing support to implement services through leadership, resources, and engagement of the public health system.

DHS 140.05(1)(a)3. 3. Utilizing evidence-informed resources and practices to provide services.

DHS 140.05(1)(a)4. 4. Evaluating the additional services and reporting to the community and local board of health on progress and performance.

DHS 140.05(1)(b) (b) Develop and maintain a plan to employ qualified public health professionals and assure a competent public health workforce by doing all of the following:

DHS 140.05(1)(b)1. 1. Including core public health competencies and credentialing requirements in all department job descriptions, unless prohibited by local governing body.

DHS 140.05(1)(b)2. 2. Assessing staff core public health competencies every 2 years to identify department training needs.

DHS 140.05(1)(b)3. 3. Completing annual performance evaluations and personal development plans, unless prohibited by local governing body.

DHS 140.05(1)(c) (c) Conduct quality improvement.

DHS 140.05(1)(d) (d) Provide training and resources related to quality improvement to local health department staff and the local governing body.

DHS 140.05(1)(e) (e) Establish explicit organizational performance measures for the local health department’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals.

DHS 140.05(1)(f) (f) Apply nursing and public health principles to collaboratively assess, develop, implement, and evaluate the services required under pars. (a) to (e).

DHS 140.05(2) (2) Optional services. A level II local health department may provide any services, in addition to the services required under sub. (1), that a level III local health department is required to provide under s. DHS 140.06.

DHS 140.05 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-987; CR 18-014: r. and recr. Register June 2019 No. 762, eff. 7-1-19; correction in (1) (a) 1., (b) 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762; correction in (1) (f) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762.

DHS 140.06 DHS 140.06 Level III local health department. In addition to the level I local health department required services described in s. DHS 140.04 and to the level II local health department required services described in s. DHS 140.05, a level III local health department shall do all of the following:

DHS 140.06(1) (1) Lead the collection of data to guide public health planning and decision-making at the local level in alignment with the most recent state public health agenda.

DHS 140.06(2) (2) Provide public health expertise within the jurisdiction to elected officials, stakeholders, and community partners, including data and research.

DHS 140.06(3) (3) Identify and address factors impacting population health by implementing evidence-informed and emerging practices.

DHS 140.06(4) (4) Develop, advocate, adopt, and implement policies or strategies to improve the physical, environmental, social, and economic conditions affecting health.

DHS 140.06(5) (5) Establish and implement an environmental health program as directed by the local board of health or other local governing body by doing all of the following:

DHS 140.06(5)(a) (a) Participating and providing environmental health expertise in the development of community plans.

DHS 140.06(5)(b) (b) Providing or arranging for the availability of services authorized under ch. 254, Stats., such as for toxic substances, indoor air quality, animal borne or vector borne disease, and human health hazards.

DHS 140.06(5)(c) (c) Collecting, reviewing, and analyzing environmental and community health data, and managing, controlling, and preventing environmental factors that may adversely affect the health, safety, or well-being of individuals or the community.

DHS 140.06(5)(d) (d) Implement agreements established with state agencies to provide or arrange for environmental health services.

DHS 140.06(5)(e) (e) Administering regulations of the board of health or other local governing body.

DHS 140.06(6) (6) Provide or arrange for other services that the local health department determines appropriately address objectives or services in the most recent state public health agenda.

DHS 140.06(7) (7) Develop and implement methods to collect performance data, evaluate goals, conduct quality improvement, and report progress to advise organizational decisions.

DHS 140.06(8) (8) Develop and implement a plan that integrates quality improvement at the individual, team, and organization levels.

DHS 140.06(9) (9) Apply nursing and public health principles to collaboratively assess, develop, implement, and evaluate the services required under subs. (1) to (8).

DHS 140.06 History History: Cr., Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; corrections in (1) (c) and (d) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637; (1) (d) renum. to SPS 221.065 under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register December 2015 No. 720; CR 18-014: r. and recr. Register June 2019 No. 762, eff. 7-1-19; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762; correction in (9) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762.

DHS 140.07 DHS 140.07 Local health officer qualifications.

DHS 140.07(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “similar field” means a field of academic study, or combination of graduate-level courses that the state health officer determines provides the knowledge and skills required to adequately meet the responsibilities of a level I, II, or III local health officer.

DHS 140.07(2) (2) Level I. A local health officer of a level I local health department shall meet the requirements stated in s. 251.06 (1) (a), Stats., or shall obtain approval in writing from the state health officer indicating that the individual has met the requirements of s. 251.06 (1) (d), Stats.