Chapter DHS 140

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.

DHS 140.07(3) (3) Level II. A local health officer of a level II local health department shall meet the requirements stated in s. 251.06 (1) (b), 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.

DHS 140.07(4) (4) Level III. Pursuant to ss. 251.06 (1) (c) and (d), Stats., a level III local health officer shall have any of the following qualifications:

DHS 140.07(4)(a) (a) At least 3 years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work and one of the following:

DHS 140.07(4)(a)1. 1. A master’s degree in public health, public administration, or health administration.

DHS 140.07(4)(a)2. 2. Approval in writing from the state health officer indicating that the individual has submitted adequate documentation to demonstrate possession of a master’s degree in a similar field.

DHS 140.07(4)(b) (b) A bachelor’s degree, 5 years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work, and one of the following:

DHS 140.07(4)(b)1. 1. At least 16 graduate semester credits towards a master’s degree in public health, public administration, or health administration.

DHS 140.07(4)(b)2. 2. Approval in writing from the state health officer indicating that the individual has submitted adequate documentation to demonstrate possession of 16 graduate semester credits towards a master’s degree in a similar field.

DHS 140.07(4)(c) (c) A license to practice medicine and surgery under ch. 448, Stats., and at least one of the following:

DHS 140.07(4)(c)1. 1. Three years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

DHS 140.07(4)(c)2. 2. Eligibility for certification by the American board of preventive medicine in public health or general preventive medicine.

DHS 140.07(4)(c)3. 3. A master’s degree in public health, public administration, or health administration.

DHS 140.07(4)(c)4. 4. Approval in writing from the state health officer indicating that the individual has submitted adequate documentation to demonstrate possession of a master’s degree in a similar field.

DHS 140.07 History History: Cr. Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 18-014: r. and recr. Register June 2019 No. 762, eff. 7-1-19; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762; correction in (1), (4) (c) 3. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762.

DHS 140.08 DHS 140.08 Local health department level designation. The department shall review the operations of each local health department at least every 5 years, and based on this review, the state health officer shall issue a written finding as to whether the local health department satisfies the requirements for a level I, II, or III local health department. In the alternative, the state health officer may determine that the operations of a local health department satisfy the requirements for a level I, II, or III local health department based on a national accreditation process that fulfills the requirements specified under ch. 251, Stats., and this chapter.

DHS 140.08 History History: CR 18-014: cr. Register June 2019 No. 762, eff. 7-1-19; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762.