Boards of Health

BOARDS OF HEALTH

Citizen boards of health were first formed in the late 1700s to control epidemics and poor sanitary conditions. By the end of the twentieth century, there were approximately 3,200 local boards of health in the United States.

There are two types:

• Advisory: Usually appointed by a health officer or an elected body to provide a community voice on public health issues.
• Governing: Generally mandated by state statutes. Members are appointed by an elected body or are directly elected. Their responsibilities include local health department governance, employment of the health officer, establishing public health policy, regulations, and fiscal oversight.

A balanced board of health represents the diversity of the community.

NED E. BAKER

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) (1997). National Profile of Local Boards of Health. Atlanta, GA: Author.

Content licensed from:

Author Info: NED E. BAKER, The Gale Group Inc., Macmillan Reference USA, New York, Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2002

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your healthcare provider. Please consult a healthcare professional with any health concerns you may have.