Whereas The Washington State 1998 Public Health Improvement Plan directed the public health community to participate in a collaborative process to develop "Proposed Standards for Public Health;" and

Noting that defining performance standards for public health is key to building a scientific basis for public health practice and improved decision-making; and

Noting that the development and implementation of state and national performance standards is also key to enhancing the public health infrastructure and continuous quality improvement efforts; and

Whereas Healthy People 2010 contains an objective to "…increase the proportion of state and local public health agencies that meet national performance standards for essential public health services"; and

Whereas the Washington State Department of Health, in collaboration with local health jurisdictions around the state, published "Proposed Standards for Public Health" in May, 2000; and

Whereas, it is the goal of the Washington State Public Health Association to act as a statewide advocacy organization for the advancement of public health and the improvement of the public’s health;

Therefore, the Washington State Public Health Association supports the public health community’s work in developing and adopting statewide standards for public health, and commits to participating in their development, adoption and implementation.

1. Healthy People 2010, US Department of Health & Human Services, WA D.C.: 1999 (draft).
2. Proposed Standards for Public Health in Washington State: A Collaborative Effort by State and local Health Officials (revised), WA State Department of Health, May 2000.