Statute Requirements
Local Public Health Act
CHBs have statutory responsibility under the Local Public Health Act and must address and implement the essential local public health activities. Additionally, CHBs must assure that:
- a community health assessment and plan are completed on a regular cycle;
- community health needs are prioritized in a manner that involves community participation; and
- needed public health services are developed and implemented.
Full Summary: Board of Health Powers and Duties
Table: Local Public Health Authorities and Mandates
Population Requirements and Community Health Boards
The Local Public Health Act requires each CHB to serve a population of at least 30,000 people. If a single county doesn't meet the population requirement, it can form a CHB with one or more neighboring counties. If a CHB serves three or more contiguous counties, the minimum population requirement does not apply. There are currently 50 CHBs in Minnesota.
The number of CHBs in the system has varied over time and is subject to change. CHBs are required to have a community health services administrator and a medical consultant. Members of the CHB are either elected or appointed; the membership, composition, and business practices of CHBs vary throughout the state
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Local Public Health Assessment and Planning
This process serves to:
- assess and prioritize the health needs of their communities;
- assess and prioritize their own internal capacity to meet those health needs; and
- develop an action plan (community health improvement plan and capacity improvement plan) to meet those needs.
For more information, visit:
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Planning and Performance Measurement Reporting System (PPMRS)
The Minnesota Department of Health along with SCHSAC has developed a Web-based system that collects and reports on the activities, funding, staffing and performance of Minnesota's local public health departments. This system, the Planning and Performance Measurement Reporting System (PPMRS) provides to the MDH and local public health:
- a description of the key aspects of Minnesota's local public health system;
- standardized quality reports for ongoing evaluation, decision making, and technical assistance for improving local public health services;
- information for accountability for local public health and MDH to meet the requirements of state and federal reporting requirements; and
- up-to-date contact information for local health departments and community health boards.
For more information on PPMRS, visit:
