Little Rock — On Thursday, September 26, 2002 members of the Local Public Health System met to complete a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) survey that assesses the Local Public Health System.  The Local Public Health System includes all public, private and voluntary entities, as well as individuals and informal associations that contribute to the delivery of public health services within Pulaski County.  The survey will help answer questions regarding the components, activities, competencies and capacities of our public health system, as well as offering a complete picture of all the public health services provided in the county. The information will help local, state and national policymakers make better and more effective policy and resource decisions that will improve the public health of our area.

In January 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the availability of $1.1 billion in funding to help states protect the public's health and safety in the event of bioterrorism attacks.  Arkansas's share of more than $12 million will help strengthen the public health infrastructure and capacity of responding to bioterrorism attacks. As part of this effort, the health department has been charged with the task of assessing the Local Public Health System as a condition of continued funding. 

Organizations represented at the September 26 meeting include:

• Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)

• Veteran’s Administration

• Jacksonville Fire Department

• Rebsamen Medical Center

• Arkansas Children’s Hospital

• Southwest Regional Medical Center

• Family Service Agency

• MEMS

• North Little Rock Fire Department

• Little Rock Office of Emergency Management

• Arkansas Department of Emergency Management

• Arkansas Hospital Association

• Waste Services, Inc.

• North Little Rock Office of Emergency Management

• Arkansas Heart Hospital

• St. Vincent Health System

• Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management

• Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality

• Arkansas State Police – Troop A

• Jacksonville Police Department

• Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office

• North Little Rock Police Department

• Baptist Health Medical Center – Little Rock

• Baptist Health Medical Center – North Little Rock

• UAMS

• ADH North Little Rock Health Unit

• ADH Jacksonville Health Unit

• ADH Southwest Little Rock Health Unit

• ADH College Station Health Unit

• ADH Pulaski Central Health Unit

-##-