Established within the Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, the Bureau of Local Public Health Services serves as liaison between the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), local boards of health, and local public health providers for education, leadership and technical assistance on public health issues.
The Bureau of Local Public Health Services funding was established by Iowa legislation to prevent inappropriate or early institutionalization of individuals. The Bureau of Local Public Health Services contracts with each county board of health or board of supervisors to provide population-based and home care aide services. Public health nursing and home care aide services are available in every county. Every Iowan is eligible for services when the assessment identifies the need for services and adequate resources exist to provide the service. The Bureau of Local Public Health Services funding may be utilized when there is no other payment source available for consumers such as Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.
The Bureau of Local Public Health Services Regional Community Health Consultants (RCHC) are assigned to a region. The assigned RCHC is responsible for local board of health linkage/development, technical assistance for local public health agencies within counties and compliance reviews with contractors and authorized agencies.
In 1866 the original Local Health Law designated the mayor and members of the town council or the township trustees in the rural areas as the local board of health. The law gave them the authority to establish regulations for public health and safety, to control nuisances, and to regulate sources of filth and causes of sickness in communities.
In 1967 Chapter 137 of the Code of Iowa marked the beginning of a new era of public health in Iowa. Each county was required to establish a five member local board of health with one member being a physician licensed by the state of Iowa. The county board of supervisors would appoint additional members to the local board. The law provided cities with populations greater than 25,000 with the option to establish a city board of health. Counties and cities could form district boards of health.
Local boards of health have responsibility for public health in their jurisdiction. They support local public health vision, mission, and advocacy and encourage community involvement in setting public health priorities. In addition, local boards of health have been given the responsibility to oversee utilization of the Local Public Health Services Contract.
Serving on a local board of health is an honorable and noteworthy task. The success of public health in meeting the challenges of the new millennium will depend on capable and dedicated leadership by the local boards of health.