NACCHO releases report highlighting impact of COVID-19 response on local public health departments

-
BlogOn April 28, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) released the results of their national survey on local health department (LHD) frontline operations in a report titled “2020 Forces of Change: The CONACCHO releases report highlighting impact of COVID-19 response on local public health departments
-
Blog
NACCHO releases report highlighting impact of COVID-19 response on local public health departments
On April 28, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) released the results of their national survey on local health department (LHD) frontline operations in a report titled “2020 Forces of Change: The COVID-19 Edition”. The survey was conducted by NACCHO between October 2020 and March 2021 and measures the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local public health capacity.
The report highlights several key survey findings, which include:
- LHDs spent a total of $3.25 billion on COVID-19 response efforts.
- 51 percent of all LHDs experienced harassment as a result of COVID-19 protective measures enacted in 2020 and 65 percent reported that federal, state and local agencies did not provide any additional support or protections in response to the public backlash.
- Decades of federal disinvestment in public health left LHDs without the appropriate resources and staff to adequately respond to the pandemic. As a result, 71 percent of all LHDs had to hire at least one additional staff member to assist with their COVID-19 response operations, with 24 percent adding an additional five to 25 staff members.
- 65 percent of LHDs spent over $100,000 on their COVID-19 response operations in the first year of the pandemic.
- 80 percent of LHDs had to divert resources from core public health interventions, such as environmental health programs, in order to maintain sufficient staffing for the COVID-19 response.
- Preventive health programs, including those supporting maternal and child health, obesity prevention and substance use disorder, decreased capacity by over 60 percent.
Approximately 70 percent of the nearly 3,000 LHDs are county-based, and another eight percent serve multiple counties. County health departments provide essential public health and prevention services to residents, such as screenings and immunizations; conduct surveillance to detect and monitor emerging infectious diseases; protect the food and water supply; and prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other public health emergencies. They also implement health promotion and health risk education programs to promote healthy behaviors, as well as work with community partners to lessen the burden of chronic disease on communities and reduce health care expenditures.
Unpredictable and insufficient federal investments in LHDs over the past decade, coupled with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic response and the ongoing substance use crisis has strained the ability to sustain core public health operations. Counties support additional federal investment to boost the workforce and operational capacity of our LHDs and will continue to work with our federal partners to advance this priority.
Click here to view the full report from NACCHO and here to view the key facts infographic.
Additional Resources
- NACo Policy Brief: Protect Funding for Local Public Health Services and Prevention Programs
- NACo Report: Counties and the American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Fund: Public Health Infrastructure
On April 28, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) released the results of their national survey on local health department (LHD) frontline operations2022-05-05Blog2022-05-10
On April 28, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) released the results of their national survey on local health department (LHD) frontline operations in a report titled “2020 Forces of Change: The COVID-19 Edition”. The survey was conducted by NACCHO between October 2020 and March 2021 and measures the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local public health capacity.
The report highlights several key survey findings, which include:
- LHDs spent a total of $3.25 billion on COVID-19 response efforts.
- 51 percent of all LHDs experienced harassment as a result of COVID-19 protective measures enacted in 2020 and 65 percent reported that federal, state and local agencies did not provide any additional support or protections in response to the public backlash.
- Decades of federal disinvestment in public health left LHDs without the appropriate resources and staff to adequately respond to the pandemic. As a result, 71 percent of all LHDs had to hire at least one additional staff member to assist with their COVID-19 response operations, with 24 percent adding an additional five to 25 staff members.
- 65 percent of LHDs spent over $100,000 on their COVID-19 response operations in the first year of the pandemic.
- 80 percent of LHDs had to divert resources from core public health interventions, such as environmental health programs, in order to maintain sufficient staffing for the COVID-19 response.
- Preventive health programs, including those supporting maternal and child health, obesity prevention and substance use disorder, decreased capacity by over 60 percent.
Approximately 70 percent of the nearly 3,000 LHDs are county-based, and another eight percent serve multiple counties. County health departments provide essential public health and prevention services to residents, such as screenings and immunizations; conduct surveillance to detect and monitor emerging infectious diseases; protect the food and water supply; and prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other public health emergencies. They also implement health promotion and health risk education programs to promote healthy behaviors, as well as work with community partners to lessen the burden of chronic disease on communities and reduce health care expenditures.
Unpredictable and insufficient federal investments in LHDs over the past decade, coupled with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic response and the ongoing substance use crisis has strained the ability to sustain core public health operations. Counties support additional federal investment to boost the workforce and operational capacity of our LHDs and will continue to work with our federal partners to advance this priority.
Click here to view the full report from NACCHO and here to view the key facts infographic.
Additional Resources

About Blaire Bryant (Full Bio)
Legislative Director – Health | Large Urban County Caucus
More from Blaire Bryant
-
Webinar
Local Strategies for Reaching Families and Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Feb. 8, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmUnable to attend? Watch the recording here. -
Reports & Toolkits
County Funding Opportunities to Support Community Members Experiencing a Behavioral Health Crisis
County and local officials play a critical role in funding, implementing and coordinating a local continuum of care to support people during a behavioral health crisis. -
Reports & Toolkits
Medication-Assisted Treatment (“MAT”) for Opioid Use Disorder
This resource summarizes the evidence behind medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. -
Webinar
Reducing Jail Populations: Revisiting Technical Violations of Community Supervision to Decrease Jail Admissions and Length of Stay
Feb. 2, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmUnable to attend? Watch the recording here. -
Policy Brief
Enhance Counties' Ability to Prevent and Treat Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
Urge your members of Congress to maintain consistent funding for substance use and mental health services provided through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and pass legislation that enhances counties’ ability to provide local systems of care. Future appropriations bills should meet or exceed FY 2022 funding levels, particularly for the Community Mental Health Services (MHBG) and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grants, which allow counties to direct resources to those with the most need. -
Policy Brief
Protect Funding for Core Local Public Health Services and Prevention Programs
Urge your members of Congress, especially those who serve on the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, to protect funding for local public health services and prevention programs made possible by the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF).
-
Basic page
The Stepping Up Initiative
In May 2015, NACo and partners at the CSG Justice Center and APA Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> -
Reports & Toolkits
COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse
The COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse features timely resources for counties, including allocation estimations, examples of county programs using federal coronavirus relief funds, the latest news and more.Reports & Toolkitsdocument03127:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="ad-block no-top-margin no-bullets">
<caption>Jump to Section</caption> -
Basic page
Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
-
Reports & Toolkits
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.Reports & Toolkitsdocument10123:30 pmReports & Toolkits<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
Contact
-
Legislative Director – Health | Large Urban County Caucus(202) 942-4246
Related Posts
-
County NewsHamilton County, Ohio creates ‘Safe Sleep’ Initiative to prevent infant deathsJan. 30, 2023
-
BlogWhat have we learned about governing during the pandemic era?Jan. 27, 2023
-
BlogRecent federal action advances key maternal health policiesJan. 19, 2023
Related Resources
-
Reports & ToolkitsCounty Funding Opportunities to Support Community Members Experiencing a Behavioral Health CrisisFeb. 8, 2023
-
Reports & ToolkitsMedication-Assisted Treatment (“MAT”) for Opioid Use DisorderFeb. 6, 2023
-
Policy BriefEnhance Counties' Ability to Prevent and Treat Mental Illness and Substance Use DisordersFeb. 1, 2023