Strategic Plan
Kentucky Health Departments Association
The Kentucky Health Departments Association (KHDA) is a statewide membership organization, of health departments across the Commonwealth, that exists to help strengthen Kentucky’s public health system & local health departments.
Our work is focused in four strategy areas:
NURTURE & ENHANCE
STATEWIDE COLLABORATION
LEAD & ADVANCE
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY AND ADVOCACY
SUPPORT LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING
GUIDE & STRENGHTEN
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
Through the coordinating structure of our Association, collective efforts of local health departments, and the engagement of our partners - we contribute to our vision of healthy Kentuckians who are all supported by quality public health services & policies.
WHERE WE ARE & WHERE WE ARE HEADED
For calendar years 2023 & 2024, KHDA is focused on building on the momentum of prior year successes, strong partnerships, and legislative commitment, while helping support the re-building and recovery of member local health departments (LHDs) following years of dedicated COVID-19 response. Local health departments are engaged and optimistic. Our Association has strong leadership, partners, new programs, and robust clarity about our focus moving forward. We are excited about the opportunities ahead for our public health system – and the communities it serves – to thrive.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
For more information about KHDA, the latest strategic plan updates, operational details, how to support us, or other ways to be involved, please contact:
- Executive Director, Dana Nickles
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1. NURTURE & ENHANCE STATEWIDE COLLABORATIONthrough KHDA and a collaborative structure & culture that supports meaningful partnership & nurtures valued connections across LHDs and with DPH.
1A. KHDA structure & operations. Maintain a healthy and strong membership Association
|
|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Structure & Roles. Update KHDA structure with additional committees as needed to advance strategic KHDA priorities and support LHD priority issues & needs |
Executive Committee |
2023 – Q1/Q2 |
|
Revise KHDA bylaws to align with structure updates |
Executive Committee |
2023 – Q1/Q2 |
|
Expand/shift KHDA regions from 4 to 5 in alignment with Area Health Liaisons and public health transformation |
Executive Committee |
2023 – Q1 & ongoing |
|
Clarify roles & expectations for various leadership positions within the KHDA structure (e.g., specific roles within the Executive Committee, including regional reps) |
Executive Committee |
2023 – Q1 |
|
Planning. Finalize KHDA strategic & operational plans |
Executive Committee & KHDA staff |
2023 – Q1/Q2 (ongoing) |
|
Sustainability. Continue conversations around sustainability & funding needed to support KHDA core operations |
Executive Committee |
2023 – Q2 |
|
KHDA Communication. (cross-cutting) Create a Communication Committee; enhance KHDA communications & member value through an updated website and other branding efforts; identify additional opportunities to promote/market KHDA to members, partners, and stakeholders (including branded thank you notes, t-shirts, etc.) (also supports strategy areas 2 & 4) |
Executive & Communication Committees + KHDA staff |
2024 |
|
AmeriCorps. (cross-cutting) Create an AmeriCorps Advisory Council to guide the successful launch and implementation of the AmeriCorps program – to build KHDA capacity, support LHD workforce capacity (strategy area 3), and advance public health improvements (strategy area 4) |
Executive Committee & AmeriCorps Advisory Council |
2023-2024 |
1B. DPH partnership & communication. Optimize existing DPH gatherings & new opportunities
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(cross-cutting) |
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Existing DPH gatherings. Support existing opportunities for local and state leader connectivity through encouraging HD participation in DPH commissioners working group meetings, DPH/LHD meeting, etc. |
Executive & Communication Committees |
2023 – Q1 & ongoing |
|
New connection points. Partner with DPH to explore the creation of new connections between DPH departments and local PH leaders (connecting the state to local needs and realities for helping shape grants, implementing priority initiatives, and overall strengthening of relationships & communication) via LHD Rep for each department, creating advisory committees, or other new connections |
Executive & Communication Committees |
2023-2024 |
|
Area Health Liaisons. Define structure, process, & roles for connection and communication with Area Health Liaisons across KHDA; explore partnership opportunities across strategies |
Executive & Communication Committees |
2023 |
2. LEAD & ADVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY AND ADVOCACYby building the clarity, skills, and relationships local health directors need to help decision-makers promote & protect the public’s health.
2A. Legislative committee. Expand leadership, engagement, & communication support
|
|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Recruit a co-leader for the legislative/advocacy committee |
Executive Committee |
2023 – Q1 |
|
Recruit additional members for the committee & establish a routine meeting structure, process, and roles |
Legislative Committee Co-Chairs |
2023 – Q1 |
|
Expand the committee focus to also consider policy & advocacy support needs locally – in addition to existing state-level focus |
Legislative Committee |
2023 |
|
Stay engaged with legislators to help support long-term financial stability of local public health |
Legislative Committee & KHDA members |
2023-2024 |
|
Consider expanded involvement of KALBOH in advocacy |
Legislative Committee |
2023-2024 |
2B. Training & tools. Partner to develop trainings, messages, and tools
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|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Partner to conduct an advocacy 101 training for local health directors |
Legislative Committee & Contract Lobbyist |
2023 – Q2/Q3 |
|
Develop a 1-pager for legislators on “public health 101” |
Legislative Committee & Contract Lobbyist |
2023 – Q1 |
|
Create draft letters, calls to action, and email templates |
Communication & Legislative Committees |
Ongoing |
|
Enhance branding efforts and products to support communication with policy-makers (part of strategy 1A) |
Communication Committee & KHDA staff |
2024 |
2C. State-level policy & advocacy. Identify KHDA priorities & nurture relationships
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|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Identify KHDA priorities for the 2023 legislative session |
Legislative Committee & Contract Lobbyist |
Late 2022 |
|
Focus on building relationships and education of new legislators
|
Contract Lobbyist & KHDA Members |
2023 – Q1 |
|
Pair new health directors with more seasoned directors during initial visits with legislators |
Legislative Committee & KHDA Members |
2023 – Q1 |
|
Consider creating awards for legislative champions |
Legislative Committee |
2023 – Q1 |
|
Develop legislative agenda for the 2024 session |
Legislative Committee & Contract Lobbyist |
2023 – Q2 |
|
Brief legislators on priorities for the 2024 session |
Legislative Committee & Contract Lobbyist |
2023 – Q3/Q4 |
|
Respond as needed to areas of concern |
Legislative Committee & Contract Lobbyist |
Ongoing |
2D. Local-level policy & advocacy. Clarify KHDA role & nurture relationships
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|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Clarify the role of the Legislative Committee & KHDA in supporting local level priorities, relationships, & communication |
Legislative Committee |
2023 |
|
Build relationships with local elected officials – in partnership with KaCo, KY Magistrates Assoc, KY Judge Exec Assoc, KALBOH |
KHDA members and staff |
Ongoing |
3. SUPPORT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING for LHDsto assure the knowledge, skills, confidence, and capacity of public health leaders, their health departments, and boards.
3A. New Health Director support. Address training needs & mentor new health directors
|
|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Orientation. Continue implementing and enhancing new health director orientation |
Executive & Training Committees |
Ongoing |
|
Share emerging new health director training needs with the new Training Committee as they are identified |
Executive & Training Committees |
Ongoing |
|
Mentorship. Re-evaluate and refresh the KHDA mentorship approach to supporting new local health directors that involves matching them with seasoned/retired leaders |
Training Committee |
2023 |
3B. Training & learning. Coordinate training & support shared learning across agencies
|
|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Create & recruit members for a new Training Committee to take the lead on coordinating this strategy in partnership with DPH, Universities, and other partners |
Executive & Training Committees |
2023 – Q1 |
|
For Local Health Directors & supervisors. Partner to coordinate, develop, and deliver priority trainings specific to health director needs (e.g., budgeting, advocacy, HR, finance, operations, etc.) in partnership with DPH Workforce Development & Area Health Liaisons |
Executive & Training Committees |
2023 |
|
Board of Health training. Partner with KALBOH, DPH, and UK to develop and deploy BOH trainings; consider which of these materials can be used in other strategy areas too |
Executive & Training Committees |
2023 |
3C. Shared resources. Expand resource sharing to build LHD expertise, tools, & efficiency
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|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Forum. Reevaluate or revive the KHDA forum (on the KHDA website) to support sharing by department or topic (e.g., nursing, IT peer connection) – also helps capture expertise of members (part of strategy 1A website update) |
Shared Resources Committee & KHDA staff |
2024 |
|
Create database of shared policies & templates (on website) – (part of strategy 1A website update) |
Shared Resources Committee & KHDA staff |
2024 |
|
Options Purchasing Plan. Review this program to assess participation and expansion possibilities (e.g., software) |
Shared Resources Committee & KHDA staff |
2024 |
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Shared services. Explore and prioritize opportunities for providing additional support through technical assistance or shared staffing, resources, or contracts (legal, financial, personnel, HR, grant writing, accreditation, etc.) |
Shared Resources Committee & KHDA staff |
2024 |
|
Find funding for practicum/internships |
Shared Resources Workgroup |
2024 |
|
AmeriCorps. Support successful implementation of the AmeriCorps program to help add local workforce capacity (also strategy 1A & 4C) |
AmeriCorps Advisory Council |
2023-2024 |
4. GUIDE & STRENGTHEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMby engaging in actions that advance the transformation of public health – statewide & locally, measuring and reporting impact, and communicating about the role of LHDs.
4A. Data. Develop shared measures, tools, and identify additional priorities
|
|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Create a Data Committee to clarify data pain points, existing efforts, partners, and priorities |
KHDA Executive & Data Committee |
2023 – Q1 |
|
Partner with DPH to develop a shared set of measures to help understand and report on the impact of Public Health Transformation efforts statewide (already in process) |
Data Committee & DPH/PHT Workgroup |
2023 |
|
Continue partnership with the Academy of Science to support the development of shared survey tools across jurisdictions |
Data Committee |
2023-2024 |
|
Explore specific needs related to population data topics (e.g., coding map, health equity, data management, & vital statistics) |
Data Committee |
2023-2024 |
|
Support LHDs in evidence-based decision-making with support of annual reports from DPH [needs additional clarity] |
Data Committee |
2024 |
4B. Communication. Support public health transformation success & expand stakeholder awareness
|
|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Public Health Transformation. Continue enhancing communication with DPH to coordinate and guide public health transformation & implementation locally; start with identifying LHD current engagement in PHT workgroups & creating a mechanism for them to share updates (in alignment with efforts from 1B) |
Existing PHT workgroups & KHDA staff; Communication Committee |
2023-2024 |
|
Promote videos & graphics on public health & transformation, in partnership with DPH |
Communication Committee |
2024 |
|
Messaging about local public health. Help the public understand the full breadth of LHD services through enhanced communication (details TBD) |
Communication Committee |
2024 |
4C. Funding & Programs. Support local transformation success & KHDA programs
|
|
Accountability |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|
|
Public Health Transformation. Partner with DPH to clarify use of PHT program funds and advocate for more flexibility in categories (cost centers) |
Communication Committee or Reps on the PHT workgroups or new DPH program reps |
2023 |
|
Focus on making statewide impact/growth/improvement in programs & advocate for continued funding |
KHDA members |
2023-2024 |
|
Merit system. Explore improvements needed to the Merit System |
TBD |
2024 |
|
AmeriCorps. Support statewide launch & early implementation of AmeriCorps to support local capacity and support core program priorities (also strategy 1A & 3C) |
AmeriCorps Advisory Council & KHDA members participating in the program |
2023-2024 |