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Public Health Program is One of 23 Nationwide to Receive “Model Practice Award” in 2009
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) honored Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Newton and Brookline Health Departments at their 2009 annual conference for implementing a program that demonstrates exemplary and replicable qualities in response to a local public health need. These communities come together annually to offer a regional flu vaccination clinic which has served thousands of residents since its beginning in 2005. This collaborative project is one of 23 local public health programs selected from across the nation to receive NACCHO’s Model Practice Award.
Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Newton and Brookline Health Departments collaborate annually to offer a large scale public flu vaccination clinic. The purpose of the annual clinic is to practice vaccinating a large number of people in a small amount of time. The clinics have allowed the team to practice gathering supplies, staff, develop floor plans, communication plans as well as collaborating with other emergency planning partners in each community.
“We are proud to receive NACCHO’s Model Practice Award for our regional approach to offering flu vaccinations to a large population within a short period of time. The award is evidence of our commitment to develop and practice innovative public health plans to address impending public health emergencies,” said Christine Connolly Sharkey, health director of the Arlington Health Department. “As the nation prepares to vaccinate citizens against H1N1 flu in large public clinic settings, we feel that our years of practicing this work will pay off,” said Sharkey.
A committee of peers selected the collaborative effort for this award. The Model Practice Awards program honors initiatives – including programs, resources, and tools – that demonstrate how local health departments and their community partners can effectively collaborate to address local public health concerns. This project will become part of an online, searchable database of successful public health practices in areas ranging from immunization and maternal and child health to infectious diseases and emergency preparedness. The database will allow NACCHO to share information about what is working across the country in local public health.
Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Newton and Brookline Health Departments join a special group of health departments that exemplify the forward thinking, proactive attitude of our nation’s public health system. NACCHO congratulates this collaborative team on this important recognition.
Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Newton and Brookline Health Departments are part of a 27 community public health region, Region 4B, that surrounds the City of Boston. The Region develops plans, collaborates on projects, conducts trainings, manages a Medical Reserve Corps and assists each department with federal and state emergency planning mandates. For more information about the NACCHO Model Practice Awards, go to www.naccho.org.
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