This article characterized perceived strengths and challenges of independent and multi-municipality sharing approaches to assess cost, quality and breadth of services provided by health departments in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
February 2021 — As we approach a year of living through the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s good to take stock of what we’ve learned. Though an uphill battle remains, we have seen public health leaders face enormous challenges, form new partnerships and discover opportunities to use cross-jurisdictional sharing (CJS) to build a stronger public health foundation for the future. In our latest column, we highlight some key insights about how CJS can improve public health capacity during the pandemic and beyond.
December 2020 — Earlier this year, we decided to move forward with another round of funding through the Center’s 2020 Small Grants Program. We are pleased to announce that we have selected three grantees that are working on important CJS initiatives to advance health equity. However, the response to the CFP has left us wondering if our definition of cross-jurisdictional sharing is too narrow for the current times.
This report was developed by the Special Commission on Local and Regional Health, a 25-member body tasked with assessing the public health systems in Massachusetts. The executive summary documents key commission findings, as well as recommendations for how to improve public health in Massachusetts. The report makes the case for a more regional approach to […]
This policy forum featured new research by the New England Public Policy Center exploring if and how New England local governments could save through greater consolidation of public safety, public health, and high-level government administration services. Available online: http://www.bostonfed.org/economic/neppc/conferences/2013/regional-consolidation/index.htm
This study examines jurisdictional, organizational, and structural characteristics associated with capacity to deliver 10 essential public health services in Massachusetts, a state where most local public health departments serve small municipalities. Hyde, J., Arsenault, L., Waggett, J., Mills, B., Cox, H., MacVarish, K., et. al. (2012). Structural and organizational characteristics associated with performance of essential […]
This presentation describes the roll-out of a regionalization program in Massachusetts to reduce the number of its public health districts and create a number of shared districts that would provide equal access to health care and retain the authority of local public boards of health. The presentation describes reasons for the process and how it […]
This podcast by the Public Health Services and Systems Research (PHSSR) and the Public Health Practice-Based Research Networks (PHPBRN) presents an interview between Dr. Paul Halverson and Dr. Justeen Hyde, Co-Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN), discussing cross-jurisdictional sharing. The rationale for interest in CJS is discussed as are results from […]
This video is a keynote presentation made during the Center’s first national meeting in 2013. It provides an overview of the literature associated with cross jurisdictional sharing and provides insights about CJS from activities taking place in Massachusetts.
This presentation provides an overview of a larger report focused on the economies of scale and cost savings that could be achieved through consolidation of various public services. Kodrzycki, Y. K. (2013). The Quest for Cost-Efficient Local Government in New England: What Role for Regional Consolidation [presentation slides]. Boston, MA: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.