Important Links
CRPHD Health Department Websites
Dover - Medfield - Needham - Sherborn
Other Important Resources
Public Health Workforce Standards
Based on the Blueprint for Public Health Excellence, the Department of Public Health has identified the credentials and experience expected for a variety of personnel in local health departments. The expectation is that all public health professionals that are new to the field or have been in the field for less than 7 years work to meet the standards outlined for their position. This includes a variety of trainings, certifications, and education requirements.
Public Health Performance Standards
The Department of Public Health has identified baseline performance standards that all Health Departments in Massachusetts are expected to meet and practice, as outlined in the Blueprint for Public Health Excellence. By ensuring each Health Department is meeting each performance standard, which are based on regulatory requirements, we are one step closer to providing equitable local public health services across the state. Shared Services Arrangements aim to propel each Health Department closer towards meeting the performance standard through regional standardization of public health practices.
SAPHE (State Act for Public Health Excellence) 2.0 Regulation
Expanding upon the original SAPHE regulation, SAPHE 2.0, signed into law on November 20, 2024, aims to standardize public health services across the Commonwealth through establishing minimum standards, incentivizing Shared Service Arrangements, improving data collection systems, and establishing sustainable funding.
Foundational Public Health Services
The current Performance Standards for Local Public Health are based on Massachusetts laws and regulations. The Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) go a step further and describe the core elements of public health services that should be provided to a community. The FPHS Framework sets a minimum level of services that should be available in every community.
The Baseline Capacity Assessment was conducted across all local health departments in Massachusetts in the Fall of 2022. The results of the Assessment were reported out in groupings by Shared Service arrangements. The Assessment required each town to identify if they are meeting performance standards based on statutory requirements. The Charles River Public Health District meets 85% of performance standards. CRPHD staff are working towards having each town identify the remaining performance standard gaps and have a plan towards meeting them. See our Current Initiatives page [insert link] for more information!
North Central & MetroWest Training Hub
The Training Hub is a grant program funded through the Department of Public Health, aiming to provide subject-specific trainings to enhance the skills and expertise of local public health staff through a standardized process. Training Hubs have been regionalized into 10 separate Hubs, the Charles River Public Health District within the North Central & MetroWest Hub. The staff of the CRPHD also manage this Training Hub, which serves 42 communities. Visit our Training Hub website to learn more!