Supporting public health providers and students effectively deliver the 10 Essential Public Health Services Advocacy See the Resolutions tab for specific ANCBH Advocacy actions Public Health Advocacy The following is adapted from an article written by Robert R. Blackburn. Health board members must embrace public health if we are to serve the people and be strong positive public health advocates. Many definitions of advocacy exist ranging from speaking or writing in favor of some thing to building relationships which change attitudes that bring about desired behavior. A simple way to define advocacy is to get the right information, to the right people at the right time, to get the public health message across. Where do we advocate? The old saying, “All politics is local” is certainly true as it applies to boards of health. As a local board of health member, we are advocates in our local community for public health. We must be advocates to our county commissioners, all local public elected officials and to the general public. We have the opportunity to be advocates on the state level on laws, regulations, and legislation impacting public health. We have the same opportunities on the national level. ANCBH will work to keep you informed on all the above issues. Being an effective advocate includes five basic concepts. Be factual, honest, and knowledgeable about your subject. Be clear, concise and concrete with your message. You, rather than someone else, must frame the issue. Cheerful persistence-we are promoting public health for the long haul. Don¹t forget to follow up and say thank you. To deal with the multi-faceted issues we face in the public health arena, we must find other groups and persons who are committed as well. They may be friends, partners, coalitions, collaborators, or others we will be working with to help us achieve our goals. Remember - “Every Where. Every Day. Every Body.” Some key national advocacy friends and groups include: National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) – the non-profit, national organization of boards of health to prepare and strengthen boards, and empower boards to promote and protect the health of their communities through education, training, and technical assistance American Heart Association (AHA) – a non-profit organization to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke American Public Health Association (APHA) – the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) – the non-profit, national organization representing the nation’s approximately 3,000 local health departments (including city, county, metro, district, and tribal agencies). Some key state-level advocacy friends or groups include: The three-organizations confluence of: NC Association of Local Health Directors – A non-profit organization of North Carolina health directors to promote health, prevent disease, protect the environment in order to ensure the public's health in North Carolina through leadership, vision, advocacy, and commitment to the principles of public health practice in our local communities and throughout the state. NC Public Health Association – A non-profit organization to promote public health and healthy lifestyles in North Carolina. NC Alliance of Public Health Agencies – A non-profit partnership organization of health departments and county-owned home health agencies to provide and implement innovative strategies and solutions to achieve goals of public health. NC Alliance for Health – A non-profit, independent, statewide coalition of individuals, businesses and public, private, professional and nonprofit organizations working together to advocate for health improvement policies before North Carolina's legislative and executive branches. NC American Heart Association. NC Healthy Schools, Department of Health and Human Services/Division of Public Health and Department of Public Instruction - The goal of North Carolina Healthy Schools is to create a working infrastructure between education and health to enable schools and communities to create a Coordinated School Health Program. NC Prevention Partners (NCPP) – A non-profit organization, working with more than 1,500 partners across the state to improve the health of all North Carolinians.

ANCBH is a non-governmental, non-profit association representing Boards of Health in North Carolina ICYMI...... Important calendar change! The ANCBH Board of Directors meeting originally scheduled for March 18 is now scheduled for March 25 at 9am . Hold the Date - April 13, 2026 @7-8pm The next Governance Network Zoom will be presented by Lyndsi McNally, from the Three Rivers District Board of Health, Kentucky: Beyond the Boardroom: Deepening Board of Health Understanding Through Experiential Learning and Community Engagement. The learning objectives include: Examine the harm reduction and community health worker programs at Three Rivers District Health Department as a case example of innovative public health practice. Apply actionable approaches to engage more directly with local health department programs beyond traditional board meetings. Download the program flyer here . Register here . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Dr. Rebecca Fry presented the February 2026 Governance Network Zoom on environmental contaminants in North Carolina's private well water, focusing on their impact on preterm birth rates and other health outcomes. She shared research findings on toxic metals like arsenic, manganese, and lead, highlighting their prevalence in certain regions and the associated health risks. Dr. Fry discussed solutions, including the development of digital tools like NC Enviroscan to help identify and address contaminated water sources. She also explored potential collaborations with local health departments and academic research labs to improve environmental health monitoring and protection. View the audio and video presentations and additional resources on the Governance Network Page . View the February ANCBH Newsletter with articles about Measles updates, Rural Health Transformation Funding, North Carolina HPV Stakeholder Meeting (Free), and more. Dr. Jerry McKee, ANCBH Board Member, was recently honored with the 2026 Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award for achieving a level of professional distinction and demonstrating a continuing dedication to the practice of psychiatric pharmacy. Among other projects, he is the project manager for the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists–Alliance Health (NC Medicaid Behavioral Health I/DD Tailored Plan) Community Pharmacy Transformation Grant. Read more about the Award and Dr. McKee . Dr. Karl Johnson began serving his term as President of ANCBH at the January 2026 meeting of the Board. Karl is an Assistant Professor of Public Health Leadership and Practice at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. View the 2026 schedule for ANCBH Board of Directors meeting on the calendar page. View the December ANCBH Newsletter highlighting the 2025–2030 North Carolina Cancer Plan, QuitlineNC – the state’s free, confidential quit-tobacco service, Radon action month, and rising Medicare costs. Merle Green, Executive Director of ANCBH presented International Public Health Agencies “Protecting the Health of People Across all Nations” A Discussion with Duke University Medical Science Students October 2025 View the presentation slides "Find your change-making team: How to build trust and partnerships with community for the public’s health" The October 13, 2025 Governance Network webinar was presented by Christina R. Welter, DrPH, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor and Director, DrPH in Leadership at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Health Policy and Administration Division. Visit the Governance Network page to access the download links. View the ANCBH Newsletter October 2025 and Click here to subscribe to future editions. View the 2024 and 2025 Award Winners presented by ANCBH to individuals and organizations displaying exemplary contributions to public health. View the ANCBH By-laws updated September 11, 2025 with the addition of a Financial Audit Committee View the August 2025 ANCBH Newsletter highlighting impact of federal legislation on NC, food recalls, hurricane season and more.... Consolidated Human Services Boards - Practical strategies for Integration - the August 11, 2025 Governance Network Zoom was presented by Denise Price, Deputy County Manager, Director of HHS, Forsyth County Natalie Craver, Deputy Director, HHS, Guilford County Kari Sanders, Assistant County Manager, Consolidated Human Services Director, Onslow County Visit the Governance Network page to access the download links. ANCBH welcomes Jerry McKee , BS, PharmD, MS, BCPP to the Board of Directors. Dr McKee is a pharmacist member on the Burke County Board of Health specializing in Psychopharmacology ANCBH Exhibited at the NC Association of Pharmacists Annual Convention in Asheville, NC on June 23. The Convention theme was Prioritizing Public Health and we enjoyed talking with the pharmacists involved with their Boards of Health and other Public Health Agencies "AI in Public Health: Peril and Promises " - The June 9th Governance Network Zoom program, presented by Kristi Nickodem, JD from the UNC School of Government. A fascinating look at the intersection of AI, patient care, and policies that affect Boards and Health Departments. Visit the Governance Network page to access the download link. Food Insecurity in NC: A Public Health Priority ANCBH will begin to highlight the organizations that are helping to meet this need. We will do this by 1) by providing an index of links to local programs on our Resource page and 2) profiling programs with demonstrated excellence. Get to know Chatham County's CORA , the first program in our Profiles in Excellence series. Dr. Rhonda Stephens presented the 5th ANCBH BOH Governance Network Zoom on February 10, 2025: Dental Public Health in NC - A State of Affairs View the slides and audio recording . 2025 Meeting dates for the ANCBH Board of Directors and the Governance Network Zoom webinars have been posted on the Calendar. ANCBH's 3rd Annual Public Health Nursing Conference: "The Power of Public Health Nurses" Program Information and Agenda (concluded) Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center, Concord NC May 2, 2025 Ask the Experts View the new Q&A about whether a county BOH member may decline to received a stipend. Tobacco 21: A resolution to protect children from vaping and nicotine addiction View the resolution adopted by ANCBH (View other resolutions and endorsements ) Ask the Experts View the new Q&A about whether a county commissioner who is preparing to fill the county commissioner seat on a board of health should take an oath of office. Ask the Experts View the new Q&A about the use of virtual platforms such as Zoom and Teams to conduct official BOH meetings and business, including NC regulations and special conditions such as a declared state of emergency. ANCBH Awards Recipients for 2024 Individuals and organizations displaying outstanding performance in Public Health were announced at the November BOH Annual Meeting in Hillsborough, NC. View the awardees. Mr. Raul Gomez presented the 4th ANCBH BOH Governance Network Zoom on: Public Health Preparedness & Response Framework View the slides and Zoom video. New ANCBH Board Member Janet O. Clayton, MPH, REHS Person County Health Department Director was recently appointed to serve as Liaison to NCALHD. View all ANCBH Board members NC Lung Cancer Screening Stakeholders meeting This meeting will focus on lung cancer screening and its connection to prevention and treatment. November 15, 2024 View the October 2024 ANCBH newsletter highlighting immunizations, Zyn(TM)-oral nicotine pouch, and animal rabies cases Ask the Experts - View the new Q&A about the voting role of a County Commissioner on a Board of Health ANCBH Annual Members Meeting November 14, 2024 Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center Hillsborough, NC 0930-2pm View Program HPV Vaccination Stakeholder Meeting Join this inaugural meeting in September to improve HPV vaccination coverage. Share successes and challenges, generate ideas, and promote action to improve HPV vaccination in North Carolina by identifying strategies for collective impact. View the August 2024 ANCBH Newsletter highlighting selected topics that are a current focus of the NC Division of Public Health. ANCBH Awards View information about the 3 awards and download the nomination form to recognize individuals or local Boards for their public health service excellence. The Boards of Health Governance Network convened via Zoom on July 22nd to hear a fantastic presentation by Elizabeth Tilson, MD State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, NC DHHS. View materials from that presentation here . Whew! It's hot out there. View CDC's Infographic on Extreme Heat and useful links to resources on preventing heat-related deaths in cars . Are ALL of your higher risk adults immunized against RSV? View the new ACIP/CDC recommendations that significantly change the landscape. View the June 2024 ANCBH newsletter highlighting forever chemicals and cancer surveillance resources in NC. ANCBH launched the Boards of Health Governance Network at the inaugural virtual meeting on May 28, 2024. View information about this exciting new network. ANCBH congratulates attendees at the 2nd Annual Public Health Nursing Conference "Investing in the Public Health Nursing Workforce" held on May 31, 2024 in Raleigh. View the highlights . ANCBH is pleased to announce a new feature called Ask the Experts Access information, opinions, and resources to help those working in Public Health from the menu bar above. A new resource guide focusing on RSV in adults was posted April 16, 2024 to the Infectious Diseases: New Therapeutics section . ANCBH recommends reading the December 4, 2023 article by Will Atwater in NC Health News: Rose Hoban, Founder and Editor Environmental Health: From creeks to clouds: The invisible invasion of microplastics. January was proclaimed as Radon Action Month in NC. Learn more about radon risks and testing. ANCBH February 2024 Newsletter was posted to the Resources tab above. View the ANCBH Board of Directors Meeting Calendar for 2024 ANCBH Nov ember 2023 Newsletter was posted to the Resources tab above. Calvert Jeffers, DVM and Ms. Eva Brown, MPA have been designated as Director Emeritus Board Members effective November 2023 Two advocacy letters were added to the Resolutions tab: Access to Covid-19 antivirals in Underserved Populations and Violence to Public Health Workers Orientation slides for ne w ANCBH Board of D irectors Members have been added to the website. ANCBH revised and approved the Association's By-Laws at the September 20, 2023 Annual Meeting. ANCBH announces 2023 Recipients of 3 Distinguished Public Health Awards: Surry County Health and Nutrition Center and the Office of Substance Abuse and Recovery Surry County Board of Health Stanly County Consolidated Health and Human Services Board View the Press R elease Don't kiss your bac kyard poultry and small turtles ! CDC warns of Salmonella risk to humans. Also see CDC Newsroom Tab above. NC DHHS issues updated COVID-19 key treatment messages, information about product accessibility and an overview of treatment options to healthcare providers for outpatient treatment of COVID-19 (rev. September 6 2023). ANCBH Board of Directors Benjamin Tillett, PharmD (Person) serves as President of NALBOH and Marielena Moreno-Garcia , BSN, RN, CCM, NE-BC (Alamance) serves on the NALBOH Board of Directors in addition to her liaison role to the NCLHD Accreditation Board Interactive Maps – Organization and Governance of NC Human Services Agencies was added to the Resources Tab above Vaccine Confidence: A link to tools for Boards of Health and frontline providers was posted to the Resources Tab above ANCBH thanks the 200+ public health nurses and 17+ speakers who attended the Celebration in Greensboro, NC May 5, 2023 View more about the Conference Welcome to ANCBH, where our goal is clear: to pursue excellence in public health in North Carolina by providing leadership and support for local Boards of Health in their efforts to protect and promote the public's health. About ANCBH BOH Accreditation and Training

Address and email contacts for ANCBH, the Executive Director, and the current President of the Board CONTACT Who to Contact and How Primary Contact: Merle Green, MPH, MBA Executive Director, ANCBH Email: mgreen@alamancecountync.gov or mgreen4@triad.rr.com Surface Mail and Shipping: Association of North Carolina Boards of Health c/o Merle Green, MPH, MBA 730 Trollinger Road, Graham NC 27253 Who to Contact and How President ANCBH: Karl Timothy Johnson, PhD Public Health, BA Associate Member, Assistant Professor UNC Gillings School of Public Health E mail: ANCBHboard@gmail.com ANCBH we bmaster : For com ments, corrections, additions Email: ANCBHboard@gmail.com

BOARDS OF HEALTH GOVERNANCE NETWORK The ANCBH Board of Directors supports the value and importance of Boards of Health and Local Health Departments in Advancing Public Health in North Carolina. Mission: To identify and address training needs, enable sharing information, identify best practices, learn stories of success/growth, and build relationships among board members per ANCBH’s mission Goals: 1. Offer members of Boards of Health opportunity to learn from colleagues. 2. Help boards tap into new sources of knowledge as we serve the citizens of NC Invitees: Members of NC Boards of Health, Local Health Directors, members of Consolidated Boards, County Commissioners serving as Boards of Health, and ANCBH board members Virtual Meetings: Registration is FREE and meetings are held approximately every other month via Zoom. View the ANCBH Calendar for upcoming meetings. Upcoming Meeting: April 13, 2026 "Beyond the Boardroom: Deepening Board of Health Understanding Through Experiential Learning and Community Engagement presented by Lyndsi McNally, Three Rivers District Board of Health, Kentucky. Register here . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Past Meetings (Note: some Zoom products display only 30 minutes of the video and audio. Download the entire file to your computer to see the full video.) February 9 20226 "Big Data, Local Impact: Exploring Environmental Determinants of Health" presented by Rebecca Fry, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She will discuss private well testing, environmental contaminants, and opportunities for local health departments to partner with her lab on community contaminant testing and applied environmental health research. View and download the video. Listen and download the audio . Link to additional resources on the UNC Superfund website. Download the community flyer on private well water contamination. December 8, 2025 @7-8pm "Advocacy Training" presented by Scott Thorpe, Executive Director of Southern Alliance of Public Health Leadership and Taylor Norris, BA, Senior Manager of Engagement and Advocacy. Get the complete picture of the current political climate and why your advocacy is so crucial right now for Public Health. View the video . Listen to the audio . View the slides October 13, 2025 @7-8pm " Find your change-making team: How to build trust and partnerships with community for the public’s health " presented by Christina R. Welter, DrPH, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor and Director, DrPH in Leadership at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Health Policy and Administration Division. View the video . Listen to the audio . View the slides . View presentation abstract August 11, 2025 @7-8pm "Consolidated Human Service Boards of Health: Practical strategies for integration " will be presented by representatives from three Consolidated Human Services Agencies and their Boards—Forsyth, Guilford, Onslow--will describe their experiences within the consolidated model, including the strengths, challenges, and opportunities for meaningful integration. Download the audio file , video file , supplemental resources , presentation #1 Panelists: Denise Price, Deputy County Manager, Director of Health and Human Services, Forsyth County Natalie Craver, Deputy Director, Health and Human Services, Guilford County Kari Sanders, Assistant County Manager, Consolidated Human Services Director, Onslow County June 9, 2025 @7-8pm "Artificial Intelligence in Public Health: Peril and Promises" will be presented by Kristi Nickodem, JD, Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC-CH School of Government. Download the Zoom video to view the full 60 minutes. Click to view additional resources provided by the speaker: Developing guidelines for the use of generative artificial intelligence in local government Unpacking the potential risks of generative AI chatbots on local government websites The April 14, 2025 presentation on Living with undocumented status: health and wellbeing challenges has been postponed until a future date. February 10, 2025 @7-8pm "A State of Affairs: Dental Public Health in NC" will be presented by Rhonda Stephens, DDS, MPH •Professor of the Practice, Public Health Leadership and Practice at Gillings School of Public Health & •Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, UNC Adams School of Dentistry. View the slides and the Zoom audio recording . November 18, 2024 @7-8pm "What Health Board Members Need to Know About PH Preparedness" will be presented by Raul Gomez, Disaster Preparedness Manager, Guilford County Dept of Public Health. Mr. Gomez was formerly the Emergency Management Coordinator at Cone Health System. This training can count toward your accreditation requirements. View the slides , the audio recording or the Zoom video recording . September 23, 2024 @7-8pm "Results of the NCIPH's BOH Training Task Force" will be presented by Karl Johnson, PhD. Assistant Professor UNC Gillings School of Public Health and Associate Member ANCBH. Join your colleagues for this free virtual (Zoom) program. View the slides and the Zoom video recording. July 22, 2024 @7-8pm Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, NC State Health Director/Chief Medical Officer NC DHHS, discussed the critical role of local Boards of Health in North Carolina's decentralized public health system. View the slides and the Zoom video recording . May 28, 2024 Inaugural meeting @7-8pm: "The Role of Local BOHs as a Critical Public Health Institution". View the slides and the Zoom video recording of the presentation by Vaughn Upshaw, DrPH, MPH, EdD, Chair, Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice at UNC Chapel Hill and founding member of ANCBH.

Resolutions and Endorsements The ANCBH Board of Directors supports the value and importance of Boards of Health and Local Health Departments in Advancing Public Health in North Carolina by adopting the following: Resolutions Structural Racism Resolution in support of Tobacco 21 to Protect Our Kids from Vaping and Nicotine Addiction (November 2024) Closing North Carolina’s Medicaid Coverage Gap (February 2023) Endorsements North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors 2023 Legislative Priorities Advocacy Letters Access to Covid-19 antivirals in Underserved Populations: HHS Secretary ( October 2023) Violence to Public Health Workers : CDC and HHS ( December 2019)

Lists the meeting schedule for ANCBH and other key state and national Public Health organizations Calendar of Events ANCBH Board of Directors Meetings 2026 (all meetings begin at 0900 and are via Zoom unless otherwise noted) January 21, 2026 March 25, 2026 (rescheduled from March 18) May 20, 2026 July 15, 2026 September 16, 2026 November 18, 2026 Upcoming meetings ANCBH Governance Network Webinars - See the Governance Network tab for dates and topics National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) See the events calendar for upcoming NACCHO programs National Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference (NRPA) See the events calendar for upcoming NRPA programs National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) See the events calendar for upcoming NALBOH programs North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA) See the events tab for upcoming NCPHA programs North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors (NCALHD) See the events calendar for upcoming NCALHD programs Past meetings ANCBH Board of Health Governance Network "Consolidated Human Services Boards of Health: Practical strategies for integration" August 11, 2025 via Zoom ANCBH's Board of Health Governance Network "Artificial Intelligence in Public Health: Peril and Promises" Kristi Nickodem, JD, Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC-CH School of Government. June 9, 2025 via Zoom. ANCBH's Board of Health Governance Network "Living with undocumented status: health and wellbeing challenges" April 14, 2025 via Zoom has been postponed until a future date. ANCBH's 3rd Annual Public Health Nursing Conference: "The Power of YOU" Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center, Concord NC May 2, 2025 View Program Information and Agenda (conference concluded) ANCBH's Board of Health Governance Network A State of Affairs: Dental Public Health in NC Rhonda Stephens, DDS, MPH •Professor of the Practice, Public Health Leadership and Practice at Gillings School of Public Health & •Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, UNC Adams School of Dentistry February 10, 2025 @ 7-8pm via Zoom ANCBH's Board of Health Governance Network What Health Board Members Need to Know About PH Preparedness Raul Gomez, Disaster Preparedness Manager, Guilford County Dept of Public Health November 18, 2024 @ 7-8pm via Zoom Program information ANCBH Annual Meeting November 14, 2024; check-in 0930, meeting 10-2 1020 US Hwy 70 W, Hillsborough, NC Bonnie B. Davis Environmental and Agricultural Center Program information North Carolina Lung Cancer Screening Stakeholders: NC Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control November 15, 2024 Program Information and Registration UNC William B. Aycock Family Medicine Building 590 Manning Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27559 ANCBH's Board of Health Governance Network : Upcoming meetings for all 88 BOH in 100 NC counties September 23, 2024 @ 7-8pm Program Information North Carolina HPV Vaccination Stakeholder Meeting Program information and Registration September 12, 2024; Thursday 8:30 AM to 03:30 PM EDT Chapel Hill, NC 27559 ANCBH's 2nd Annual Public Health Nursing Conference: "Investing in the Public Health Nurse Workforce" McKimmon Conference and Training Center, NC State Campus May 31, 2024 @ 9am-330pm Program Information

Health Related Websites State Level North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors www.ncalhd.org North Carolina Division of Public Health www.ncpublichealth.com North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation https://nclhdaccreditation.unc.edu North Carolina Institute for Public Health www.sph.unc.edu/nciph North Carolina Association of County Boards of Social Services http://ncacbss.org North Carolina Association of County Commissioners http://www.ncacc.org/ Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research (UNC) www.schsr.unc.edu North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services www.ncdhhs.gov North Carolina General Assembly www.ncleg.net North Carolina School of Government (formerly the Institute of Government) www.sog.unc.edu North Carolina Institute of Medicine www.nciom.org North Carolina Public Health Association www.ncpha.com North Carolina Citizens for Public Health, Inc. www.nccph.com National Level National Association of Local Boards of Health www.nalboh.org American Public Health Association www.apha.org Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov Library of Congress www.loc.gov Research America www.researchamerica.org Trust for America’s Health www.tfah.org United States House of Representatives www.house.gov United States Senate www.senate.gov

Questions and answers about public health-related topics Ask the Experts This page is devoted to sharing information about challenging or unique Public Health topics. Local Boards of Health members, Health Department Directors, and Health Department Staff are invited to submit a question or answers to questions that may benefit others. Please email Merle Green to submit your questions or answers. Disclaimer: The information, views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the authors and are published here for general informational purposes. In the rapidly evolving world of public health, therapeutics, and law, the accuracy of some information may be time-limited. Readers should confirm all information and opinions before making decisions. Q&A Category Legal Ask an Expert: Who is the official Chair for the different governance models of Boards of Health (BOHs) in North Carolina? All “traditional” boards of health (county BOHs, district BOHs, and hospital authority BOHs) are required by state statute to elect a chair on an annual basis. The BOH must have a quorum of BOH members in order to elect a chair and only BOH members can vote (the county manager, for example, would not get to vote). Anyone on the BOH can be elected by their BOH colleagues to serve as chair. Additionally, some BOHs elect a vice-chair who can step in if the chair isn’t available for some reason- but having a vice-chair is entirely optional and is not required by state law. For consolidated human services agencies, the county government has chosen to bring social services and at least one other human services agency (often, but not always, public health), under one roof- thereby collapsing them into a single county agency. The governing board that is then created mirrors this setup and instead of having a separate BOH and DSS boards, you’d have a single consolidated human services (CHS) board that includes representatives from the DSS and public health worlds, as well as members of the public. Under state law, the CHS board, just like a “traditional” BOH, must elect a chair every year- and the chair could be anyone on the CHS board who is properly elected by a majority of their fellow CHS board members at a meeting of the CHS board where there is a quorum present. Finally, there’s the question of who is considered the “chair” if the board of county commissioners (BOCC) dissolves the “traditional” BOH or the CHS board and takes on their functions. It sounds like in some counties where the BOCC serves as the board of health (or the CHS board, in the case of a county with a consolidated human services agency), the perception is that the BOCC’s role as the BOH is separate from the existence/other work of the BOCC. For example, it sounds like in some counties, the BOCC adjourns and then reconvenes (essentially holding an entirely separate meeting) to take up any public health related matters. When the BOCC serves as the BOH (or the CHS board), the “chair” is the same person who was elected to serve as chair of the BOCC under G.S. 153A-39. There is no legal basis for electing a different chair who takes over the gavel only when the BOCC takes up public health related matters. Finally, when the BOCC serves as the BOH, they are required to appoint an advisory committee on public health. There is no law directing the advisory committee to elect a chair, though they could certainly do so. Because the advisory committee is solely advisory in nature, the duties and powers of the chair of the advisory committee would be limited to things like scheduling the advisory committee meetings, and running those meetings. All “traditional” boards of health (county BOHs, district BOHs, and hospital authority BOHs) are required by state statute to elect a chair on an annual basis. The BOH must have a quorum of BOH members in order to elect a chair and only BOH members can vote (the county manager, for example, would not get to vote). Anyone on the BOH can be elected by their BOH colleagues to serve as chair. Additionally, some BOHs elect a vice-chair who can step in if the chair isn’t available for some reason- but having a vice-chair is entirely optional and is not required by state law. For consolidated human services agencies, the county government has chosen to bring social services and at least one other human services agency (often, but not always, public health), under one roof- thereby collapsing them into a single county agency. The governing board that is then created mirrors this setup and instead of having a separate BOH and DSS boards, you’d have a single consolidated human services (CHS) board that includes representatives from the DSS and public health worlds, as well as members of the public. Under state law, the CHS board, just like a “traditional” BOH, must elect a chair every year- and the chair could be anyone on the CHS board who is properly elected by a majority of their fellow CHS board members at a meeting of the CHS board where there is a quorum present. Finally, there’s the question of who is considered the “chair” if the board of county commissioners (BOCC) dissolves the “traditional” BOH or the CHS board and takes on their functions. It sounds like in some counties where the BOCC serves as the board of health (or the CHS board, in the case of a county with a consolidated human services agency), the perception is that the BOCC’s role as the BOH is separate from the existence/other work of the BOCC. For example, it sounds like in some counties, the BOCC adjourns and then reconvenes (essentially holding an entirely separate meeting) to take up any public health related matters. When the BOCC serves as the BOH (or the CHS board), the “chair” is the same person who was elected to serve as chair of the BOCC under G.S. 153A-39. There is no legal basis for electing a different chair who takes over the gavel only when the BOCC takes up public health related matters. Finally, when the BOCC serves as the BOH, they are required to appoint an advisory committee on public health. There is no law directing the advisory committee to elect a chair, though they could certainly do so. Because the advisory committee is solely advisory in nature, the duties and powers of the chair of the advisory committee would be limited to things like scheduling the advisory committee meetings, and running those meetings. If additional information is desired, please contact Kirsten Leloudis, JD at the School of Government at UNC Chapel Hill. Email - kirsten@sog.unc.edu. Note: Answered for the ANCBH BOH Chair Network Working Group on February 3, 2024 Ask an Expert: Does the County Commissioner on the BOH have full voting rights on matters being considered by the board. The board will be sending a recommendation regarding a specific issue to the BOCC for their vote. The question is whether the BOCC member must abstain from voting on the BOH due to the fact that the BOCC will address the same issue at their next meeting? This question is about the role of the county commissioner who also sits ex officio on the board of health. A county commissioner can vote to take action on a recommendation that the board of health (which includes that same county commissioner) made to the commissioners. The fact that the county commissioner serves on both the board of health and board of commissioners does not create a conflict that would require the commissioner to recuse themselves from voting on the recommendation in this situation. For consolidated human services agencies, the county government has chosen to bring social services and at least one other human services agency (often, but not always, public health), under one roof- thereby collapsing them into a single county agency. The governing board that is then created mirrors this setup and instead of having a separate BOH and DSS boards, you’d have a single consolidated human services (CHS) board that includes representatives from the DSS and public health worlds, as well as members of the public. Under state law, the CHS board, just like a “traditional” BOH, must elect a chair every year- and the chair could be anyone on the CHS board who is properly elected by a majority of their fellow CHS board members at a meeting of the CHS board where there is a quorum present. If additional information is desired, please contact Kirsten Leloudis, JD at the School of Government at UNC Chapel Hill. Email - kirsten@sog.unc.edu. Note: Answered September 2024 Can Board of Health members use virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom or Teams for attending board meetings or when discussing budget amendments? Has there been any specific guidance from the state on this issue? Generally, remote meetings held through virtual platforms like Zoom or Teams or over the phone are allowed under NC law. However, you may want to check your board of health policies and other local policies to ensure they don’t prohibit these types of meetings. A meeting that you hold in this manner also needs to be noticed (just like any other board of health meeting) in accordance with NC open meeting laws. If the board holds a meeting using teleconference or other electronic means, the open meetings law requires the board to provide “a location and means whereby members of the public may listen to the meeting.” The board must specify that location information in the notice of the board meeting. At a minimum, this means the board must provide an online meeting link or teleconference information to the public in advance of the meeting. The open meetings law does not require the board to provide any way for members of the public to speak to or communicate with the board during a remote meeting. In other words, members of the public must be able to hear the board meeting, but the board does not have to provide a method for the public to contribute to the board meeting. However, a board may want to provide a way for members of the public to speak during remote meetings if the board has decided (in its own rules of procedure) to routinely allow public comment periods during its meetings. If in your county the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) serves as the board of health, then there’s one additional wrinkle that’s important to be aware of and that comes from a recent Court of Appeals decision in State of North Carolina v. Anson County. In the past, it was unclear whether or not members of a BOCC who join an official meeting remotely can be counted towards the board’s quorum for the purpose of the board being able to take official action. However, this past summer, the Court of Appeals addressed this question head on and determined that members who join remotely can’t be counted towards the quorum - which means that if your entire meeting is held virtually (rather than in-person), then there’s no quorum, which could inhibit the board from taking official action. This case clearly applies to situations where the BOCC serves as the board of health. Appointed boards of health do not appear to be directly impacted by the court’s decision, it is possible that the court could apply similar analysis to future cases involving a board of health. Kristina Wilson, Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government, UNC School of Government has written about this decision and its implications here: https://canons.sog.unc.edu/2024/08/the-court-of-appeals-addresses-emergency-meetings-and-remote-quorum/. One suggestion she makes is that a BOCC could try to ensure that at least enough members to constitute a quorum show up to the meeting in person so that the board can feel more secure about being able to take official action. (Other members could join remotely, but just wouldn’t be counted towards the quorum). In special situations, your board may also have a workaround for this entire issue: the Court of Appeals specified that board members who aren’t physically present at the meeting but join remotely can be counted towards the quorum if the meeting is being held during a state of emergency declared by the legislature or the governor. If the BOCC (acting as the board of health) does hold entirely remote meetings during the state of emergency, you also need to ensure that you meet the requirements set out at G.S. 166A-19.24 (e.g., if someone is joining by phone rather than video call, they need to announce their name anytime they speak or vote). If additional information is desired, please contact Kirsten E. Leloudis, JD at the School of Government at UNC Chapel Hill. Email - kirsten@sog.unc.edu Note: Answered for the ANCBH BOH Governance Network. Revisions posted December 11, 2024 I have an incoming commissioner appointment. Does the commissioner seat require an oath of office? A county commissioner who is preparing to fill the county commissioner seat on a board of health should take an oath of office before the commissioner begins to exercise any of the powers or duties associated with their board of health role. Although a county commissioner has likely taken an oath of office already for their county commissioner position, that office and the board of health seat are arguably different public offices- and therefore, the cautious approach would be for the commissioner to take a separate oath of office for each role. If additional information is desired, please contact Kirsten E. Leloudis, JD at the School of Government at UNC Chapel Hill. Email - kirsten@sog.unc.edu Note: Answered for the ANCBH BOH Governance Network. Revisions posted January 5, 2025 A duly appointed Board of Health member would like to decline receiving a stipend for attending Board of Health Meetings. Is there anything preventing the Health Director (or county) from allowing them to decline the stipend? For an appointed county board of health, the the statute that applies regarding per diem and reimbursements is G.S. 130A-35. Paragraph (h) says “A member may receive a per diem in an amount established by the county board of commissioners (emphasis added).” Because the law says board members “may” receive a per diem- not that they “shall” receive it- I think it’s probably just fine if a particular board member declines to accept any per diem that is being offered to them. As a best practice and for good recordkeeping purposes, I’d recommend having the board member communicate in writing that they don’t want to receive the per diem (or any other reimbursements they may be entitled to, if that’s also the case). As always, you might also wish to run this by your county attorney, who might have additional insights to offer. f additional information is desired, please contact Kirsten E. Leloudis, JD at the School of Government at UNC Chapel Hill. Email - kirsten@sog.unc.edu Note: Answered for the ANCBH BOH Governance Network. Posted February 9, 2025, Revised February 10 2025

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Recognition ANCBH Board Members advocating for Public Health Watson S. Rankin Legacy Award 2022-2023 Barbara Ann Hughes, PhD, MPH, RDN, LDN, FADA, FAND was awarded the Rankin Legacy Award at the honors luncheon at the NCPHA Annual Conference in Wilmington. The Rankin Legacy Award is given to a NCPHA member in recognition of their outstanding contributions to public health in NC over the member's lifetime. Her many leadership roles in public health and nutrition organizations include being Past-President, National Association of Local Boards of Health and Past-House of Delegates, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Ham Stevens, MD Award 2022 Merle Green, MPH, MBA was presented with the Ham Stephens award, given to individuals who exemplify the qualities of a former health director and friend of public health, Ham Stevens, M.D. Dr. Stevens was largely responsible for bringing administrative health directors and medical health directors together to form the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors (NCALHD). Merle was recognized for her many achievements in community-based health centers, health promotion, consensus building, volunteer service on community Boards, and leadership in public health. NCALHD also recognized Merle for her mentorship of young health professionals, faculty appointments at several colleges and universities in NC, and for her advocacy for population-based health services. National Association of Local Boards of Health ANCBH is providing leadership at the national level. At the Annual Business Meeting, held on August 2nd 2022 in conjunction with the NALBOH Annual Conference, Benjamin W. Tillett, RPh, PharmD serves as President of NALBOH. Dr. Tillett has provided outstanding leadership to the ANCBH Board as its President and is well qualified to lead NALBOH as they support local Boards of Health in their current and emerging public health challenges. Mary C. Egan Award 2022 Barbara Ann Hughes, PhD, MPH, RDN, LDN, FADA, FAND has received the 2022 Mary C. Egan Award from the APHA (American Public Health Association) Food and Nutrition Section. This national award recognizes the professional contributions and outstanding services of public health nutritionists. The services may include developing new approaches to public health nutrition, mentoring, nutrition education, and addressing special nutrition needs.

ANCBH: Projects and Research Community-based blood pressure screening, education, and referral program The American Heart Association and the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health (ANCBH) established in September 2022 a community-based blood pressure screening, education, and referral program in collaboration with local health departments in Guilford and Forsyth counties (Triad) to provide cardiovascular self-management options due to the lack of community education and wellness centers in communities. This effort addresses access to health promotion and cardiovascular disease prevention. Read more about this successful project that deployed trained Lay Health Advisors and site leaders utilizing evidence-based practices and programs to assist with educating participants on health and wellness for improving health. Nurse conference Public Health Nurses Conference - Our Nurses, Our Future: You Make a Difference ANCBH saw the clear need to celebrate and acknowledge the work of Public Health Nurses in NC. Nurses from all public health departments in North Carolina were invited for a day of teaching, training, celebration, fun, and fellowship. More than 200 public health nurses attended the conference on May 5, 2023 in Greensboro. Public Health nurses throughout NC have been heavy-lifters during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly from 2020 through 2022, yet continuing even now. Many nurses have experienced long work hours, new duties, challenging responsibilities, family interruptions, stress, threats, and even burnout. We determined that one way of showing nurses that we are aware and empathetic to their recent plight is to sponsor this one-day “get away” motivational event addressing career mental and emotional health. The key message of resilience and growth was addressed by multiple speakers, interactive exercises, and role-play in break-out sessions over the course of the day. One highlight of the conference was “Stories from the Field: How I Survived the Pandemic as a Public Health Nurse” presented by a panel of 4 nurses. View the program agenda , photos, and sponsors o f this conference. This program was offered through a collaboration between the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health, the North Carolina Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators, the North Carolina Public Health Association, and the Office of the Chief Public Health Nurse/Public Health Nurse Institute for Continuing Excellence.

ANCBH Public Health Nursing Conference May 31, 2024 Raleigh, NC 1/1 Photos courtesy of Hannah Rodgers, MPH, ANCBH Board Member and Alecia Smith, Ph.D., Communications and Public Relations Manager Durham County Health Department