The Massachusetts Local Board of Health Emergency Operations Plan template addresses the current public health issue on how to improve readiness of local public health agencies to respond to public health emergencies including, pandemics, bioterrorism, and unusual disease outbreaks. Local Health Agents throughout the Commonwealth expressed their concern that the preparation of plans and protocols for public health emergency response was very difficult because of limited resources and other pressing public health responsibilities. The coalition recognized the need to provide a simple and effective template for realistic local planning.The Massachusetts Local Board of Health Emergency Operations Plan template addresses this public health planning issue by placing a step by step, fill-in-the blanks template into the hands of each local Health Agent and department. The template helps them to identify local response procedures, contacts, protocols, and resources.

The goal of this program is to help local public health organizations to prepare for public health emergencies.

All 5 local public health organizations representing over 3000 public health professionals are committed to ensuring the template is utilized and trainings continue.