How can state law encourage regional collaboration?

This project will examine regional approaches to local public health service delivery in Colorado and examine challenges and barriers to the success of current approaches in the context of law. The Colorado Public Health Practice-Based Research Network will undertake: 1) a national review of state laws that directly impact regionalization and functional regional approaches in local public health; 2) a legal analysis of the Colorado Public Health Act of 2008 in terms of its impact on regionalization and regional approaches; and 3) a mapping study of regional approaches in Colorado that includes an analysis of legal instruments used to implement regional approaches, and a qualitative study of the determinants of the legal or structural barriers to regional approaches. Deliverables for this project include 1) A report on current practices, current models of regional approaches, and examples of legal instruments used, 2) Presentation and talking points for local public health directors 3)  ‘Basics on public health law and systems research’ and a matrix/database of regional approaches,for public health practitioners