Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about 2003-04 CHA Update

  1. <When is the CHA Update due?
  2. <Whom should the CHA Update be submitted to (and how many copies)?
  3. <Whom can we contact for more information?
  4. <What if we are not able to submit the CHA Update in time?
  5. <What do you mean by (a) Focus Area; (b) Community; (c) Strategy; (d) Service resources; (e) Gaps; (f) Strengths; (g) Prioritization process; and other terms used in the Update.
  6. <Will there be training and/or technical sessions scheduled?
  7. <There are a lot of CHA indicators in Part I. Do you expect us to review all of them for the 2003-04 CHA Update?
  8. <How does "Bioterrorism" fit in with the CHA Update?
  9. <"Our Local Health Department has been following an MAPP process. For the 2003-04 CHA, could we submit information on this with the format suggested by our local partners, rather than a format suggested by NYSDOH?"
  10. <What is the timeline for submitting CHAs and related documents to NYSDOH?
  11. <"What if, our LHD completed a comprehensive CHA process in collaboration with community partners in 2001, and plans to do the next comprehensive one in 2005, but the NYSDOH comprehensive CHA is due in 2004?"
  12. <How will the 2003-04 CHA Update information be used and reviewed?
  13. <We are a very small LHD and need help with doing our CHA. Who can we approach to assist us?

  1. <When is the CHA Update due?The CHA Update is due to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) by Dec. 31, 2002.

  2. <To whom should the CHA Update be submitted (and how many copies)?Three copies of the CHA Update are required to be submitted;
    Two copies to - Lucy Mazzaferro, Office of Local Health Services, Center for Community Health, 821 Corning Tower, Albany, NY 12237, Phone: (518) 473-4223; Fax: (518)473-8714; email:lam02@health.state.ny.us

    One copy to - Regional office . . . .


  3. <Whom can we contact for more information?Please look through the FAQs, and if your question is not answered, contact your regional office staff person, listed below, via email or phone. A CHA Secure Discussion Forum has been also set up on the HIN if you would like to post your question.


  4. <What if we are not able to submit the CHA Update in time?The 2003-04 CHA Update is due by December 31, 2002. As always, you can request an extension by contacting Lucy Mazzaferro, Office of Local Health Services, 821 Corning Tower, Albany, NY 12237. Phone: (518) 473-4223. Email: lam02@health.state.ny.us

  5. <What do you mean by (a) Focus Area; (b) Community; © Strategy; (d) Service resources; (e) Gaps; (f) Strengths; (g) Prioritization process; and other terms used in the Update.annotated glossary or the comprehensive glossary

  6. <Will there be training and/or technical sessions scheduled?Training/technical sessions have been scheduled for the following dates and sites in Fall. Please register by date, to be announced shortly, if you plan on participating.

  7. <There are a lot of CHA indicators in Part I. Do you expect us to review all of them for the 2003-04 CHA Update?LHDs are expected to review all listed indicators for which county and/or state-level data is available. It is time-consuming to review all of them. Most of the county-level indicators currently available are in the Community Health Data Set in the HIN. LHDs are advised to review at least the indicators identified as part of Article 6. Over the next year, it should be easier to do this review, as this "CHA core indicators" table will be available on the HIN and will be populated with data.

  8. <How does "Bioterrorism" fit in with the CHA Update?For now, it is up to LHDs to identify "Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness" as an issue under Part 1: Emerging Issues and/or Part 2: Focus Areas. As NYSDOH collects more information on "public health preparedness", it will be incorporated formally into the CHA

  9. <"Our Local Health Department has been following an MAPP process. For the 2003-04 CHA, could we submit information on this with the format suggested by our local partners, rather than a format suggested by NYSDOH?"Yes. All LHDs will complete the summary form and attach to the CHA in a format of their choice.

  10. <What is the timeline for submitting CHAs and related documents to NYSDOH?
    Document Period covered Due Date Comments
    CHA Update
    CHA Full
    CHA Update
    CHA Update
    CHA FUll    		 2003-2004;
    2005-2010;
    2007-2008;
    2009-2010;
    2011-2016    		 December 2002;
    October 2004;
    October 2006;
    October 2008;
    October 2010    		 Full CHA is due every six years, and CHA Update once in two years between full CHAs
    MPHSP 2003 December 2002 Should be completed every other year unless discussed otherwise
    Performance Reports One year December of every year Due annually
    State Aid Application One year Feb. 28th of the year covered, or 30 days after adoption of municipal budget Due annually


  11. <"What if, our LHD completed a comprehensive CHA process in collaboration with community partners in 2001, and plans to do the next comprehensive one in 2005, but the NYSDOH comprehensive CHA is due in 2004?"In 2004, you would still need to complete the "summary form" and can attach the most recently completed, comprehensive CHA with any updates. When the comprehensive CHA is completed in 2005, please send a copy that can to used to amend the CHA on file to Article 6 and regional staff at NYSDOH.

  12. <How will the 2003-04 CHA Update information be used and reviewed?The information submitted in the 2003-04 CHA Update will be entered into the newly developed CHA database. NYSDOH will review to assure that at least the CHA core indicators for which data is available has been reviewed, and to get an understanding of focus areas local health departments are working on, or those that have been deleted. Selected reports will be shared among staff at the central, regional and program offices within NYSDOH and within local health departments. Feedback on the process of completing the summary form, and its usefulness, will be considered in preparing the guidance for the 2005-2010 CHA.

  13. <We are a very small LHD and need help with doing our CHA. Who can we approach to assist us?Work with your regional office staff person to identify your specific needs. NYSDOH is working with the CHA workgroup and other partners on making the CHA process less cumbersome by : (1) Working towards incorporating county-level data on CHA core indicators so it is not time-consuming to gather data for the CHA. This should be available in 2003; (2) Supporting the recently developed a web-based CHA Clearinghouse that is on the HIN/HPN. This site currently being evaluated by the University at Albany School of Public Health. It has information and resources on CHA process, data, and practice, and can be accessed at http://www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/chac/index.htm.