Local Health Officer Training

Section I: The Local Health Office Training in Context

A "Local Health Officer" (LHO) is a term established by State Statute. An LHO can be a town employee, contractor, or volunteer and is always linked to a municipality.  The LHO serves in legal terms as a municipal employee who has knowledge of his or her community and meets educational, training, and experience standards as set by the Department of Health and Human Services rule to comply with Title 22 M.R.S.A. �451 et. seq.

Maine LHOs are individuals from various backgrounds, professional experiences, qualifications and many other important occupations, who unite around the common goal of improving and caring for the health of their communities.  At the town level, an LHO monitors the community through identifying and/or responding to immediate and trends in health risks to individuals or the community through town resident queries and/or the sharp eyes of the LHO.

Maine law requires all LHOs to obtain certification, within six months of appointment by the municipality, regardless of how long individuals have been in the role. The purpose of this training is to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and relevant resources to use while performing your duties. 

The title "Local Health Officer" has come to mean a certified LHO; using this title assures the community that all LHOs share the same baseline level knowledge in the performance of their duties. Equally, it illustrates the current�scope of specific LHO duties, responsibilities, and authority as defined in the LHO statute. We believe that a system of certified and connected LHOs is a system on which all towns and the state can rely.

The Division of Local Public Health (DLPH), along with your district public health liaison, stand ready to answer your questions and help you find the resources you need to succeed in your role as your town's LHO.� DLPH will reinforce your learning experience by providing periodic training opportunities through webinars, other online training modules, and especially through your regular meetings with your district public health liaison.

Maine CDC would like to thank you for accepting the responsibilities of your appointment, your caring dedication, and your community service. We hope this online training manual will become a valued resource for you to begin or advance a rewarding experience. Your contribution as an LHO is vital to your community's well-being and safety.

 

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