Local Health Officer Training

Section I: The Local Health Officer Core Training in Context

"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's LHOs are individuals from various backgrounds, professional experiences and occupations, with the common goal of improving the health of their communities.

All LHOs are appointed by their municipalities to a three-year term; they can be re-appointed for subsequent 3-year terms. LHOs are also required to complete this core training within six months of initial appointment and each re-appointment. The core training helps assure that all LHOs share the same baseline knowledge, even though they come to the role from a variety of professional backgrounds. The training also provides an updated and consistent set of resources and tools LHOs can use to perform their role with success.

Work in your municipality:

LHOs respond to town resident questions or complaints about potential risks to public health, and are employed by their municipality. As an LHO, your primary partners are your municipal colleagues. We have found that the most effective responses are those approached as a municipal team. This training offers guidance on the LHO role, as well as suggestions for collaborating on responses with your municipal colleagues.

Support from the Maine DHHS/Maine CDC:

In addition, your Maine CDC District Public Health Liaison can provide technical support to you and your colleagues should you need it, including helping you find the public health resources you might need as you work through a local public health challenge. Maine CDC's Division of Public Health Systems will reinforce your learning experience by providing optional training opportunities -- including webinars and periodic regional meetings with your District Public Health Liaison and coordinating public health partners. We appreciate that local health officers often notice public health trends in their communities and can relay that information back to their town officers and town colleagues, and to state partners.

Maine CDC appreciates your dedication and your community service. We hope this online training and the LHO webpages will become a valued resource for you to begin or advance a rewarding experience.

 

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