Reports and Publications

The National Profile of Local Health Departments (commonly referred to as "the Profile Study") is a nationwide study investigating relevant topics on local public health infrastructure. Information on governance, finance, workforce, and public health activities are available for further research on local health departments. Data request forms and technical documentation related to the Profile studies series can be accessed here.

2010 Profile Study

2008 Profile Study

2005 Profile Study

LHD Infrastructure Study, 1999–2000

1996–1997 Profile Study

1992–1993 Profile Study

1989–1990 Profile Study

With the most current description of LHD infrastructure and practice, the 2010 Profile study can be used to make local and regional comparisons, drive policymaking, and conduct research on local public health practice. Click here to learn more about the 2010 Profile study.

View the Main Report (PDF).
Purchase a copy of the Main Report from the bookstore.

Changes in Size of Local Health Department Workforce
This research brief provides estimates of changes in the LHD workforce based on data collected by the 2008 and 2010 Profile studies.

Changes in Local Health Department Services and Activities
This research brief provides an analysis of changes in the mix of LHD services and activities based on data collected by the 2008 and 2010 Profile studies.

Changes in Local Health Department Expenditures
This research brief provides a descriptive analysis of changes in LHDs' financial capacity based on data collected by the 2008 and 2010 Profile studies.

2010 Profile Figures and Charts
The figures and charts from the 2010 National Profile of Local Health Departments report are  available for download. These figures can be used to prepare policy statements, enhance presentations, and compare individual local health department data to national statistics. Organized by chapter in PowerPoint slides, they can be easily downloaded and inserted into Microsoft Word and PowerPoint applications.

The 2008 National Profile of Local Health Departments covers many different topics on LHD infrastructure such as governance, finance, workforce, and activities and services.

View the Main Report (PDF).

Read the Brochure of Fast Facts (PDF).

The Trends in Local Health Department Finances, Workforce, and Activities report is based on data collected in the 2005 and 2008 Profile studies. This 20-page report highlights changes that took place in local health departments between 2005 and 2008 and includes a number of maps to show how changes during this time period varied among states.
Trends Report (PDF)
Trends Report (Bookstore)

This special report on the local health department (LHD) workforce uses data from the 2005 and 2008 Profile studies. It provides supplemental information on the LHD workforce not available in the main 2008 Profile report. Topics covered include trends on specific occupations; LHD top executives; staff recruitment and retirement; workforce development; and changes in staff size. This is a great resource for LHD leaders and staff, program evaluators, policy analysts, and public health researchers who want to know more about the public health workforce.
The Local Health Department Workforce (PDF)

The Big City LHDs report presents data from NACCHO's 2008 National Profile of Local Health Departments to provide a better picture of the infrastructure of large LHDs, including funding, workforce size, and top services provided. This report can help personalize presentations and prepare policy statements for specific LHDs.
Big City LHDs (PowerPoint)

The Longitudinal Analysis of LHD Activities fact sheet uses data collected from the 2005 and 2008 Profile studies to examine how services offered by LHDs changed between 2005 and 2008. Only LHDs that served the same geographic jurisdiction at the times of administration of the 2005 and 2008 Profile questionnaires were included in the analysis. 
Longitudinal Analysis of LHD Activities (PDF)

Twenty state reports using the 2008 National Profile of Local Health Departments data are  available for download. State and local health department staff and others can compare their state’s LHDs to other LHDs nationwide regarding funding, workforce size, top services provided, and more, in a useful PowerPoint format. These reports are great tools for providing state or local presentations, supporting public health advocacy, and preparing policy statements. 
Click here to access the state reports

The figures and charts from the 2008 National Profile of Local Health Departments are  available for download. These figures can be used to prepare policy statements, enhance presentations, and compare individual local health department data to national statistics. They are easily downloadable and can be inserted directly into Microsoft Word and PowerPoint applications. 
Click here to download the figures and charts

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 The 2005 National Profile of Local Health Departments report can be downloaded in PDF format or purchased through the NACCHO Bookstore.

Reports and Research Briefs (PDF)

Rural LHDs Report
This report uses data collected in the 2005 Profile study to characterize the workforce and activities of small-town rural LHDs and to compare them to those of larger, suburban, and urban LHDs in the United States.

LHD Workforce Report
This report summarizes data collected in the 2005 Profile study to examine several aspects of the LHD workforce, including characteristics of workers, potential workforce shortages, and workforce training. 

Informatics at LHDs Report
This report summarizes informatics-related information collected in the 2005 Profile study, including electronic data management and exchange, awareness and implementation of informatics initiatives, and informatics training. 

Changes in Occupations of LHD Staff Research Brief
This research brief examines changes in local health departments' employment of staff within selected occupations from 1989 to 2005.

Race and Ethnicity of LHD Employees Research Brief
This research brief examines the overall racial and ethnic composition of the LHD workforce based upon data from the 2005 Profile study and how it compares to that of the jurisdictions they serve.

Presentations (PowerPoint)

Overview of 2005 Profile Findings

Quality Improvement Efforts at Local Health Departments

Financing at Local Health Departments

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Local Health Department Infrastructure Study, 1999–2000
The data for the Local Health Department Infrastructure Study,1999-2000 can be downloaded from the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research in the Health and Medical Care Archive.

Local Health Department Infrastructure Study, 1999–2000

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1996–1997 Profile
The 1997 Profile had a response rate of 88 percent, with 2,492 local public health agencies out of 2,832 responding. Data from the 1997 Profile have not been published in a printed report.

1997 Profile Report (Research Brief)

1997 Local Public Health Agencies and Managed Care

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The 1993 Profile had a response rate of 72 percent, with 2,079 local public health agencies out of 2,888 responding. Data from the 1993 Profile were published as part of NACCHO's National Surveillance Series, which is now out of print.

1992–1993 National Profile of Local Health Departments Report

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The 1990 Profile had a response rate of 77 percent, with 2,269 local public health agencies out of 2,932 responding. Data from the 1993 Profile were published as part of NACCHO's National Surveillance Series, which is now out of print.

1989–1990 National Profile of LHDs Report Including Instrument

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