ALPHA Membership and 1998 Annual Conference

The Board of Health recommends

The Board of Health submits the following report (May 4, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health:

Purpose:

To request a decision from the Board of Health regarding membership in the Association of Public Health Agencies (ALPHA) and attendance of Board members at the 1998 annual conference.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)The Toronto Board of Health approve its membership in the Association of Public Health Agencies (ALPHA); and

(2)at least one Board of Health member be approved for attendance at the 1998 annual conference.

Background:

ALPHA is an umbrella association that has represented local boards of health and medical officers of health across Ontario since the mid-1980's. As an association of employers, it focuses its attention on legislation, policy and funding issues that have their primary impact at the governance level, e.g. downloading of provincial funding, amendments to the Health Protection and Promotion Act, changes in labour legislation, etc. It also acts as a coordinating body for information and advocacy on public health initiatives that could affect all health units, e.g. long term care reform, environmental deregulation, etc. It is comprised of two sections - one for board members, one for MOH=s - and several affiliates representing management in key program areas (dental, environmental health, nutrition, health promotion, nursing, epidemiology).

Comments:

Of the six former boards in Metro, four were members while two in recent years were not (York and Scarborough). All other boards in Ontario have been and continue to be members. No other association represents boards of health from a management perspective. By contrast, the Ontario Public Health Association is based on individual memberships (e.g. among practitioners in public health units, community health centres, etc.) and specializes in public health policy rather than on management issues. The two associations are currently identifying ways to rationalize their activities where there is overlap.

ALPHA=s provincial grant has now ended, requiring it to raise other revenues from corporate sponsorships, etc. along with an increase in membership fees. The current fee for the new Toronto Board of Health is approximately $10,000.00 per year, representing the combined fees of the six former boards. The fee structure proposed by the ALPHA Board would raise Toronto=s fees to approximately $20,000.00 per year.

The annual conference is held this year in Peterborough. The ALPHA Board includes two Toronto representatives: Elca Rennick (Board of Health section) and Dr. David McKeown (MOH section). If the Board chooses not to be an ALPHA member, it is recommended nonetheless that these individuals attend the ALPHA conference and Board meetings until their term ends in June.

Contact Name:

Dr. Sheela Basrur, Medical Officer of Health, Public Health

Tel:392-7402

Fax:392-0713

sbasrur@city.toronto.on.ca

The Board of Health reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter, a communication (April 8, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health, a copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk.