Local health districts and the public health workforce: a case study of Wyoming and Idaho.

This study of personnel in local health departments (LHDs) focused on two predominantly rural states: Idaho and Wyoming. Although in the same region of the country, the structure of local public health is different in each state. Idaho's regionalized LHDs are relatively autonomous, whereas Wyoming's are county based, with many public health functions retained at the state level. The majority of professionals are nurses followed by environmental health workers and sanitarians, similar to data reported nationally. With increased emphasis on core public health functions of policy, assurance, and assessment, rural LHDs will be challenged to redirect the functions of their workforce.