History
The annual workshops on nursing administration for directors of nursing in city and county health department began in 1952. These workshops were planned jointly by the staff of the Bureau of Public Health Nursing and by committees of the local nursing directors.
1950’s
The initial request for the workshops came from the directors of nursing, some of whom had attended workshops on field training, which were arranged and financed by the State Health Department in 1950 and 1951. For a number of years the department had also sponsored one-day meetings in northern and southern California for directors and supervisors of public health nursing in health departments, board of education, and visiting nurse services. The directors of nursing in health departments found these sessions so helpful they requested annual meetings which would be limited to their group and where they would have an opportunity to discuss their problems as nursing administrators in health departments.
1960’s
In 1962 the California Conference of Local Health Officers (CCLHO) passed a resolution supporting the organization of various local health department administrative personnel into statewide affiliated groups. Subsequently, a committee of the nursing conference group proposed an organization plan, which' was adopted at the 1963 annual meeting and was later approved by the CCLHO. The plan included the annual election of a Conference chairman and executive committee who planned and conducted the annual conferences, with the able support and assistance of staff from the State Bureau of Public Health Nursing.
During the sixties, Conference of Local Health Department Nursing Directors addressed the following issues: the growing development of home health agencies both in health departments and other community agencies; the importance of public health nursing field experience in health departments for nursing students in baccalaureate and masters programs in California colleges and universities and established a Conference liaison with the University of California at San Francisco School of Nursing; public health nursing activities in nursing homes and occupational health settings; developed of farm worker health service programs; studied the school nurse role and credential process for school nurses in California; performed conference committee activities to develop standardized public health nursing service statistics; increased participation on committees of CCLHO. In 1967, the CCLHO increased relationships between their affiliated groups and included CCLHDND. As a result of this agreement, CCLHDND has expanded from the original purpose of in-service education.
CCLHDND Silent Auction History:
During the conference at Asilomar in the spring of 1982, most of the nursing directors attending brought wine to share in "regional" rooms. There were several bottles left over, so it was decided to auction them off to raise money for the conference. There were some firefighters meeting in the next room that also bid on these beverages. This was the initial money-raising event, which led the members to suggest a "white elephant" auction the following year. Gradually, this evolved to crafts, regional proceeds, resulting in a very profitable fund raising event for CCLHDND-and a lot of fun with theme baskets and much more. Activities for the CCLHDND membership in 1984-85 included expansion of the section on Public Health Nursing in the CCLHO Platform Statement to more clearly define the scope of public health nursing practice in California; continue the committee progress on development of a common Data System for Public Health Nursing; pursue legislation to continue the Public Health Nurse Certification Pilot Project study related to the examination beyond the sunset date of 12/31/84; update the expand the information included in the Local Health Department Profiles with more standardized of data; continued participation in state and national public health nursing organizations to strengthen the networking and sharing of information that is already in progress; and reevaluation of the need to re-establish a leadership position in public health nursing a the State level as the CCLHO pursue their goal of a separate State Department of Public Health. CCLHDND had become a strong, skilled, cohesive group that has demonstrated the capability to survive and progress towards greater visibility and recognition the long range value of this nursing specialty in health care delivery.
1990’s
Work during the 1990s to help Public Health Nursing be visible and visionary in cost containment and preventive care. The goals were to standardize a minimum data set to make California Public Health Nursing data parameters comparable as well as to express public health nursing outcomes in quantifiable terms; to find reimbursement for public health nursing services; to formalize linkages with State Public Health, legislative and professional nursing groups; to develop a mission statement for public health nursing; to develop standardized public health nursing protocols for HIV cases, substance exposed families and other public health epidemics; and to address administrative/managerial issues of Public Health Nursing Directors. The Public Health Nursing Disaster Manual was developed as a template for all counties to utilize and to add their local trainings and responsibilities. The CCLHDND Executive Committee functions were updated with
Computerization of the Treasurer's Reports, development of Yearly Strategic Plans and the assistance of a conference planner for the annual Asilomar Conference.
In the early 1990's, much effort was directed toward the development of a new organization, California Association of Public Health Nursing (CAPHN), administered by an Executive Director. With linkages to the CCLHDND maintained, CAPHN moved toward greater independence with its purpose being that of education and a statewide organization to which all public health nurses could be a member. However, due to many extenuating circumstances, CAPHN was dissolved by the year 2000.
In 1998, CCLHDND was incorporated into a nonprofit organization. Monies from the annual auction at Asilomar were then designated for the Scholarship fund and the scholarship awards process was revised and updated by the Executive Committee.
2000’s
During the first years of 2000~ the focus has been on utilizing the potential that CCLHDND has to be a leading professional nursing organization that is visionary and proactive. With Alameda County and Los Angeles County in the lead, the California Public Health Nursing Model was developed and published. Much interaction took place with the QUAD Council (ANA, APHA, ASTON; ACHNE) and local universities and this assisted in getting the California PHN Model in to California nursing school curriculums for community health nursing clinical instruction. Trainings on the California Practice Model continue to be held at the regional and county levels with counties adding their local tools to the model for implementation. Due to increased CCLHDND activity in many arenas, members decided that two meetings per year were necessary for better communication and project work. Two day Spring meetings were instituted in Sacramento in 2002; meetings with Diana Bonta, RN, Director of DHS were held regarding PHN issues; interaction with the California BRN resulted in increased clinical hour requirements for PHN Certification in California; the PHN Brochure was revised; CCLHDND Bylaws are reviewed and revised annually as needed; the CCLHDND Web page was taken on as the North's project and is continually being upgraded as more information is posted. PHN staffing standards continue to be reviewed by select committee members; Minimum PHN competencies based on ANA Standards is in committee work; PHN Disaster Manuals are in review; White Papers on PHN Role in Bio-Terrorism Event, Director of Public Health Nursing at the State Level, and a Position paper of Little Hoover Commission Report were written. In 2003, the position of State Public Health Officer was re-instituted and Dr. Richard Jackson was hired. Unfortunately, he resigned in June, 2005