Local Public Health Nurse Consultant Program

A nurse with a clipboard talks to a patient in a wheelchair.

About

The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at UMass Amherst, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), Office of Local and Regional Health (OLRH) has launched a pioneering initiative to support local public health nurses and their health departments in each of Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns, focusing on building a stronger and more responsive public health workforce to enhance health outcomes statewide. The program addresses a critical need for training and technical assistance for some 300 public health nurses to address the diverse needs of communities.  

The Local Public Health Nurse Consultant Program’s overall goal is to advance the mission of the Blueprint for Public Health Excellence and support the advancement of Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) for all communities. PHN Consultants provide support, technical assistance and guidance as needed to all PHNs and other health department staff to address the unique needs of each community. Examples include screening for hypertension, vaccination clinics, harm reduction or maternal visiting programs.