The Federal Government has reopened COVIDtests.gov. Every household can order four over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for free. These tests are intended for use throughout the 2024 holiday season to detect currently circulating COVID-19 variants. Please visit COVIDtests.gov for your free test.

 

Public Health Systems Improvement (PHSI) is responsible for managing, coordinating and supporting organization-wide and multi-sector activities that result in measurable improvements of public health structures, systems and outcomes. Federal funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided a five year Cooperative Agreement to help state public health agencies initiate a culture of quality and improve efficiency and effectiveness of public health programs and services, while enhancing readiness for national public health accreditation.

 

Specific activities include:

 

  • Implementing quality improvement processes and establishing an agency performance management system that are developed and managed using a data driven focus;
  • Development and ongoing implementation of the three pre-requisites and key plans for accreditation that include an agency strategic plan, statewide health assessment and statewide health improvement plan, agency Quality plan, and agency Workforce Development plan.
  • Organize, plan for, and coordinate agency activities and documentation toward meeting national accreditation standards and plan and prepare for reaccreditation every five years.
  • Provide quality improvement training, coaching, and technical assistance opportunities to public health personnel.

PHSI also administers the Biomedical Research program (CGS 19a-32c), which provides grants-in-aid for biomedical research in the fields of heart disease, cancer and other tobacco related diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and diabetes.