Division of Public Health, Office of Policy and Practice Alignment (OPPA)

OPPA has regional directors that work to maintain strong working partnerships with Wisconsin’s local and Tribal health departments (LTHD). They aim to support strong implementation of public health practice through bridging the voices of our partners and regional context to inform and reinforce DPH operations and communication. They review qualifications of new local health officers, determine LHD levels, and consult on compliance with state law. This team assists with public health policy development and planning.

Along with OPPA’s strategists and public health nurse consultants they:

• Link LTHDs to the people and resources of DPH.
• Assist with system navigation.
• Provide technical assistance on data, narrative and communication, voluntary accreditation, workforce issues, policy, public health nursing practice, development of key organizational plans.
• Connect LTHDs to assistance to enhance organizational capacity and strengthen the public health system.

The Policy Section serves as a resource for establishing, maintaining, and developing public health policy recommendations that are evidence-based. This includes:

• Developing the State Health Assessment as well as developing and monitoring implementation of the State Health Plan to address health disparities.
• Encouraging the use of evidence-based practices to promote health equity.
• Facilitating partnerships, building coalitions and leading systematic state and community level planning to improve the health of all jurisdictions.