STUDIES 
 
The Healthy York County Coalition commissioned Drexel University School of Public Health to conduct a feasibility study for a county health department.  The study showed that under the current system, most public health responsibilities fall to the Commonwealth and to York City and Hanover Borough for their residents.  The York State Health Center is the main public health resource for the county.     
 
According to the study, there are four key reasons for a York County Health Department:

1. Additional federal/state categorical grants to benefit County residents;
2. More effective standards setting and consistency in overseeing public health matters (communicable disease, disease prevention, environmental health, etc.);
3. More effective county-wide coordination of public health related services, by municipalities, school districts, hospitals and other non-profit private agencies; and,
4. More effective local control and regionalized priority setting through more effective leadership at the County jurisdictional level.

Based on the 2005 feasibility study, the Countywide Health Department Task Force
of the Healthy York County Coalition developed a business plan in 2007 to discuss the financial implications of a county health department
 
The task force recommendation is in support of a county health department that would replace the city health department and serve all residents in York County. 
 
Following are links to the entire feasibility study and its appendices:

Feasibility Study
Appendix A – Persons/Organizations Surveyed
Appendix B – Persons Contacted/Interviewed
Appendix C – Public Health Services Now Offered in York County
Appendix D – Services Provided in York Municipalities
Appendix E – Perceived Public Health Needs and Issues in York County
Appendix F – Adequacy of Current Public Health Services in York County
Appendix G – Level of Support for a York County Health Department
Appendix H – Cross County Comparative Health Indicators
Appendix I – York County Health Profile
Appendix J – Revenue vs. Expenses: 3-Year Plan Summary
Appendix K – Functional Organizational Chart in Year 3
Appendix L – Survey of Health, Education and Other Community
Appendix M – Survey of Private and Voluntary Health Organizations
Appendix N – Survey of Municipalities Without Public Health Services
Appendix O – Survey of Municipalities With Public Health Services
Appendix P – Presentation to Healthy York County Coalition
Appendix Q – List of Web Site Links for Additional Technical Resources
Appendix R – Prevention Makes Common Sense
Appendix S – Rural Public Health in Pennsylvania
Appendix T – Public Health Response to Urgent Case Reports
Appendix U – County Health Department Service Delivery Report
Appendix V – Example of a County-City Public Health Department
Appendix W – Overview of Pennsylvania Food Regulation
Appendix X – Overview of State Health Center & Public Health in York County

Following are links to the entire business plan:

2007 Task Force Business Plan
York County Health Department Proposal Presentation