title: An alternative structure for improving the public's health.
abstract: The emergence of public health institutes outside government is one of many innovative approaches to promote community health improvement. This article describes the state of Virginia's current model of government public health and provides a context for Virginia's approach to the Turning Point initiative. The article explores the reasons why Virginia chose to establish its public health institute outside government and demonstrates how development of the institute is changing community health improvement in the state. The article also describes a new initiative to create a national network of public health institutes.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.forename: E Anne
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006265:Health Care Coalitions; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011635:Public Health Administration; D013219:State Government; D014768:Virginia