Final report on public health practice linkages between schools of public health and state health agencies: 1992-1996.

Since 1988 there has been a call for enhanced linkages between schools of public health and public health agencies that has prompted schools of public health to develop public health practice initiatives. The University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health conducted surveys of schools of public health and of state public health agencies in 1992 to collect baseline data on practice initiatives undertaken by academe and governmental public health agencies to enhance collaboration; follow-up surveys were undertaken in 1993, 1994 and 1996. This article describes the trends and implications of this survey of practice linkages involving schools of public health and state health agencies.