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Kristin Benn, National Environmental Health Association, 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80246, 3037569090, kbenn@neha.org
In 2002 CDC established its National Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) Program. This program is an on going collection, integration, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data on environmental hazards, exposures to those hazards, and related health effects. Currently 20 state and local health departments and 3 schools of public health are funded to begin developing this national program and to develop capacity in environmental health at the state and local levels.
Building capacity in the environmental health workforce to carry out the implementation of EPHT activities requires a thorough comprehension of current competencies possessed by environmental health professional, and requires that the workforce is armed with resources to gain and maintain these new skill sets. NEHA has conducted a national survey of local, state, federal, and academic environmental health professionals to identify the current trends and perceived needs of this workforce, as related to EPHT. Based upon this intimate knowledge of the profession, this presentation outlines workforce development issues and recommends strategies to build EH capacity. Additionally, this presentation will present the efforts underway with partner national organizations, specifically the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, to disseminate EPHT educational information.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: The National Environmental Health Association has a contract with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials to work on the EPHT Program.