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Tim Stephens, MA, Preparedness Policy, ASTHO, 1275 K Street, NW Ste 800, Washington, DC 20005, 202.715.1673, tstephens@astho.org and Nichol Quiggins, Preparedness Policy - Workforce Development, ASTHO, 1275 K Street, NW Ste800, Washington, DC 20005.
This session will address the scope of the public health workforce crisis. The analysis of the 2004 first National Survey on State Public Health Employee Worker Shortage survey will be reported. The survey was conducted by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and analyzed in collaboration with the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE) and the Council of State Governments (CSG). It is the first comprehensive study of the state public health workforce in 5 years.
The numbers of people retiring or leaving the public health system is larger than the supply in the pipeline. The ratio of public health workers to the population has steadily declined since the 1970s. The current workforce is taking on expanded responsibilities in an era of emerging health treats and terrorism. The pending workforce crisis has implications for a broad range of stakeholders.
This discussion includes a profile of the public health workforce, the challenges posed by preparedness, and comparisons between today’s workforce to the pre-9/11 workforce and a forecast on needs by 2010.
The panel will highlight the barriers that governmental public health agencies face in securing and retaining the types and the number of staff needed for current and future operations. In addition, panelists will speak to pertinent labor market research issues that need to be understood to assure an adequate, competent, and highly skilled cadre of professionals to staff the nation’s health agencies.Recommendations for facilitating entry to governmental public health service including proposed scholarship and loan repayment programs will be reviewed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Workforce, Planning
Related Web page: www.astho.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Council of State Governments
National Association of State Personnel Executives
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.