Environmental workforce characteristics in the rural public health sector

Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial or other sources. These environmental risks and associated health problems carry corresponding implications for public health programs and services, and highlight the need for a rural public health workforce that includes appropriate environmental health specialists. However, documentation exists that the environmental workforce in rural areas is underdeveloped. This project analyzed the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector. The aims of this study were to 1. determine the number and characteristics of environmental health personnel employed in rural versus urban public health settings, 2. analyze perceptions of shortages of environmental public health workforce capacity in rural versus urban settings, and 3. analyze collaboration and coordination between public health and environmental protection professionals at both state and local levels. Existing data sets used in this study included national profiles of local health departments collected by NACCHO. Additional interviews of public health agencies were conducted in diverse states, selected to assure representation of the organizational models which represent different relationships between the state and local public health agencies and each census region. Results of both the secondary analysis, as well as interview data will be presented. Improved knowledge of environmental health workforce capacity, distribution, and potential needs and shortages in public health settings across the rural-urban continuum has implications for informing improved coordination of public health practice with environmental protection. Health care policy changes to assure an appropriate workforce to address environmental health issues in rural settings will be presented. Policies and programs that have been designed to fill gaps in the environmental workforce and improve the health of rural communities will be included.