Public health entomology for all - large parts of the nation?s most vulnerable populations, including many high-risk urban districts, financially-distressed rural communities, and native american…

Public health entomology for all - large parts of the nation?s most vulnerable populations, including many high-risk urban districts, financially-distressed rural communities, and native american reservations, are at a higher risk of exposure to vectors of disease. Low-income communities in urban settings are often at a higher risk for excessive exposure to a variety of chemicals, including those for pest management, which exacerbate health disparities. The current national approach to competently training vector professionals currently is highly compartmentalized and disjointed. When IT comes to public health, certification of best practices can help reduce unnecessary exposure to pesticides while also more effectively managing vectors of disease, thus helping reduce potential health disparities and improve community wellness. The nation has learned from previous vector-borne disease crises that there is a dangerous shortfall of trained vector control professionals at all levels of experience and employment, including applicators, trainers, and management. As part of the objectives to ?target and train?, the entomological society of america (ESA) is in a position to help fill the education GAP through the expanded participation in the domestic credentialing program for applied vector management professionals, the public health entomologist (PHE) certificate. In partnership with the CDC, we seek to expand qualified and competent public health workforce, leveraging and expanding the existing PHE certification program by enrolling more individuals from high risk communities to help establish a national network of certified professionals who can help respond to a vector-borne disease outbreak. The purpose of applying for this opportunity is to help CDC as well as ESA grow our collective capacity to reach frontline personnel. Another part of this is proposal is leveraging and expanding the vector-borne disease network (vbdn), a coalition of more than two dozen organizations INC luding membership and trade associations, vector control groups, and educational institutions such as the CDC regional centers of excellence on vector-borne diseases. This group, in conjunction with other subject matter experts, can proactively ?integrate and extend? To prepare for the next emerging or RE-emerging VBD outbreak by convening subject matter experts to share information, problem-solve, and disseminate best practices with a focus on culturally-competent engagement. The framework proposed could be applied proactively as well as reactively in the face of an emerging or RE-emerging outbreak.with support from the CDC, ESA can help reduce barriers to training more professionals and leverage these efforts to help reach vulnerable populations. We aim to help prepare CDC?s network of frontline responders by certifying professionals, expanding the existing network in high-risk communities, and disseminating information and guidance in response to the next vector-borne crisis.