Texas dshs strengthening public health infrastructure, workforce and data systems - the texas department of state health services (dshs) considers the CDC strengthening U.S. Public health…

Texas dshs strengthening public health infrastructure, workforce and data systems - the texas department of state health services (dshs) considers the CDC strengthening U.S. Public health infrastructure, workforce, and data systems grant as a key opportunity to advance public health in texas. All texans must have access to essential public health services. Ensuring access is challenging because texas is vast in geography with a large and diverse population. Contributing to this challenge is a growing population characterized by diversity and social and economic status differences, and the dynamic public health environment necessary to adapt to a post-covid pandemic world. Dshs's purpose, consistent with the funding focus, is to build a stable foundational infrastructure for the future of public health in texas based on accessible, affordable, and high-quality public health services. Dshs will ensure that our population-regardless of location, demographic, social status, or any other factor-has access to quality public health care. Dshs will ensure that our state public health department is the lead for a system that integrates public health, health care, and behavioral health. Dshs will accomplish this through: - continuing and enhancing advances in public health practices started prior to covid-19, - building on advances and addressing challenges in public health practices learned during covid-19, and - solidifying a texas public health system approach through network centricity, mega-communities of practice, and through meta-leadership. Funding will be allocated to the following: - sustaining and expanding the current public health workforce, - workforce and leadership development, - public health system integration, - solidifying existing partnerships and building new partnerships, - sustaining initiatives that address health disparities, and - supporting public health practices that provide accessible, affordable, quality services to all of texas. The intended outcome is a sustainable quality public health system that provides for the public health needs of anyone in texas through public health system leadership, public health services, system integration, and specialized capabilities. This overall outcome is consistent with short-, intermediate-, and long-term outcomes expected through this funding opportunity. Dshs is applying for this funding opportunity as a representative of the texas public health system.