Strengthening the infrastructure, workforce, and data processes for the public health system in arkansas. - A1 workforce the covid-19 pandemic and its corresponding response highlighted some…

Strengthening the infrastructure, workforce, and data processes for the public health system in arkansas. - A1 workforce the covid-19 pandemic and its corresponding response highlighted some critical needs in the public health workforce in arkansas. The arkansas department of health (ADH), as the centralized authority on public health in the state, has identified several programs where additional staff is needed to meet changing demand. These programs include the public health lab, where reporting is shifting to almost entirely online; the arkansas central cancer registry which continues to face challenges in staffing, only compounded by covid-19 and staff redirection; and in hepatitis surveillance, as cases in the state have risen nearly 400% since the pandemic began. Further, the ADH has identified programs that currently have staff supported by other grants, primarily from the surge of covid-19 related funds, that are vital to the work of the ADH and need continued funding. These include a number of epidemiologists positions, the office of performance management, quality improvement and evaluation, and the office of health equity. Now more than ever, the ADH commits to addressing health equity and quality improvement across all public health programs. Further, the covid-19 pandemic changed the landscape of employment broadly and employees are demanding more from employers in the form of professional development, training opportunities, enhanced workspaces, and flexible workspaces. The ADH will work to address each under the leadership of a workforce director, a position new to this grant. And lastly, the ADH must develop and support working partnerships statewide to maintain a robust public health system, and this is present throughout but highlighted with enhanced trainings for the state's county health officers, and a proactive approach to working with colleges and universities in the state to offer intern positions to expose more students to public health. In conclusion, the arkansas department of health intends to address some of the workforce challenges heightened by the covi d-19 pandemic by hiring new staff and retaining current staff and partnerships through improvements to the workplace and opportunities offered like training, professional development, and improved workspaces.