Work with wake - wake county health and human services (wchhs) recognizes that there has been a history of underinvestment in our most economically or socially marginalized communities and that they…

Work with wake - wake county health and human services (wchhs) recognizes that there has been a history of underinvestment in our most economically or socially marginalized communities and that they are comprised of racial and ethnic minority groups that are often medically underserved. Furthermore, because of the covid-19 pandemic, worker burnout was exacerbated and reached crisis levels among U.S. Healthcare workforces. As a result of burnout among the healthcare workforce, attrition trends in wchhs have matched recruitment efforts on a one-to-one ration. Work with wake (WWW) is an opportunity to address the needs of our most vulnerable communities while strengthening our public health infrastructure. In order to accomplish this, WWW will focus on hiring new staff, retaining existing staff, better addressing staff wellness, providing more and better training, and providing professional development opportunities. Specific activities in WWW include recruiting and hiring diverse staff by offering incentives and scholarships to meet educational minimums in medical and public health employment. Additionally, WWW will engage partners to aid in recruitment in understaffed areas of healthcare and public health. Work with wake will also work to support and sustain the emotional wellbeing of existing public health workforce by offering trauma informed care, training to support professional development, and gifts of appreciation. Work with wake will also enhance communications within the community by creating and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate and responsive communication messaging and campaigns aimed at advancing health equity. Finally, WWW will work to strengthen community partnership development and engagement by hosting quarterly listening sessions with community partners to get feedback on services needed and to develop join strategies in order to meet the needs of our most vulnerable communities.