Virginia strengthening U.S. Public health infrastructure, workforce and data systems - covid-19 exposed the need for investment in the core of virginia's public health system

The overarching purpose of this funding opportunity will be to build out and strengthen virginia's public health workforce, provide for core infrastructure improvements, and provide relevant staff with the systems and tools needed to successfully meet the challenges of ensuring foundational public health activities. The virginia department of health (VDH) is the primary public health agency for the commonwealth of virginia, serving all virginians through public health initiatives ranging from injury and violence prevention to family planning to emergency preparedness. Additional public health services, such as behavioral health and laboratory services are managed by the department of behavioral health and developmental services (DBHDS) and the department of general services - division of consolidated laboratory services (DCLS), respectively. The existing workforce is the first area of focus for VDH and its sister agencies. This funding opportunity will allow public health to maintain staff in areas of demonstrated need; increase training opportunities; ensure virginia maintains a culture of inclusion and belonging; and initiate retention bonuses to ensure retention of valued employees. VDH seeks to also maintain financial support for selected positions and contractors currently funded through the CDC workforce development grant which tentatively ends june 30, 2023; the funding VDH seeks to preserve focuses on capacity that benefits local health districts (LHD) and essential services provided through public health programs and administration. The needs of our lhds feature prominently in this strategy. Strong support for existing employees, the ability to augment our workforce, a focus on recruitment within communities, and hiring highly qualified and diverse staff all serve to create a snowball effect, billowing into better results and the ultimate goal of a healthier workforce and overall population. VDH will use this funding to improve multiple organizational systems and processes that aim to better serve our foundational capabilities. VDH will invest in multiple administration initiatives, providing a solid foundation for the agency to ensure a competent workforce and internal systems that deliver consistent and responsive support. The agency will facilitate policy development, legal services, and analysis; and communications enhancements such as a risk communications strategy and proactive health communications in culturally and linguistically appropriate formats. The ability to effectively communicate timely information internally and externally, has proven critical during recent public health crises. Strengthening community partnership development and engagement will also serve our socially marginalized and disadvantaged populations more equitably. Developing partnerships with stakeholders outside the agency will lead to improvement of such foundational capabilities, reduce health disparities and further close health equity gaps across the commonwealth. VDH will continue its focus on creating a more modern and efficient data infrastructure and increasing data interoperability through implementation of a data modernization plan that increases the usability of agency data. Improved use of data that creates better understanding and impactful action helps to support the agency mission of becoming the healthiest state in the nation. Through this funding VDH seeks to preserve focus on supporting capacity improvements that benefit lhds and essential services provided through our public health programs and administration. Investing in our workforce, communications, policy development and community partnerships, with an eye towards inclusion and belonging, will increase the reach of public health services and allow limited resources to go farther, incl