Idoh strengthening U.S. Public health workforce - strategy A1: workforce project abstract the indiana department of health (idoh) plans to invest heavily into the state's public health workforce,…

Idoh strengthening U.S. Public health workforce - strategy A1: workforce project abstract the indiana department of health (idoh) plans to invest heavily into the state's public health workforce, who are necessary to promote healthy behaviors and to prevent, detect, and respond to new and existing diseases. Responding to the covid-19 pandemic was a major undertaking that stressed and strained indiana's public health workforce, exposing opportunities for greater investment and intentional support. Idoh's strategy A1: workforce activities will address the distinct challenges of hiring from a reduced public health workforce pool by following a shared services model and making immediate hires in areas of public health expertise, data modernization, and health equity at the regional and district level. Not only will this creatively increase workforce capacity, but by strengthening local health departments (lhds), idoh demonstrates a commitment to decreasing health outcome disparities for our rural and minority populations who will be better served by their lhds. To hold ourselves accountable, idoh is also focusing resources towards increasing public health performance management capabilities within the state to ensure success along our stated goals. Strategy A2: foundational capabilities project abstract following the foundational public health services (fphs) framework, the indiana department of health (idoh) will focus resources towards foundational capabilities that the covid-19 pandemic made clear most need to be strengthened in indiana. In order for public health officials at all levels to make challenging decisions for the betterment of hoosier health, quality and near real-time data on both chronic and acute diseases must be made available. Through idoh's strategy A2: foundational capabilities strategies, idoh will invest in lab data and courier services to improve assessment and emergency preparedness capacity. Additionally, idoh will strengthen our in-house translation services and other external-facing communication materials to improve equitable access to key public health information. To further address existing health disparities that were exacerbated by covid-19, idoh will shore up critical emergency medical services (EMS) service capacity, especially in rural areas, as well as promote increased accreditation and credential attainment at the local and individual level to improve the overall organizational competency and accountability of indiana's public health system. Strategy A3: data modernization project abstract acknowledging the critical role health data plays in understanding and responding to public health challenges, indiana is committed to engaging and investing in an overarching data modernization plan. The first step will be to complete the thorough assessments of existing infrastructure (in progress as part of other ELC grants), including at the local health department (LHD) level, with an eye on opportunities for improvement and consistency. After that is completed, the indiana department of health (idoh) will take action to support the data interoperability capacity within indiana, including upgrading existing data systems, engaging in CDC-hosted learning opportunities, investing in the state's data workforce, and encouraging LHD uptake of modernized systems.