Public health scholarship program - the university of kentucky college of public health (ukcph) is requesting $1,484,555 and funding preference based on qualifications in the areas of (1) economically…

Public health scholarship program - the university of kentucky college of public health (ukcph) is requesting $1,484,555 and funding preference based on qualifications in the areas of (1) economically disadvantaged backgrounds and (2) graduating large proportions of individuals who serve in underserved communities. Both subrecipients also meet this criterion with documentation included in attachment 12. As per funding requirements, our existing hazard mitigation plan ensures the continuation of programmatic and training activities in the event of an expected and unexpected public health emergency. Kentucky leads the nation in many common and preventable causes of death and health behaviors contributing to disease. According to the united health foundation's (2021) america's health rankings, kentucky ranks 47TH in the nation overall in health outcomes, further signifying the need for a competent and diverse workforce. Kentucky is investing in its workforce to ensure that current and future staff have the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent, prepare for, and respond to activities related to coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) and other public health emergencies. A major focal area will also be targeting skills related to social determinants of health (sdoh) that contribute to poor health outcomes in many kentucky communities. These upstream factors, such as extreme poverty, environmental racism, and adverse childhood experiences present unique challenges for the public health workforce and were evident during the covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic taught US many lessons, and the university of kentucky college of public health is eager to collaborate with the current and future workforce through this public health scholarship program (phsp) to tackle these challenges head-on and create more public health champions. Through this proposed public health scholarship program funding opportunity, ukcph will serve as the project applicant and principal investigator and will COL laborate with two subrecipient higher education, accredited public health programs, eastern kentucky university (EKU) and the university of louisville (uofl) to promote existing programs to eligible scholarship trainees. Each institution serves a different geographic area within the state and provides a wide variety of public health expertise and degree programs for a diverse population. The projected number of trainees is 59, 88, and 88 scholarships in years 1-3, respectively, for a total of 235 during the entire project period. Existing partnerships with the kentucky department for public health, kentucky health departments association, kentucky public health association, and other public health system partners will be strengthened to create a pipeline for public health students. The proposed project's approach is targeted to both existing students looking to enter the workforce, as well as those currently in the workforce looking to further their skills and increase capacity: 1. By september 30, 2025, enhance the knowledge and skills of the public health workforce by developing or strengthening community partnerships and linkages to identify employment needs, and training opportunities, and to facilitate scholarship recipients' employment post-training completion in state or local governments, including state, local, territorial, or tribal public health departments, and other public health-related organizations. 2. By september 30, 2025, educate the public health workforce to address public health inequities and health disparities and incorporate principles of sdoh into practice. 3. By september 30, 2025, educate the public health workforce to prevent, prepare for, and respond to recovery activities related to covid-19, as well as other public health emergencies, by providing public health field experience (practica) opportunities.