Introduction
In February 2024, the CDC Foundation was awarded federal funds from CDC, through the Association of Public Health Laboratories, to launch the Workforce Acceleration Initiative (WAI). The goal of WAI is to strengthen the capacity of public health agencies/authorities (PHA) to deliver information system improvements that are of top priority to each PHA by adding technology and data experts to their teams. This initiative aims to increase the ability of PHAs serving state, tribal, local or territorial jurisdictions to leverage modern technology and interoperable data for public health action.
As a part of this initiative, the CDC Foundation engaged HLN Consulting to compile and develop public health informatics training resources to support the onboarding and continual development and contribution of WAI placements to meet the strategic information systems improvement and data-sharing goals of PHAs.
Resources developed through this process are available on the right panel under “Resources.” The recommended training opportunities and materials were compiled to orient WAI placements to key public health domains and concepts that offer public health context and support their role in public health agencies. The various reference materials allow for further exploration of information related to public health informatics, data modernization, interoperability, health equity, disease surveillance, and workforce development and training.
This initiative was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $116,330, with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Click here for more information on the Workforce Acceleration Initiative.