Workforce and Leadership Development

State governmental public health faces a workforce crisis. The public health workforce is graying at a higher rate than the rest of the American workforce and shortages exist on every level. These trends combine to critically challenge the ability of states to effectively respond to threats to the public's health. 

ASTHO will provide funding to state public health departments and their partners to market public health careers and/or job opportunities. ASTHO has allocated $25,000 to support states in this effort. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis and can range from $500 - $5,000. For more information contact Melissa Lewis, Workforce Development Senior Analyst.

As the national non-profit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia, ASTHO provides administrative support for a number of state health agency peer networks.

• Chief Fiscal Officers Workgroup
• Directors of Public Health Preparedness
• Human Resources (HR) Directors Taskforce
• Performance Improvement Directors
• Primary Care Offices
• Senior Deputies
• State Environmental Health Directors (SEHD)
• State Legislative Liaisons
• Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Coordinators

The Taskforce is comprised of state public health HR directors who regularly share information on HR trends, workforce development strategies, and the public health worker shortage.

Staff Contact: Melissa Lewis mlewis@astho.org Phone: 571-527-3132

The following resources are from Taskforce correspondence: 

Melissa L. Lewis, MPH, Senior Analyst, Workforce Development
Jennifer Jimenez, MPH, Director, Performance and Workforce
Jim Pearsol, MEd, Chief, Public Health Performance