PROGRAMS
AmeriCorps VISTA Hub
▸ California Academic Health Department
Public Health Training Center
Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG)
California Academic Health Department
ABOUT THE INITIATIVE
Strengthening the public health workforce and investing in the next generation of professionals
The need for investment in local health departments has never been greater. The public health workforce has been depleted from recent layoffs and funding cuts. Employees are burning out at an all-time high, and an aging workforce is becoming eligible for retirement. Academic health departments are an effective model to strengthen public health infrastructure by building bridges between academia and local health departments.
The California Academic Health Department (CAHD) initiative addressed the need for investment in public health.
Bridging academia and local health departments
We built a network of schools and programs of public health and created opportunitites for collaboration between faculty, health departments, and community partners.
Creating career pathways for students and recent graduates
Internships, residencies, and fellowships provided students and recent graduates with real world experience working in local health departments.
Preparing a skilled workforce in California
This initiative built capacity of health departments to partner with academia to serve communities facing high shortage of public health investment.
Key Outcomes
20 program participants were placed at six local health departments across California.
100% of residents were employed in a public health role within a year of completing the program.
100% of residents and fellows said the program impacted their future public health related career goals.
100% of local health department host site supervisors agreed that their residents’ work contributed to their local health departments.
“[The residency] has expanded my knowledge of potential careers and leadership opportunities that I had no idea about before that are in local government and public health.”
- CAHD Resident
“My CAHD internship helped me get a job with the county in public health, that’s where I am working now in an entry level position.”
- CAHD Intern
“It is a great program and a wonderful way to generate interest in the public health field as well as empower [recent graduates] to find their role within the field and their local health jurisdication.”
- Local health department supervisor
Learn more about the California Academic Health Department
CAHD Residency Cohort 1 Evaluation Report
CAHD Residency Cohort 2 Evaluation Report
Make an investment in the future of public health
Whether you are from a local health department, affiliate health organization, or California school/program of public health, our approach to public health can accelerate your ability to work with partners and improve community health.