Health department accreditation as a catalyst to foster the development of a future public health workforce.

Abstract

The relatively new Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) proffers a new force to bring attention to the need for undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education for those working in public health. The workforce of federal, state, and local health departments in the United States comprises more than 450,000 individuals representing a wide variety of disciplines, from nurses to sanitary engineers to health educators (1). Despite the many professionals with graduate training in clinical and other disciplines, the majority of those working in local public health departments have baccalaureate-level or less education (2) – making undergraduate college a key focus for public health workforce training. A projected shortage in the future raises concerns about the capacity and capabilities of those working to promote public health (2). This Opinion reveals how PHAB standards reinforce the need to ensure the pipeline for trained public health department workers. In addition, early evidence suggests that accredited health departments have the capacity to partner with schools to strengthen the workforce. As more health departments pursue accreditation, it will likely provide opportunities to foster partnerships between public health agencies and undergraduate institutions that are preparing individuals to address the practical needs of twenty-first century public health.