Public Health Workforce Research Center

Purpose

The public health workforce is America’s first line of defense against disease outbreaks and other health threats. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need to invest in a strong and diverse workforce. This program aims to develop the evidence base for public health workforce science.

Overview

Our approach is data-driven and rooted in high-quality science. The Public Health Workforce Research Center (PHWRC) supports and shares rigorous, state-of-the-art, applied research. This information helps decision-makers at the federal, state, and local levels understand health workforce needs. PHWRC is funded through CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Workforce Research Center Cooperative Agreement Program HRSA-22-054.

Important points

The cooperative agreement was awarded to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in September 2022. As the funded PHWRC, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health leads a consortium of academic member institutions and practice-oriented partner organizations.

Members

  • University of Minnesota
  • Columbia University
  • East Tennessee State University
  • Indiana University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • University of Washington

Partners

  • Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
  • Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
  • Big Cities Health Coalition
  • de Beaumont Foundation
  • MissionSquare Research Institute
  • National Association of County and City Health Officials
  • Public Health Accreditation Board

This unique collaboration looks at what drives workforce turnover, ways to recruit and retain staff, and how to fill workforce gaps.

Resources