Public Health Workforce Development Initiatives

The University of Iowa College of Public Health received funding through a contract with the Iowa Department of Public Health to design and deliver a public health workforce development initiative. The project is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The Act provides additional relief through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to states to establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce. The leadership team for the project includes Edith Parker, dean of the UI College of Public Health; Laurie Walkner, interim director of the Institute for Public Health Practice; Scot Reisinger, assistant dean of student services in the UI College of Public Health; and Vickie Miene, interim director of the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy.

IPHP IIPHRP Student Services

Student Opportunities

Students work with local public health departments, university faculty, community organizations, and state and federal government agencies on emerging public health projects.

Involve Students

Mental Health Initiative

To support the mental health and wellness of the public health workforce, focusing on needs manifested by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Support Mental Health

Health Equity

Developing, implementing, and evaluating a health equity curriculum for public health departments in Iowa.

Promote Equity

Communicating Data

Providing resources and training to support the public health workforce in visualizing and communicating data to stakeholders.

Data Resources

Online Preparedness Training

Course content to learn emergency preparedness strategies and build skills.

Training Resources

Framing Perspectives in Support of Public Health

Training to develop coaching and additional tools to build an understanding of, and support for, the public health profession.

Coming Soon

Academic Public Health Partnership

Enhance the coordination of public health education, workforce development, and affiliation of local public health agencies and schools of public health by facilitating collaboration across the academic and practice communities.

Public Health Workforce Coalition

Ensure Iowa’s public health workforce is equipped to address complex challenges and resilient enough to impassion growth in the emerging profession.