Sponsored by: The funders of the California Future Health Workforce Commission

Event supported by: PHI’s Center for Collaborative Planning

WHEN: 

September 25, 2020 - 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

DESCRIPTION: 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, California’s ability to address critical public health needs had already been hampered by health workforce shortages and hiring challenges, the rapid aging of the current workforce, and the fact that only 20% of current governmental public health workers receive formal public health training. These challenges have been made more transparent—and more urgent— with the surges of COVID-19. The California Future Health Workforce Commission laid out specific recommendations in 2019 for addressing the challenges facing the state’s public health workforce, from insufficient data to an inadequate workforce pipeline. The purpose of this session will be to understand the nature of key issues that still must be addressed—and to highlight state and local efforts underway to shore up this essential workforce given an influx of federal monies to combat COVID-19. Practical next steps through which stakeholders and policymakers can engage towards coordinated longer-term solutions will be identified.

Facilitator/Opening Remarks:

Anthony (Tony) Iton, MD, JD, MPH, Senior Vice President, The California Endowment; Former Director, Alameda County Public Health Department

Speakers:

Manal J. Aboelata, MPH, Deputy Executive Director, Prevention Institute

Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Health Officer, Los Angeles County

Rebecca Nanyongo, DrPH, Director, Merced County Department of Public Health

Sandra Shewry, MPH, MSW, Acting Director, California Department of Public Health

QUESTIONS: Contact Ha N. Tank at the Center for Collaborative Planning at 916-498-6960 or ha@connectccp.org. 

FUNDERS:

Blue Shield of California Foundation

The California Health Care Foundation

The California Endowment

The California Wellness Foundation