Key Ingredient of the National Prevention Agenda: Workforce Development. A Companion Document to Healthy People 2010

摘要

Healthy People 2010 - the Nation's 10 year disease prevention and health promotion agenda - supports the primary goals of increasing quality and years of healthy life and eliminating health disparities. We know that substantive progress in improving the health of individuals, families, and communities is heavily dependent upon the human capital which powers and sustains the Nation's public health system: The heart of this system is the public health workforce. The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Bureau of Health Professions is the principal Federal agency specifically charged by Congress 'to enhance the production and distribution of public health personnel to improve State and local public health infrastructure.' This mandate includes addressing the needs of the current workforce as well as preparing the workforce of the future to meet the new emerging public health challenges facing the Nation. Consistent with this charge, this Healthy People companion document seeks to equip the workforce with relevant, practical tools, proven strategies, and useful resources which address three prominent Healthy People 2010 workforce objectives: (1) Increase the number of under-represented minorities entering health professions programs; (2) Increase the number of public health agencies offering continuing education courses; and (3) Increase the number of public health agencies building personnel and training systems around competencies in the essential public health services.