Health Alliance Focuses on Workforce Training Initiatives Within Florida's Educational Sphere
The Florida Department of Health (DOH)-Hillsborough and the University of South Florida (USF) have formalized an Academic Health Department (AHD) partnership as of 2022, focusing on workforce development. This partnership, supported by the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), aims to enhance the skills of DOH-Hillsborough staff through USF's public health programs.
The collaboration was established in part due to a successful proposal co-written by the DOH-Hillsborough health officer and the dean of USF's College of Public Health (COPH) in response to a notice of funding opportunity from the CDC in 2022. The partnership is designed to build a stronger, more prepared public health workforce to serve the county's 1.5 million residents, with a bigger impact than what either organization could achieve alone.
Representatives from DOH-Hillsborough and USF hold virtual information sessions for staff about available educational offerings, the university enrollment and registration process, and completing internal agency requirements for pursuing and participating in the PHIG-funded opportunities. The partnership includes opportunities for staff training, custom program development, and educational offerings, available to all employees including non-career services and certain contracted employees.
The partnership is focused on evaluating performance using PHIG measures, with a focus on hiring and retention. The PHIG measures of interest include the number of positions filled by job classification and program area, overall staff retention rate, and median number of days to fill a position. Tracking these measures contributes to the agency's PHIG evaluation and provides a clear process for quality improvement within the AHD partnership.
In addition to the custom leadership program, USF works with DOH-Hillsborough to conduct staff training needs assessments and provides a Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam preparatory course at no cost to employees. The health department is using PHIG funds to cover tuition for current staff to take graduate and undergraduate courses at USF's COPH and across the university.
When developing or expanding AHD partnerships, it's important to appreciate the unique nature of each organization and consider potential funding category restrictions. Legal considerations should be carefully reviewed before solidifying any partnership, allowing ample time for the proper review of contracts and agreements. The collaborative process can be complex and challenging, but it's crucial to work together to find solutions and remain flexible, humble, and willing to pivot.
For more information about AHD partnerships and workforce development resources, visit the Public Health Foundation's website. Health agencies seeking planning support can submit a PHIG technical assistance request through PHIVE or contact the provided website for more information.
Marie Flake and Pauline Rivers, from the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, contributed to this blog post. The name of the health official who co-wrote a successful proposal for the Public Health Infrastructure Grant in 2022 alongside the dean of the University of South Florida's College of Public Health is not explicitly provided in the available search results. Nevertheless, this partnership marks a significant step forward in strengthening the public health workforce in Hillsborough County.
