This report discusses how investments in public health not only improve the health of society but also advance equity and foster economic and climate resiliency. It considers the depth of the United States’ underinvestment in public health—and how better funding for public health can bolster the workforce, data, technology, and other infrastructure needed to prepare and respond to existing needs and future health threats, which are increasing in frequency and severity. This report also calls for investments that align with the benefits produced, from health improvement to financial savings to equity.
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Public Health Workforce Development and Diversity
The public health workforce plays an essential role in securing the vital conditions for health and well-being for all to thrive. A skilled, resourced, and robust public health workforce is needed to meet the demands of public health today and prepare for the needs of tomorrow. A diverse public health workforce is better equipped to address the needs of the most impacted and marginalized, and implement population health strategies. COVID-19 has shed light on challenges facing the public health workforce, while also exacerbating them. The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need to skill up the workforce; support workers’ needs; center equity in workforce development efforts; and plan for the future.