This report tracks federal, state, and local investment in public health and how underinvestment in public health programs impacted the COVID-19 response, exacerbates health inequities, and continues to put Americans’ lives and livelihoods at risk. It analyzes current public health funding trends including federal public health funding and CDC funding, provides recommendations for policy actions including new investments for the public health infrastructure and workforce, addressing health inequities and root causes of disease, and safeguarding and improving health across the lifespan.
Related Topics
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.