Well-resourced civic infrastructure and active civic participation can improve health. Both allow communities to tap the collective knowledge, wisdom, and action priorities of residents. Strengthening democratic processes and assuring access to civic and voter participation is necessary to advance health and racial equity.
The latest count of the public health workforce, Enumeration 2024, shows an increased state and local workforce since 2019, though much of the growth has been in temporary or contract staff.
With the lingering spotlight cast on the public health community due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that public health practitioners use their voices to advocate for social justice in public policy. Here are some tips on how to continue to apply a Health in All Policies mindset to your practice, and how to model it for others.
For many students, internships are an opportunity to gain real-world experiences while developing their skills and establishing meaningful connections with people in their industry….to truly make the most out of your internship experience, it is important to set goals in the beginning, build professional relationships with your colleagues, and reflect on your experiences throughout the internship.
We designed an interactive program for underrepresented middle and high school students from our local communities, with the goal to develop a hands-on experience that would familiarize them with public health through the exciting technology of drones. Throughout the week, students thought about how drones are used to protect the public’s health, and as importantly, they thought about how they could be part of keeping their own communities healthy.