Identifying Needs for Advancing the Profession and Workforce in Environmental Health

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 110; no. 3; pp. 288 - 294
• Main Authors: Gerding, Justin A, Brooks, Bryan W, Landeen, Elizabeth, Whitehead, Sandra, Kelly, Kaitlyn R, Allen, Amy, Banaszynski, David, Dorshorst, Michael, Drager, Lane, Eshenaur, Tannie, Freund, Jeff, Inman, Adam, Long, Sandra, Maloney, Jessica, McKeever, Tammy, Pigman, Tyler, Rising, Nancy, Scanlan, Sarah, Scott, Jennifer, Shukie, Colin, Stewart, Gary, Tamekazu, Darren, Wade, Valerie, White, Carolyn, Sarisky, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Public Health Association 01.03.2020
• Subjects: AJPH Environmental Health Workforce & Regulation; Collaboration; Credentialing; Decision making; Departments; Environment; Environmental assessment; Environmental changes; Environmental health; Environmental Health - organization & administration; Focus Groups; Health Administration; Humans; Information systems; Information technology; Initiatives; Leadership; Leadership training; Legionnaires disease; Medical personnel; Needs Assessment; Organizational change; Partnerships; Profession; Professionals; Public health; Public Health Practice; Public Health Workers; Staff Development; System effectiveness; Training; Workforce; Workforce - standards; Workshops
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305441

An ever-changing landscape for environmental health (EH) requires in-depth assessment and analysis of the current challenges and emerging issues faced by EH professionals. The Understanding the Needs, Challenges, Opportunities, Vision, and Emerging Roles in Environmental Health initiative addressed this need.After receiving responses from more than 1700 practitioners, during an in-person workshop, focus groups identified and described priority problems and supplied context on addressing the significant challenges facing EH professionals with state health agencies and local health departments. The focus groups developed specific problem statements detailing the EH profession and workforce's prevailing challenges and needs according to 6 themes, including effective leadership, workforce development, equipment and technology, information systems and data, garnering support, and partnerships and collaboration.We describe the identified priority problems and needs and provide recommendations for ensuring a strong and robust EH profession and workforce ready to address tomorrow's challenges.