Title
Vote to accept $100,000 in grant funds from the NC Alliance for Public Health Agencies to establish a regional academic health department model
Abstract
Introduction & Background: In 2024, the NC Alliance for Public Health Agencies (NCAPHA) Board established a $500,000 Board-directed fund focused on strategic initiatives, with an evolving plan to continue to invest in this fund over time. The goal of the fund is to invest in strategic initiatives that support and advance the local public health system in North Carolina, with a focus on work at the regional level or broader.
Earlier this year, a group led by the Chatham County Public Health Department (health director), UNC faculty, and the health department regional workforce development manager began conversations to establish a regional academic health department model, a partnership between nine local health departments making up Region 5 and the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. This innovative initiative expands upon the traditional academic health department (AHD) partnership that is formed by the formal affiliation of a health department and an academic institution, extending the partnership regionally to benefit both rural and urban health departments. This novel approach has the support of both Region 5 local health departments and UNC.
The initiative has three main components aimed at benefiting local health departments: Public health workforce development, student pipeline development, and use of research in local public health. Funding will support staff training, workforce retreats, job fairs, a coordinator to be housed at UNC, practica, and start-up funds for collaborative research projects.
Discussion & Analysis: As the region lead for this initiative, the Chatham County Public Health Department will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant funding.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: Relates to Plan Goal #10: Foster a healthy community.
Budgetary Impact: None.
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