Publication Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Publication Authors: Brianna Rooney, Bryna Koch, Mona Arora, Ann Garn
The public health system is at the forefront of ensuring community health by supporting wellbeing and responding to threats to health including those stemming from natural disasters and disease outbreaks. Originating in the obligation to promote and protect welfare, governmental public health infrastructure like county health departments form the “backbone” of the public health system.
Nationally, the governmental public health workforce has faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic instilled a new sense of purpose, the experience also contributed to stress and burnout. These factors have prompted the exodus of people from the governmental public health workforce, exacerbating the existing shortage of over 80,000 public health workers nationwide.1
This brief presents data from the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PHWINS) 2021 about the governmental public health workforce in Arizona. This brief aims to inform public health partners regarding the needs and possible solutions to strengthen the public health workforce.